Publisher's Synopsis
The book's title metaphor brings forth a number of questions and potential developments for the future. Mobile telephony has evolved beyond voice communication and on to further services, such as basic Internet access, mail, and mobile TV. It is however still unclear what value this development creates, and for whom. There is reason to talk about a new phase, bound to encompass a far more complex set of market situations. The technological changes are indisputable, but what markets are being collapsed or expanded are still very much under debate. The new wireless world looks bound to provide an ever-increasing number of different market offerings, rather than services delivered solely over one specific kind of telecom network. A situation has arisen similar to the pattern for physical transportation where the use of cars, buses, trains, and aeroplanes often combine. The sixteen chapters in this book aim to give a comprehensive view of Mobility and Value, based on extensive empirical studies as well as on the application of theoretical tools and the development of those tools. There seems to be a need for new, dynamic business models and value creating constellations of firms, adaptable to ever-changing technologies and markets. The concept of mobility is clearly more than just a fancy word for mobiles. Rather, it is an intriguing umbrella concept embracing the complexities of a new economic landscape. The connection between mobility and value is dynamic; it is inherently unstable.
