Chapter 6

Mobile, Wireless, and Pervasive Computing
Chapter Preview
The traditional computing environment that requires users to come to a wired computer may be ineffective or inefficient in many situations. The solution is to make computers small enough that they are easy to carry or even to wear. Such mobile devices can communicate with traditional systems and infrastructure via wireline or, evenbetter, wireless networks. The ability to communicate and collaborate any time and from anywhere provides organizations with strategic advantage by increasing productivity, speed, and customer service. Mobile and wireless computing provide the infrastructure for mobile commerce—conducting e-commerce wirelessly, any time and from any place. They enable location-based e-commerce, which is based on knowingwhere people are at any given time and on the ability to communicate with them. Mobile and wireless computing are changing how IT is deployed and are creating the foundations of the futuristic computing environment called pervasive computing. All of these topics are explored in this chapter.

CHAPTER

6

Chapter Outline
6.1 Mobile Computing and Commerce: Overview, Benefits, and Drivers 6.2Wireless Local Area Networks, Wi-Fi, and Voice Portals 6.3 Mobile Personal Service Applications 6.4 Mobile Applications in Financial Services 6.5 Mobile Shopping, Advertising, and Customer Service 6.6 Mobile Intrabusiness Applications 6.7 Mobile Enterprise and Supply Chain Applications 6.8 Location-Based Commerce 6.9 Pervasive Computing 6.10 Inhibitors and Barriers of Mobile Computing

LearningObjectives
1. Discuss the characteristics, attributes, and drivers of mobile computing and m-commerce. 2. Describe the emergence of Wi-Fi and voice portals. 3. Describe personal service applications of m-commerce. 4. Discuss m-commerce applications in financial services. 5. Describe m-commerce applications in shopping, advertising, and customer service. 6. Describe the use of m-commerce inintrabusiness applications. 7. Discuss the use of mobile computing in enterprise and supply chain applications. 8. Describe location-based commerce (l-commerce). 9. Discuss the key characteristics and current uses of pervasive computing. 10. Describe the major inhibitors and barriers of mobile computing and m-commerce.

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NEXTBUS: A SUPERB CUSTOMER SERVICE
Buses in certain parts of San Franciscohave difficulty keeping up with the posted schedule, especially in rush hours. The scheduled times become meaningless, and passengers are angry because they waste time waiting for late buses.

San Francisco bus riders carrying an Internet-enabled wireless device, such as a cell phone or PDA, can quickly find out in real time when a bus is most likely to arrive at a particular bus stop. Similarsystems have been used successfully in several other cities around the United States and in several other countries. Figure 6.1 shows how the NextBus system works. The core of the system is a GPS satellite that lets the NextBus information center know where a specific bus is at any given time. Based on a bus’s location, traffic patterns, and weather conditions, dispatchers can calculate the arrivaltime at each stop. Users can access that information from their cell phones or PCs. NextBus schedules are also posted in real time on bus shelter signs. Currently, NextBus is an ad-free customer service, but in the near future advertising may be added. Because the system knows exactly where you are when you request information and how much time you have until your next bus, it could send you to thenearest Starbucks for a cup of coffee, giving you an electronic coupon for a discount on a cup of coffee as you wait.

Passengers in San Francisco are happy with the system; worries about missing the bus are diminished. In rural areas in Finland, where a similar system is used, buses are infrequent and winters are very cold; passengers can stay in a warm coffeehouse not far

GPS Satellites...