Relating Mobile Computing to Mobile Commerce

Abstract

In today’s digital economy and the extended enterprise paradigm, mobility is on the rise. It is important to perceive mobility as an opportunity, rather than a threat. Although m-commerce is still at its infancy, it serves as an extension to e-commerce sites—it has been regarded as a value-added service. However, there are many issues and challenges while reaping full benefits of mobile computing solutions for m-commerce. This is because mobility and mobile computing is replete with many challenges on the business front, technical challenges as well as social challenges. This chapter undertakes discussion on understanding mobility and categories of mobile user types, understanding the meaning of m-commerce. Typical applications that support the m-commerce paradigm are illustrated through case studies. The chapter ends with a discussion on legal implications of mobile technology, and future directions for mobile commerce and mobile computing. The key message is that mobility is not just about connectivity—it is about function it provides and the way organizations work in today’s digital economy.