Mobile computing by McKay and Marshall

1. Mobile computingby McKay and Marshall Arild Havnen

2. Overview • Definitions of key terms • Mobile devices • Forces that are driving the adoption of mobile computing and m-commerce • Issues, challenges, difficulties • Main types of applications • Alignment with business strategies • Future trends

3. Mobile computing • “The ability to move computer services around with individuals as they themselves move around the world” (Lyytinen & Yoo, 2002) • “The range of … possibilities for interaction and communication and accessing services via mobile devices” (McKay & Marshall, 2004)

4. M-commerce • “The buying and selling of goods and services using wireless handheld devices such as mobile telephones or PDAs” (UNCTAD, 2002) • “An emerging set of applications and services that are accessible from Internet-enabled mobile devices” (Sadeh, 2002) • “Commercial transactions conducted via mobile devices” (McKay & Marshall, 2004)

5. Mobile devices • Main features and characteristics • Portable • Compact • Small in size • Relatively lightweight • Convenient • Easy to switch on • Zero boot time • Not dependent on location and time

6. Forces that are driving the adoption of mobile computing and m-commerce • The emerging of a service economy • Decentralisation of workforce • Pressured lifestyle • Dropping price/performance ratio and reduced cost of ownership

7. Issues, challenges, difficulties • Technical issues • Lack of standards • Limitations: • Small screen size • Slow transmission speeds • Tedious and clumsy data entry

8. Issues, challenges, difficulties • Socio-professional issues • Blurred boundaries between work and home • Information overload • Decisions escalated to senior management • Privacy issues • Movement tracking • Personal information

9. Issues, challenges, difficulties • Security issues • Corruption of company data • Loss of consumer confidence • Easily lost and stolen • Misuse of personal data • Viruses

10. Main types of application • Should support: • Immediacy • Connectivity • Data portability • Positioning technologies (optional) • Examples: • SMS • Micro payments • Financial services • Information services • Logistics • Customer relationship management • Location-based services

11. Alignment • Aligning m-commerce with company goals, objectives and strategies • Just as important as the need for alignment between IS/e-commerce strategies • Understanding value-drivers • Help to identify crucial mobile applications • Not fashion-driven investments • Consider opportunities to leverage existing infrastructure for greater business benefit

12. Alignment • Take a high-level corporate view of mobile computing • Avoid looking at specific applications as stand-alone uses of mobile technology • Recognise the need to develop a standard mobile infrastructure • Focus on B2E applications rather than m-commerce applications • Start relatively small and simple • Understand the characteristics of mobile devices

13. Future trends Degree of embeddedness High Degree of mobility High Low Low

14. Case studies • Beer Co. • Repair Co.

15. Questions?