Personalized communications consist of applications and services
that are based on access to and manipulation of the user’s personal
data. This includes services such as personal information
management, calendar and scheduler management, email messaging,
unified messaging, chat, and community participation.
Wireless Internet applications will add value to personalized
communications by increasing a user’s ability to access
personal data while mobile. We’ve all experienced situations
where some small piece of data isn’t there when we need it. But
no matter how hard we wish we had not forgotten that contact
name, phone number, date, or account number, it still refuses
to magically appear. Wireless applications will enable users to
wirelessly retrieve data that may be typically stored in various
other digital systems. These applications will often be a substitute
for another method of access but will add value by retrieving
just enough data to get the task done.
Key drivers for personalized communication applications are:
• Time sensitive data. Data that has a very short useful life—
wait too long and you’ll miss out on some opportunity.
• Security and privacy. Data that you might not want to carry a
hardcopy of for fear of losing it—account numbers, passwords,
and personal information that you’d rather not carry
with you.
• Access to others. Applications that allow users to contact and
receive messages from others regardless of the method used
by the sender—emails, faxes, voice mail, instant messages,
electronic reminders, and other personal communication.
Other application areas of personal communications where
mobility will add value include the following:
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CONTENT DELIVERY
Content delivery involves the transport of information from a
source (content provider) to its destination (customer). The
customer usually selects to receive content (such as travel
directions or flight status information). The service provider
may charge a fee for access or may receive a percentage of the
fee paid by the recipient to the content provider (royalty fee).
Some of the more popular content providers include mapping
companies (for directions), music, flight status, weather information,
and other real-time or near real–time information
sources. The actual information content is often provided
through an application service provider (ASP) and transferred
through an Internet portal (gateway). The ASP usually manages
and updates the content, and the wireless provider provides
the transport to the end customer.
source (content provider) to its destination (customer). The
customer usually selects to receive content (such as travel
directions or flight status information). The service provider
may charge a fee for access or may receive a percentage of the
fee paid by the recipient to the content provider (royalty fee).
Some of the more popular content providers include mapping
companies (for directions), music, flight status, weather information,
and other real-time or near real–time information
sources. The actual information content is often provided
through an application service provider (ASP) and transferred
through an Internet portal (gateway). The ASP usually manages
and updates the content, and the wireless provider provides
the transport to the end customer.
PERSONALIZATION
Many of these applications and services are increasingly being
tailored to individual tastes. As people customize services to suit
their use of the Internet, its usefulness will increase considerably.
The wireless device tends to be a personal device with a
single primary user, unlike personal computers that are commonly
shared among users. Because mobile devices are frequently
used and almost always with the user, wireless operators
can exploit the wireless device’s access to time- and locationcritical
information. As these services, content, and applications
become more personalized and location based, users have richer,
more rewarding, and more relevant experiences. This information
will be based on the user’s own information—“my
news,” “my banking,” “my investment portfolio”—to make it
absolutely specific and relevant to the user.
Additionally, every user will be able to create his own content
including video, animation, still images, and text and all
the information will be in digital, transferable form. User-generated
content will be a very important portion of the multimedia
Wireless Internet business model. The importance of
the Wireless Internet device as an instrument for information,
entertainment, and transactions will increase as physical
boundaries dissolve.
tailored to individual tastes. As people customize services to suit
their use of the Internet, its usefulness will increase considerably.
The wireless device tends to be a personal device with a
single primary user, unlike personal computers that are commonly
shared among users. Because mobile devices are frequently
used and almost always with the user, wireless operators
can exploit the wireless device’s access to time- and locationcritical
information. As these services, content, and applications
become more personalized and location based, users have richer,
more rewarding, and more relevant experiences. This information
will be based on the user’s own information—“my
news,” “my banking,” “my investment portfolio”—to make it
absolutely specific and relevant to the user.
Additionally, every user will be able to create his own content
including video, animation, still images, and text and all
the information will be in digital, transferable form. User-generated
content will be a very important portion of the multimedia
Wireless Internet business model. The importance of
the Wireless Internet device as an instrument for information,
entertainment, and transactions will increase as physical
boundaries dissolve.
MESSAGING—THE FIRST WIRELESS INTERNET APPLICATION
If you are reading this book you probably already know that short
messaging service (SMS) or text messaging is getting to be a
pretty hot topic these days. Everyone has heard about the SMS
explosion in Europe and Asia—5 billion in March 2000, 9 billion
in September 2000, and over 53 billion in the first 3 months of
2001. Amazing isn’t it? Then again—short messaging started a
long time ago, before digital phones or cellular even! Back when
all they had was an alphabet and two towers—or two hilltops to
be exact.
The Greeks invented the first wireless text messaging
before the birth of electricity. Back around 400 BC the Greeks
developed a way to represent each letter in the Greek alphabet
using a combination of five torches, lit and unlit, to spell out
messages from one hilltop to another.
It wasn’t perfect—bad spelling, slow throughput, “wind
static,” and size were issues. And in the end it was much like
today: They still didn’t have great coverage in the valley and
wearing the equipment on your belt made you look like a geek.
