This report is intended as a source of inspiration as well as concept clarification for decision makers in organisations who wish to evaluate the future use of mobile Internet and identify key business issues. The concept of mobile Internet has been a source of much controversy since late 1999, where it was greeted with much enthusiasm along with the introduction of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). WAP is now a target of much criticism and some have even gone so far as to cast doubt on the entire concept of mobile Internet.
The basis for spreading mobile Internet and mobile services is that both infrastructure and devices are available so that consumers can buy them at reasonable prices. All sales and market predictions have underestimated the growth, which has increased rapidly during the last half decade.
The concept of mobile Internet has, in contrast with many other Internet related terms, not yet been commonly defined with regards to applicable business models and technology standards. Leading phone manufacturers such as Nokia, Ericsson, Panasonic, Motorola, and Siemens have put a great deal of marketing effort behind the mobile Internet phenomenon, recognising that adoption is a complex business proposition. However, the focal point is presently very much on technology and it is proposed that services and applications are key to generating business momentum. Mobilising the workforce through the use of IT can be a way of achieving this goal.
The Danish government is actively promoting the use of IT in the entire Danish society and particularly Danish business life backs this up. Today, we see a number of Danish companies pioneering in the development towards mobile working using IT. In Japan, mobile Internet is hugely successful and mobile penetration rate is approaching 50%. Just looking at telephony, the number of mobile subscribers surpassed the number of fixed line subscribers in early 2000. Wireless services are being boosted by a combination of marketing effort, devices as well as services and content being available to users from the beginning.
In Denmark, circuit-switched technology and WAP services provide only a glimpse of what is possible in the future. Deployment of second-generation networks (2½G) and new technologies such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) will increase bandwidth and provide always-on capability that may attract new users.
The real value of mobile Internet is the ability to access location and time-sensitive information and services - anytime, anywhere, from personal information management to location based, time critical information and numerous other potential uses. Connectivity to other devices is also a growing requirement for both phones and PDA's as long as convergence of products does not occur.
Innovations towards mobile Internet benefit from the creativity and enthusiasm of entrepreneurs to bring life to the market. It is not only a matter of technology, but also a multitude of business issues that will decide how quickly and widely next-generation wireless services are deployed by enterprises.
Keywords: Mobile Internet; Organisations; Business-2-Employee; 2½G mobile technologies; IT-policy; Denmark.
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