Antero Kivi

A Framework for Analysing the Usage of Mobile Services

Purpose – Collecting and analysing data on mobile service usage is increasingly complex as usage diverges between different types of devices and networks. The purpose of this paper is to suggest and apply a holistic framework that helps in designing mobile service usage research as well as in communicating, positioning, and comparing research results.Design/methodology/approach – The framework was constructed based on longitudinal and cross‐sectional mobile service usage measurements carried out in Finland annually in 2005‐2008, covering 80‐90 percent of all mobile users and service usage. Broad use of multiple data collection methods and measurement points enabled data and method triangulation, as well as analysis and comparison of their scopes and limitations.Findings – The paper suggests a holistic framework for analysing mobile services, relying on service science approach. For measurements and analysis, mobile services are decomposed into four technical components: devices, applications, networks, an...

Measuring mobile service usage: methods and measurement points

A comprehensive understanding of mobile service usage is increasingly difficult as a fragmented user base is accessing internet-based services using multiple wireless networks. In this paper, alternative data collection methods are reviewed. Surveys and end-user monitoring provide very detailed sample-based data, whereas wireless network data are less granular but cover an operators entire subscriber base. Servers give detailed data on a focused user base. In future, survey-based methods will be increasingly complemented with automated measurements. Multifunctional mobile handsets and servers of internet-based service providers seem the most promising measurement points, whereas 2G/3G mobile networks are less useful as traffic leaks to alternative networks.

Measuring Mobile Peer-to-Peer Usage: Case Finland 2007

We study the development of mobile peer-to-peer (MP2P) traffic and the usage of MP2P applications in Finland during 2005-2007. Research data consists of 1) traffic traces measured from three Finnish GSM/UMTS networks covering the Internet-bound mobile data traffic generated by 80-90% of Finnish mobile subscribers (N > 4,000,000), and 2) usage log files collected with a dedicated Symbian handset monitoring application (N = 579). In the traffic trace measurement, we notice almost zero P2P file sharing traffic for handsets, but 9-18% of unidentified traffic, part of which possibly being P2P traffic. Potentially a notable growing trend for computer-based P2P file sharing traffic is visible in GSM/UMTS networks, BitTorrent and eDonkey being the most popular protocols. In the panel study, only Fring, a client to several P2P-based communication services, has significant usage and data volume levels.

Mobile data services in Finland: usage of networks, devices, applications and content

Importance of mobile data services is increasing but factual information on their usage is limited. This paper analyses the usage of mobile data services in Finland. The use of multiple data sources gives complementary viewpoints to the evolution and usage of the services and the underlying technical components: networks, devices, applications and content. The analysis is descriptive by nature and presents detailed information about the past market evolution, current market situation and trends. The results indicate that the technical components enabling mobile data service usage are spreading. On the basis of the study, a number of mobile data market metrics are suggested.

Diffusion of Mobile Handset Features in Finland

Mobile handsets have evolved into advanced devices with a rich variety of hardware and software features. These features enable the use of completely new mobile services that complement and substitute the traditional voice calling and text messaging services. Therefore, instead of the diffusion of mobile handsets, the diffusion of new mobile handset features has become an increasingly important research topic. In this paper, the diffusion patterns of mobile handset features were compared quantitatively based on an extensive and unique dataset on mobile handsets collected from Finland. Mobile handset features are new technologies that diffuse within the existing population of mobile handsets. A first attempt to quantitatively model such “nested diffusion” was made. Moreover, handset features form clusters of technologies with interdependent diffusion patterns. The decisions to bundle features together are made by handset manufacturers. Therefore, the diffusion of handset features was found to be supply-driven.