Mobile Business - The Emerging Trends

The past couple of years have witnessed a rapid growth in wireless communications technology. The convergence of two core technologies - the Internet and mobile wireless communications has opened up a new range of possibilities for organizations to do mobile business. Mobile Business or M-Business involves using the Internet for voice and data transmission through wireless devices. M-Business has a potential to significantly enhance customers' experience by providing them the ability to interact and transact anytime and at anyplace.

Divided in five sections, this chapter provides insights on how the use of mobile technologies has drastically changed the way businesses operate and customers interact and transact. The first section Mobile Business - An Introduction provides a broad overview of m-business and its transformational potential for both organizations and individuals. It details the benefits of mobilization and explains the significance of m-business and the emerging mobile trends. The second section Strategies for Mobile Business includes key m-business strategies, which must be implemented by any organization planning to do m-business. In addition, it discusses the strategic role of operators, content providers and other parties engaged in the mobile business value chain.

Mobile Business - An Introduction

M-Business involves convergence of mobile telephony and the Internet technologies to offer mobile services at anytime and anyplace. It offers organizations plenty of opportunities for value creation. The mobile services are not just limited to conducting transactions but also allow communication, collaboration and co-ordination through mobile devices. In fact, the impact of goes beyond improved communication with employees and customers.

M-Business offers several value-added services that can help mobile communications companies to not only increase their average revenue per user but also reduce customer churn. It can lead to enhanced customer loyalty since they do not receive only the 'connectivity' but also get productivity improving communications services from their mobile service provider. Such services include Internet and intranet access through mobile phones, personalized content services, personal information management, sales force automation and other services including time and expense reporting, scheduling and equipment monitoring. The benefits of doing m-business for organizations are:

• Generating new revenue streams. 
• Improving customer relationships.
• Increase in productivity.

• Maximization of value to the business.
• Decreasing time to launch a new product in the market.
• Growth in scale to meet current and future needs.
• Minimizing product developments costs.

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