Wireless technology has allowed people all over the world
to maintain business and social connections regardless of location.
This emphasis on personal communications will carry
over into Wireless Internet applications through various forms
of messaging. Messaging applications allow users to send short
pieces of information to others in near real time but allow the
recipient to reply when convenient. Messaging applications
will also follow the evolution from simple text to full multimedia,
and in the process teach consumers a new way of communication.
Messaging applications will be used in ways that
simple voice communications have not been used and such
applications are critical to the success of the Wireless Internet.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet usage comes from
young users. Simple text messaging has been the first real wireless
data success story for European and Asian carriers. Those
of you who think that this was a well-planned and orchestrated
strategy might be interested to know that it didn’t quite roll
out that way. The first SMS was sent from a PC to a GSM
phone back in December 1992. Even though it was available in
the majority of GSM networks and devices soon after, SMS did
not actually take off until almost 1999. The challenges with
simple text messaging were very similar to the challenges
Wireless Internet applications face today.
GSM carriers and device manufacturers have evolved SMS
over the years to overcome challenges in:
• Screen size
• Navigation
• Text input
• Billing
• Interconnection
• Roaming
Although SMS is now a primary source of revenue growth
for many GSM carriers worldwide it is an application still very
much in its infancy. Carriers in the Americas, especially TDMA
and CDMA carriers, have been slow to roll out simple text messaging
services within their own networks. Closed networks,
devices not capable of originating messages, and billing issues
have hindered the critical mass needed for mass adoption, but
progress is being made. Most U.S. carriers have launched simple
text messaging and are working towards promotions to
encourage trial and usage. Interconnection among competing
carrier networks is in discussion, and companies offering data
clearinghouses for SMS have opened for business.
SMS, as a first Wireless Internet application, offers consumers
more than voice can. Concerned carriers are discovering
that SMS doesn’t cannibalize voice usage, despite being an alternative,
but actually supplements and may increase voice traffic.
When compared to voice, text messaging is described as
being less intrusive, more accurate, and more private as well as
being fun, addictive, and lower cost than making a wireless
phone call. Users often send text messages to communicate
things that they would not or could not in a voice call.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet in North America
came from the mobile professional and business user. The lack
of simple text messaging on cellular phones created a market
for simple text messaging devices such as the RIM BlackBerry
device (Figure 4-3) that allows users to send and receive short
email messages. The initial high cost of these devices and services
has resulted in quicker adoption by business enterprise
rather than the consumer youth adoption that is occurring outside
of North America.
Whether we start with young consumers or business professionals,
growth will depend on efforts to further educate the
market about the possibilities of Wireless Internet services,
applications, and content. 142
messaging service (SMS) or text messaging is getting to be a
pretty hot topic these days. Everyone has heard about the SMS
explosion in Europe and Asia—5 billion in March 2000, 9 billion
in September 2000, and over 53 billion in the first 3 months of
2001. Amazing isn’t it? Then again—short messaging started a
long time ago, before digital phones or cellular even! Back when
all they had was an alphabet and two towers—or two hilltops to
be exact.
The Greeks invented the first wireless text messaging
before the birth of electricity. Back around 400 BC the Greeks
developed a way to represent each letter in the Greek alphabet
using a combination of five torches, lit and unlit, to spell out
messages from one hilltop to another.
It wasn’t perfect—bad spelling, slow throughput, “wind
static,” and size were issues. And in the end it was much like
today: They still didn’t have great coverage in the valley and
wearing the equipment on your belt made you look like a geek.
Wireless technology has allowed people all over the world
to maintain business and social connections regardless of location.
This emphasis on personal communications will carry
over into Wireless Internet applications through various forms
of messaging. Messaging applications allow users to send short
pieces of information to others in near real time but allow the
recipient to reply when convenient. Messaging applications
will also follow the evolution from simple text to full multimedia,
and in the process teach consumers a new way of communication.
Messaging applications will be used in ways that
simple voice communications have not been used and such
applications are critical to the success of the Wireless Internet.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet usage comes from
young users. Simple text messaging has been the first real wireless
data success story for European and Asian carriers. Those
of you who think that this was a well-planned and orchestrated
strategy might be interested to know that it didn’t quite roll
out that way. The first SMS was sent from a PC to a GSM
phone back in December 1992. Even though it was available in
the majority of GSM networks and devices soon after, SMS did
not actually take off until almost 1999. The challenges with
simple text messaging were very similar to the challenges
Wireless Internet applications face today.
GSM carriers and device manufacturers have evolved SMS
over the years to overcome challenges in:
• Screen size
• Navigation
• Text input
• Billing
• Interconnection
• Roaming
Although SMS is now a primary source of revenue growth
for many GSM carriers worldwide it is an application still very
much in its infancy. Carriers in the Americas, especially TDMA
and CDMA carriers, have been slow to roll out simple text messaging
services within their own networks. Closed networks,
devices not capable of originating messages, and billing issues
have hindered the critical mass needed for mass adoption, but
progress is being made. Most U.S. carriers have launched simple
text messaging and are working towards promotions to
encourage trial and usage. Interconnection among competing
carrier networks is in discussion, and companies offering data
clearinghouses for SMS have opened for business.
