Mobile computing

Mobile computing

by McKay and Marshall

Arild Havnen

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

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)


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)


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

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

Issues, challenges, difficulties


Technical issues

•
Lack of standards

•
Limitations:


Small screen size


Slow transmission speeds


Tedious and clumsy data entry


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


Issues, challenges, difficulties


Security issues

•
Corruption of company data

•
Loss of consumer confidence

•
Easily lost and stolen

•
Misuse of personal data

•
Viruses


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

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

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

Future trends

Pervasive
computing

Ubiquitous
computing

Traditional
business
computing

Mobile
computing

Degree of embeddedness

High

Low

Degree of mobility

High

Low

Case studies


Beer Co.


Repair Co.





Questions?