Mobile Commerce (M-commerce)

Mobile Commerce (M-commerce)

 Introduction

Rarely has a new area of business been heralded with such enthusiasm as "mobile commerce", that is the conduct of business and services over portable, wireless devices. Due to the astronomical growth of the Internet users, maturation of the Internet technologies, realization of the Internet's capabilities, the power of electronic commerce, and the promising advancement of wireless communication technologies and devices, mobile commerce has rapidly attained the business forefront. An m-commerce application can be B2B, B2C or any other of the classifications available with e-commerce world.

Motivating Factors for M-Commerce

Internet use has grown to such a level on the strength of PC networks. Due to the huge base of installed PCs, which is predicted to grow in a faster pace in the days to come, electronic commerce and other communication applications are bound to thrive further. Also, these computing systems will have greater power and storage capability, the best ever price-performance ratios, more powerful and sophisticated applications will likely emerge for desktop computing and the Internet. However, there are two major limitations on PCs. First , users have to sit in front of them, PCs, even portable-notebook computers, have to load software, dial into and connect with a network service provider and await for the initial process to be accomplished before launching an Internet application.

 Wireless Technologies

Just as the TCP/IP and the general purpose Web browsers are being the current principal drivers of Internet growth and this in turn makes disparate devices to connect themselves and communicate and interoperate. Similar protocols, technologies and software will play a very important role in heterogeneous wireless devices to interoperate without any complexity. In the recent past, a common communications technology and uniform interface standard for presenting and delivering several distinct wireless services on wireless devices - Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) have emerged. The WAP specifications include a micro-browser, scripting language just like JavaScript, access functions and layered communication specifications for sessions, transport and security. These specifications enable interface-independent and interoperable applications. Many of the wireless device manufacturers, service and infrastructure providers have started to adopt the WAP standard.

M-Commerce Applications

The general m-commerce applications are categorized as transaction management, digital content delivery and telemetry services. The applications can be further subdivided into passive and active m-commerce applications. Active application relates with the applications in which the user has to take the initiative on his wireless device. In contrast, the passive applications themselves get activated towards accomplishing the assigned jobs or facilitate the users to carry forward.

Conclusion

As m-commerce applications and wireless devices are evolving rapidly, one will take forward the other one towards empowering innovation, versatility and power in them. There are a number of business opportunities and grand challenges of bringing forth viable and robust wireless technologies ahead for fully realizing the enormous strength of m-commerce in this Internet era and thereby meeting both the basic requirements and advanced expectations of mobile users and providers.