Exercise 15 : M-commerce: Innovation and mobile devices

1. What is meant by a location based service? Explain using the Web applications found on a late model mobile device.

Location-based services (LBS) is a service accessible via a mobile device that utilises the device’s geographical position. The location of the device can be determined by a number of ways including positioning based upon mobile-phine towers, GSM localisation and GPS.

Wikipedia lists the following examples of LBS use:

• Requesting the nearest business or service, such as an ATM or restaurant
• Turn by turn navigation to any address
• Locating people on a map displayed on the mobile phone
• Receiving alerts, such as notification of a sale on gas or warning of a traffic jam
• Location-based mobile advertising
• Asset recovery combined with active RF to find, for example, stolen assets in containers where GPS wouldn’t work

2. Describe the purpose of the Open Mobile Alliance Initiative?
In answer to 1. What is the OMA? 2. What is the purpose of the OMA? the official website OMA states:

1. “Open Mobile Alliance is designed to be the center of mobile service enabler specification work, helping the creation of interoperable services across countries, operators and mobile terminals that will meet the needs of the user. To grow the mobile market, the companies supporting the Open Mobile Alliance will work towards stimulating the fast and wide adoption of a variety of new, enhanced mobile information, communication and entertainment services. The foundation of the Open Mobile Alliance was created by consolidating the efforts of the supporters of the Open Mobile Architecture initiative and the WAP Forum. In addition, the SyncML initiative, Location Interoperability Forum (LIF), MMS Interoperability Group (MMS-IOP), Wireless Village, Mobile Gaming Interoperability Forum (MGIF), and Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) have consolidated into the Open Mobile Alliance. By linking the activities of a number of organizations, the Open Mobile Alliance can address areas that previously fell outside the scope of any existing organizations, as well as streamline work that may have been previously duplicated by multiple organizations.”

2. “The purpose of the Open Mobile Alliance is to grow the market for the entire mobile industry by removing barriers to interoperability, supporting a seamless and easy to use mobile experience for users and a market environment that encourages competition through innovation and differentiation. Individual organizations often address standardization issues within one specific scope. By linking the activities of a number of organizations, the Open Mobile Alliance can address areas that previously fell outside the scope of any existing organizations, as well as streamline work that may have been previously duplicated by multiple organizations. Most significantly, the Open Mobile Alliance is designed to be the center of all mobile application standardization work, enabling the creation of mobile services designed to meet the needs of the end-user. To grow the mobile market, the companies supporting the Open Mobile Alliance will work towards stimulating the fast and wide adoption of a variety of new, enhanced mobile information, communication and entertainment services. The implementation of OMA specifications results in benefits to the end-users, providing easy to use mobile services that are interoperable across countries, operators and mobile terminals.”


3. What are the main components of a mobile Web services framework?
• Mobile network operator – provides mobile web access
• Subscriber – end user of operators services
• Mobile device – e.g. phone, PDA, iPad
• Web server – providing services
• Services:
o 3rd party
o authentication
o payment
o location

4. Visit an airline Web site and search for information on WAP or SMS or 3G mobile application access to book airline services. The same services exist in banking.

How do both industries compare?
Airline - Qantas qantas.com Mobile:
• domestic check in – boarding pass sent via SMS as a 2D barcode
• view your booking
• real time flight arrival and depature times – SMS flight update if delayed or cancelled
• worldwide flight timetables
• Qantas Club Lounge – locations and contacts
• Qantas offices – contact details
Bank – Westpac Westpac Mobile Banking:
• Check and manage your Westpac accounts – View your latest balance, your last 20 transactions and transfer money between your Westpac accounts.
• Pay bills using BPAY® to any of your existing billers. You can also schedule payments for a later date and choose the account you pay from – cheque, savings or credit card.
• Send money to your friends, family and businesses (provided they have an Australian account), the “Pay Anyone” feature lets you transfer money to your existing list of payees
• Easily login – if you’re a personal and a business customer, one Identification number and one password is all you need to access both your accounts.
• Enjoy peace of mind with your SecurID token. If you have one, you can use it on Westpac Mobile banking for iPhone.
Some banks also use SMS as a level of authentication on transactions involved in internet banking. An account holder registers their phone to receive codes that need to be entered prior to internet bakning transactions being authorised.


References:
• OMA http://www.openmobilealliance.org/