What is Mobile Commerce
Mobile commerce is a natural result of combining two strongly emerging
trends: electronic commerce and pervasive computing.
Internet + Wireless + E-Business = M-Business
Going online anywhere at anytime and using multiple devices
New business opportunities
The use of the Internet for purchasing goods and services and also for
transmitting messages using wireless mobile devices
Fixed Vs Mobile Commerce
Check Check
Purchase
Bank Stock
Stock
Balance Price
WAPServer
WAP Server WebServer
Web Server
Multilingual Customer Product
Content Database Database
Database
Advantages of M-Commerce
Ubiquitous computing
Anywhere, anytime
Convenient, instant connectivity-Accessibility
Very personal
Device owner has an exclusive access to the contents/services
Service providers know who the owner is
Varied users, usage contexts
Elementary school students, grandpas, grandmas
Location & context-sensitive applications and services
Security
The device offers a certain level of inherent security
depending on the specific end user device.
People seem willing to pay for mobile services
Building Blocks of M-Commerce
Building Blocks of M-Commerce
User Equipment
A mobile phone or PDA acts as the user endpoint
Access Network
To provide authentication to validate a user’s attempt to consume network
resources
Service Network
Linked to the Access Network, probably via secure Virtual Private Network
(VPN).
The Service network provides personalized portals to many services,
including commerce.
Applications of M-Commerce
Mobile Financial Mobile Booking and Ticketing
Applications (B2C, B2B) (B2C, B2B)
Mobile Advertising (B2C) Mobile Marketing Research (B2C)
Mobile Inventory Mobile CRM, Customer Support
Management (B2C, B2B) (B2C, B2B)
Proactive Service Mobile Entertainment Service
Management (B2C, B2B) (B2C)
Product Locating and Mobile Distance Education
Shopping (B2C, B2B) (B2C, B2B)
Wireless Business Re-engineering
Mobile Auction (B2C, B2B)
(B2C, B2B)
Limitations of M-Commerce
Usability problem Insufficient bandwidth
Effectiveness & Efficiency Limits the extent to which
Lack of standardized mobility can be viewed
security protocol commodity
Security methodology Wireless and health hazards
needs to be incorporated in Fear of radiation
mobile Unsafe to drive and use
3G licenses wireless phone
Auctioned by governments Disappointed user
Certain countries cannot
be served by these devices
Transmission limitations
Multipath interference
Conclusion
A number of business opportunities and robust wireless technologies
ahead for fully realizing the enormous strength of m-commerce in this
Internet era
M-Commerce will be at least as successful as e-commerce if the
underlying technology and standards accentuate the advantages and
minimize the disadvantages.
The current specifications for 3rd Generation Mobile Networks and
services from the 3GPP provide a strong platform for M-Commerce
Consistent and pervasive access to services across varied wireless
networking topologies will be a key factor in the success of mobile
commerce
One of the main feature challenges will be to unify payment solutions
providing the highest possible level of security.