M-Commerce

=M-Commerce=

toc

What is M-Commerce
M-Commerce (Mobile-Commerce) is the action of buying, selling products and services using a wireless device such as a PDA, or a cell phone. Wikipedia defines M-Commerce as "electronic commerce made through mobile devices." M-commerce is still a very new concept today. M-mobile allows users to buy, sell, make payments and transactions on demand, just like e-commerce. The most common and simplest example of M-commerce would be purchasing ring tones via a cell phone. Currently, M-commerce does not usally require users and consumers to set up accounts with the merchant. Typically, the goods and services purchased such as at ring tones would be billed to your cell phone bill. Wikipedia also mentions that "other examples of M-commerce applications are information-on-demand systems like news services or stock tickers, banking and stock brokerage applications by SMS, WAP or iMode."

Exameple of M-commerce today: Itunes for your mobile phone
One existing example of M-mobile today is Itunes for your mobile phones. This service is offered by Mac and available in the USA today for Cingular wireless users. It allows users to download MP3 music directly to their cell phone. The files could be played on their mobile phones or used as ring tones. Each MP3 file they download is charged a flat rate and billed to their cell phone bill. People who wish to use this service must own one of the following three cell phones; the Motorolla Razr, Slvr or Rockr. Also, they must have the "Itunes for your mobile phone" application installed on their cell phones. It is available to downlaod from Mac's web page. The interface for the mobile phone version of iTunes is dramatically different from the iTunes for computers we are accustomed to seeing. Unlike the original version of iTunes for computers, the iTunes for mobile devices is very plain and the functions are very limited. Users will navigate through a menu only consisting of text. Users downlaod the song by searching by artist, album, genre or song. For users who use this function, searching for a file by typing through your cell phones standard keypad can be very frustrating. Although this form of M-mobile is great and some consider it convinient, most users still prefer to use the original version of iTunes for computers. Also, users have the option to transfer MP3 files from their computer to their cell phones, which is much easier for most people. Although this concept of iTunes for cell phones is somewhat innovative and provides a new service for users, it is not perfected and faces many barriers. In the future, we can expect to see more development and many improvements for this type of system to purchase music through your cell phone via M-Mobile that will be much improved.

Example of M-Commerce today: Gameloft
Gameloft is a service that allows mobile phone owners to download games directly to their cell phones. These games are designed specifically for cell phones. The service is very simple and does not require users to set up any accounts or passwords. Cusomters will be billed their their cell phone bill. To use this service, users with web enabled phones begin by visiting their web page their their cell phones. The select the game they wish to purchase on the menu and follow the simple on screen menu's.

The future of M-commerce
In the future as more advanced cell phone and wireless devices are introduced, we can only expect M-Commerce to grow. More services will be offered through a wireless device. M-commerce provides a entirely new marketplace and oppertunity to merchants, retailers and service providers. The existing M-Mobile services today only scratch the surface of the potential services M-Commerce can offer in the future

- Banks may offer services through M-Commerce for customers to make convinient transactions such as makeing a deposit. It would be just like having a ATM in front of you or doing online banking through your wireless device -Many business may give customers a option to make payments through M-Commece. For example, utility companies such as the cable company or water company can make it convinient and easy for customers to pay their latest bill via M-commerce. - Businesses can allow customers to track the status of their orders with M-mobile. For example, UPS or Fedex can provide customers with the latest status of their shipment once a tracking number is entered through a wireless device - M-commerce allows media companies to profit of streaming information to users - M-commerce can allow users to reserve movie tickets, hotel reservations through a phone - Users may download files such as software applications and music files directly to their cell phone

Predictions for global M-Commerce sales (Boston Consulting)




Resources
Search Mobile Computing http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci214590,00.html

Wikipedia: M-commerce http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-commerce

iTunes for your mobile device http://www.apple.com/itunes/mobile/

Interview: Gameloft's Eric Albert http://www.modojo.com/features/20060217/40/

M-commerce: Future Shopping http://www.writeedge.com/articles/M-Commerce.asp

The Future of M-commerce http://www.unisys.com/annual/annual2000/customers/cooper.asp

Graphs http://www.themanager.org/Resources/M-Commerce.htm

Pictures of phone 1 http://opengardensblog.futuretext.com/archives/mcommerce.bmp

Picture of phone 2 http://developers.sun.com/techtopics/mobility/midp/articles/mcommerce/imageall.jpg