SMS, as a first Wireless Internet application, offers consumers
more than voice can. Concerned carriers are discovering
that SMS doesn’t cannibalize voice usage, despite being an alternative,
but actually supplements and may increase voice traffic.
When compared to voice, text messaging is described as
being less intrusive, more accurate, and more private as well as
being fun, addictive, and lower cost than making a wireless
phone call. Users often send text messages to communicate
things that they would not or could not in a voice call.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet in North America
came from the mobile professional and business user. The lack
of simple text messaging on cellular phones created a market
for simple text messaging devices such as the RIM BlackBerry
device (Figure 4-3) that allows users to send and receive short
email messages. The initial high cost of these devices and services
has resulted in quicker adoption by business enterprise
rather than the consumer youth adoption that is occurring outside
of North America.
Whether we start with young consumers or business professionals,
growth will depend on efforts to further educate the
market about the possibilities of Wireless Internet services,
applications, and content. 142
MOBILE PORTALS
Now that devices are moving towards an operating system that
makes it easy to download and run applications designed for
small mobile devices, users need a point of entry to the Internet.
A mobile portal is such a gateway or entry point, adapted to
the particular circumstances of wireless mobile access to the
Internet. In addition to optimizing access to the Wireless
Internet, mobile portals aggregate and structure content and
links and provide navigation tools. Mobile portals provide links
to applications that can be purchased and downloaded onto the
device and used on- or offline. Although Internet portals have
existed for some time, these existing fixed-line portals are
designed for fixed wireless access; they have content and revenue
strategies that do not easily fit the needs of the mobile user.
Fixed line portals have brand recognition and access to content
deals but no real experience with wireless. Wireless operators
have experience in dealing with wireless voice users but
know little about the portal business. The mobile portal startups
often have experience in both areas, but lack brand recognition
and financial resources. Despite these limitations the
start-ups do have an advantage because they are focused on the
market and not distracted by nonmobile operations.
The revenue model for mobile portals is a combination of
subscription, advertising, and transaction revenue. Portal operators
that have an existing billing relationship with end users
currently have an advantage in terms of billing but all portal
operators will eventually offer “mobile wallet” services that
enable users to pay for items (including services and subscriptions)
over the same wireless connections. The mobile wallet is
a password-protected area in your phone which contains your
credit card or debit card information. When you want to purchase
something, all you need to do is retrieve the virtual credit
card to complete the purchase.
Users will not be easily convinced to pay for access to content
that is freely available on a fixed Internet connection.
Content value must come from filtered and analyzed information
as well as from secure and personalized services that maximize
end user communications while minimizing time spent
navigating and searching.
The mobile portals of today allow network operators to finetune
services and applications to meet the requirements of
their customers, allow operators to gain control over content,
and position the customer base to be migrated to Wireless
Internet applications, content, and portals, while creating entry
barriers for other competitors.
makes it easy to download and run applications designed for
small mobile devices, users need a point of entry to the Internet.
A mobile portal is such a gateway or entry point, adapted to
the particular circumstances of wireless mobile access to the
Internet. In addition to optimizing access to the Wireless
Internet, mobile portals aggregate and structure content and
links and provide navigation tools. Mobile portals provide links
to applications that can be purchased and downloaded onto the
device and used on- or offline. Although Internet portals have
existed for some time, these existing fixed-line portals are
designed for fixed wireless access; they have content and revenue
strategies that do not easily fit the needs of the mobile user.
Fixed line portals have brand recognition and access to content
deals but no real experience with wireless. Wireless operators
have experience in dealing with wireless voice users but
know little about the portal business. The mobile portal startups
often have experience in both areas, but lack brand recognition
and financial resources. Despite these limitations the
start-ups do have an advantage because they are focused on the
market and not distracted by nonmobile operations.
The revenue model for mobile portals is a combination of
subscription, advertising, and transaction revenue. Portal operators
that have an existing billing relationship with end users
currently have an advantage in terms of billing but all portal
operators will eventually offer “mobile wallet” services that
enable users to pay for items (including services and subscriptions)
over the same wireless connections. The mobile wallet is
a password-protected area in your phone which contains your
credit card or debit card information. When you want to purchase
something, all you need to do is retrieve the virtual credit
card to complete the purchase.
Users will not be easily convinced to pay for access to content
that is freely available on a fixed Internet connection.
Content value must come from filtered and analyzed information
as well as from secure and personalized services that maximize
end user communications while minimizing time spent
navigating and searching.
The mobile portals of today allow network operators to finetune
services and applications to meet the requirements of
their customers, allow operators to gain control over content,
and position the customer base to be migrated to Wireless
Internet applications, content, and portals, while creating entry
barriers for other competitors.
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