Mobile Community Networks: Evolution and Challenges

Abstract

The evolution of mobile devices has opened new opportunities for collaboration and communication. Instant connectivity, portability, rapidly reducing costs, etc. are some of the drivers for this change. Mobile devices have lower processing power, memory capabilities, deal with varying network conditions and the available power is less. Notwithstanding the above, mobile communities have emerged as a significant domain of research in their own right akin to the online (virtual) communities. This article traces the factors contributing to the proliferation of mobile communities and places the mobile community networks in a current and future perspective. An architecture for the mobile community network is proposed and the challenges in implementing such a network are also discussed.