Timo Smura

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...

Energy efficiency of mobile handsets: Measuring user attitudes and behavior

The purpose of this research is to understand the behavior and expectations of mobile handset users towards energy consumption. We analyze mobile handset monitoring traces from subsequent years with N=253 and 105, and questionnaire studies with N=155 and 150. The data allows us to study both the actual behavior of the users and their explicit attitudes, expectations, and experiences. Additional difference to prior work is the use of longitudinal data from multiple years and a user sample that is much larger than in earlier studies. We present hypotheses drawn both from literature and from our own experience, and use the datasets to support or refute them. Our results indicate that mobile device users need more detailed and clearer information of the battery status and energy consumption. Moreover, users want to understand how different applications and services affect the energy consumption and to learn what they can do to control it.

Future Scenarios for Local Area Access: Industry Structure and Access Fragmentation

Indoor deployments of wireless access points will likely be required to fulfill the future traffic capacity requirements. Considerable uncertainty exists, however, about the technologies utilized to provide local area access, as well as the roles of different actors in the value network providing mobile services. We apply Schoemaker’s scenario planning method to identify and analyze the key uncertainties and to construct four alternative and plausible future scenarios having different implications to local area access technologies and business models. The results are valuable in designing wireless technologies and standards for the future, as well as in pointing out the role of local area access provisioning as a potential control point in the mobile services business.

Value Network Configurations in wireless local area access

Rapidly growing demand for ubiquitous wireless access is presenting significant challenges to the scalability of the existing mobile wide area (WA) network infrastructure. This is increasing the importance of wireless local area (LA) access points (AP) and base stations (BS) residing in indoor locations. Uncertainty exists over who will control this, potentially very valuable part of the mobile service delivery infrastructure and there are many interested actors in position of coupling local area access to their existing platform. In this paper we conduct an analysis of possible Value Network Configurations (VNC) that could emerge around wireless local area access. We construct seven alternative Value Network Configurations by identifying important roles related to wireless local area access provisioning, the corresponding drivers and actors in position of taking on these roles. The identification and description of these configurations clarifies the different possible evolution paths for wireless local area access provisioning and acts as a basis for the design of corresponding future technologies and regulatory policies.

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.

On the economics of fixed‐mobile convergence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that fixed‐mobile convergence (FMC) has gathered much interest in the telecommunications industry lately. Integrated operators (who own both fixed and mobile networks), are keen to exploit FMC benefits in order to save costs and generate new revenues. This paper aims to analyze the effects of converged network and service environment on the business of existing telecommunication operators.Design/methodology/approach – After an introduction to the regulatory, market, and technology related issues of convergence, the authors focus on analyzing the role of FMC technologies and services in their businesses of an integrated operator with existing fixed and mobile operations in a large Western European country.Findings – Results reveal that an integrated operator can benefit from cost savings, customer retention and prevent revenue erosion by migrating to FMC.Originality/value – This paper examines the effects of fixed‐mobile convergence to an integrated operator.

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.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence: An Integrated Operator Case Study

In recent years, fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) has gathered much interest in the telecommunications industry. FMC is expected to offer benefits for network and service operators as well as end-users. Integrated operators (who own both fixed and mobile networks), are keen to exploit these benefits in order to save costs and generate new revenues. However, such operators are also faced with the challenge of identifying an appropriate roadmap for FMC migration in order to prevent substitution effects or conflict of interest among their own fixed and network operations. In this paper, we present results and analysis of an FMC migration case study for an integrated operator in a Western European market. The additional benefits achieved by the operator are quantified, with suggestions for migration strategies. Results of the study show that an integrated operator can benefit from cost savings, customer retention and prevent revenue erosion by migrating to FMC.

Price and sales volume patterns of mobile handsets and technologies

This article provides empirical evidence on the price and unit sales volume patterns of mobile handsets and mobile technologies, using data on the Finnish market. The prices and sales are studied on product category, product model, and product feature levels. The results show how the dynamic of prices and sales changed after the proliferation of smartphones. Otherwise, the dynamics seem to be relatively systematic supporting the use of simple assumptions in practical estimations. The median price of handset models decreases linearly, from 89% of the introduction price at peak sales in the fifth sales month to 47% in in two years. For mobile handset features, a decreasing price pattern was also identified. After a 10% market share is reached, the decrease is on average 30 Euros per 10% market share change. The prices at feature takeoff were identified to be on average at 58% of introduction price. Price and Sales Volume Patterns of Mobile Handsets and Technologies

Mobile handset features as service enablers - Conceptual model of feature diffusion

Mobile handsets are evolving into advanced multipurpose devices with various hardware and software features enabling new services. Therefore, understanding the diffusion of mobile handset features is increasingly important. This study reviews previous research and analyzes two cases to identify the most important feature characteristics and their relationship with the feature diffusion process. In addition, a conceptual model of feature diffusion is proposed and strategies to stimulate feature diffusion are discussed.