Corporate Adoption of Mobile Cell Phone: Business Opportunities for 3G and Beyond

Abstract

This chapter identifies the technology and non-technology factors that companies consider important in deciding to adopt and deploy wireless devices designed for mobile telephony and information services, the extent of current use of cell phones, the extent of existing utilization and/or planning for Web-enabled cell phone use, the constraining factors in their deployment decisions, how such decisions are made, and the practical technology implications for decision-making, including beyond 3G. This chapter seeks to help decision makers by shedding light on the adoption process. The conceptual model combines the TAM and innovation adoption/diffusion models, adding the factors of security, cost, reliability, digital standards/regulatory environment, technology product suitability, and future Web connectivity. Case study methodology is utilized for five manufacturing and technology firms. A key finding is that the most important technology decision factors are security, reliability, and Web connectivity. Although the current uses are dominated by voice, Web-enabled capability dominates future decision-making.