Applications of M-commerce

Active Applications
M-commerce transactions point to online shopping Web sites tailored to mobile phones and PDAs which are being equipped with the capabilities of browsing, selection, purchase, payment and delivery. These sites also include all the necessary shopping features, such as online catalogs, shopping carts, and back office functions as currently available for desktop computers. Leading online booksellers already started the commercial activities for wireless devices. Another important m-commerce transaction is to initiate and pay for purchases and services in real time. The highest volume of m-commerce transactions using wireless devices in the days to come is bound to occur on the side of micro-transactions. When individuals reach for their e-cash-equipped mobile phones or PDAs instead of coins to settle micro transactions, such as subway fees, widespread use of digital cash will become a reality.

The second important one is regarding digital content delivery. Wireless devices can retrieve status information, such as weather, transit schedules, flash news, sports scores, ticket availability and market prices, instantly from the providers of information and directory services. Digital products, such as MP3 music, software, high-resolution images and full-motion advertising messages, can be easily downloaded to and used in wireless devices when the 3G transmission technology becomes usable. The proposed arrival of better display screen and higher bandwidth will surely trigger the development of innovative video applications. This will help wireless users to access, retrieve, store and display high-resolution video content for a time of entertainment, product demonstration and e-learning.

The last major application of m-commerce is telemetry services, which include the monitoring of space flights, meteorological data transmission, video-conference, the Global Positioning System (Global Positioning System), wildlife tracking, camera control robotics, and oceanography. Thus in the near future, wireless phones and appliances can be used by people to contact and communicate with various devices from their homes, offices or any where at any time. For example, delivery drivers will ping intelligent dispensing machines or users can transmit messages to activate remote recording devices or service systems.

Passive Applications
This type of applications seems manifold and exciting. Instead of using dedicated cash cards for automatic collection of toll charges, digital cash can be used by integrating cash cards with mobile devices. Mobile users can easily pay and record payment of toll, mass-transit, fast-food, and other other transactions

Nowadays mobile users can send and receive short text messages up to 160 characters that show up on the user's display screen. As digital convergence becomes more commonplace, all kinds of mail, such as e-mail, fax documents and digitized voice mail, can be received passively. Thus it is felt that in near future there will be many novel services for mobile users for a fixed fee. Further on, users may be tempted for some services free of cost for viewing audio or video advertisement delivered to their wireless devices. Any kind of security breach, illegal intrusion, unusual event or unacceptable condition will trigger automatic notification to users irrespective of location. Airline companies are testing this technology to alert frequent air passengers regarding seat availability and upgradation, to notify the changes made in the timings etc. through wireless devices.

Passive m-commerce telemetry is the foundation of still another form of interactive marketing. Stores will be able to market their products and services by constantly transmitting promotional and inducing messages and doling out something towards getting the attention of both passers-by and remote mobile users.