Mobile Computing and its Business Implications
ABSTRACT
Mobile computing is a technology that is shifting modern computing services to mobile devices. Because of the convenience and flexibility that comes with mobile computing, more people are embracing this technology to fulfill their daily computing needs. With such advancements in place, computing has become location independent and has facilitated a steady transition from personal and mainframe computers to mobile devices that are flexible and readily available. This paper discusses mobile computing technology and its business implications. It also explores the applications and benefits of mobile computing in business and the legal issues in mobile cloud computing. The discussion concludes that while mobile computing technology remains relatively new, this trend is changing because mobile devices have gotten cheaper and more readily available, a factor that is providing immense opportunities for future growth in different fields.
Introduction
Mobility computing has emerged to be one of the new technologies that are promoting the growth of mobility within the field of computing. This technology is evident in the development of various mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and GPS navigation, among other computing technologies. Additionally, the development of wireless technologies such as WIFI and Ad Hoc has allowed users to access the internet more easily without being limited by cables as was the case before (Oncioiu, 2020). Because of the convenience and flexibility that comes with mobile computing, Oncioiu (2020) argues that more people are embracing this technology to fulfill their daily computing needs. The focus of this discussion is on mobile computing to understand how technology is being used to promote development, efficiency, and profitability within modern the modern business environment.
Mobile Computing in Business
Mobile business (M-Business) refers to the practice of carrying out business through wireless networking and mobile devices. Application of mobile business involves the use of mobile devices to access existing e-business applications which allows mobile users to use them from anywhere (Awn, 2019). As such, organizations and businesses achieve their strategic business objectives through the use of mobile computing in this manner.
Mobile computing is very beneficial to the business environment mainly because it allows enterprises to avoid hiring additional staff at different sites. For example, business managers can now be able to apply mobile computing technology to make important presentations to their major customers and other relevant stakeholders (Awn, 2019). Through this technology, stakeholders can access the latest information about the business organization from wherever they are. Moreover, they can make easy and quick communication with the organization’s offices regarding any new offers or arrange meetings to respond to discuss any new offers and proposals.
Today many organizations are now adopting mobile computing technology to conduct their advertisements because it allows them to reach out to a wider audience while enhancing a one – to one correspondence. Additionally, mobile devices are also being used to conduct micro-payments. For example, today mobile computing users can easily pay for their cable TV connection through mobile payments (Awn, 2019). Moreover, modern organizations have managed to eliminate a lot of paperwork through the use of mobile computing because they can now be able to send bills to their customer’s mobile devices. Similarly, banks have also adopted telebanking to facilitate different transactions over mobile devices (Awn, 2019). All these different aspects demonstrate how mobile computing is being applied in the modern business environment.
Finally, mobile computing technology is also being used to promote various business operations in different industries. For instance, the transportation industry has benefited significantly from mobile computing because it has made it easy it tracks various consignments in transit (Awn, 2019). Moreover, Awn (2019) adds that today drivers can leverage mobile computing technology to navigate easily or find the shortest possible route to their destination. In the manufacturing industry, this technology has enhanced machine automation because machine operators can now control their machines from anywhere using mobile devices. Through mobile computing, manufacturing managers can keep track of the amount or quantity of products to be produced (Awn, 2019). As such, mobile computing technology has helped speed up business processes while enhancing interactions between organizations and their customers.
Applications and Benefits of Mobile Computing in Business
Awn (2019) describes mobile computing as the technology hat shifts computing services to mobile devices. This definition implies that mobile computing technology involves the availability of large storage facilities with cloud storage facilities extending the ability of lightweight mobile devices. With such advancements in place, computing has become location independent and has facilitated a steady transition from personal and mainframe computers to mobile devices that are flexible and readily available. Awn, M. (2019) adds that through mobile computing, it has become possible for organizations to localize and personalize content while providing users with the right information at the right time and continuously.
Today mobile computing allows for the transmission of audio and video data through computers and other wireless devices without linking it to fixed physical networks. Moreover, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are now being utilized extensively across different enterprises with most businesses creating applications that support more than one operating system (Pejović, 2019). However, this development faces common challenges of data security and limited storage capacity which are common problems with most mobile applications. As such, Pejović (2019) argues that there is a need to integrate cloud computing in the development of a modern mobile application because they offer better and more powerful performance while enhancing cybersecurity and data storage capacity. With the adoption of cloud computing technology, it becomes easier for developers to enhance mobile computing capabilities.
Mobile computing technology allows the utilization of different computing devices to interact with the central information processing unit from a mobile location. As a consequence, employees of any organization utilizing this technology can communicate and process information within the organization without being limited to a central location (Pejović, 2019). With this technology in place, the actual mobile computing power becomes apparent when mobile hardware and software are configured optimally to attain specific mobile tasks.
Although there are many diverse applications of mobile computing technology, these applications can be grouped into either horizontal or vertical applications. Horizontal applications are quite broad and they include word processing, email messaging, and web browsing, among others (Pejović, 2019). These applications are normally standardized in such a way that they are integrated into the system software. On the other hand, vertical applications tend to be industry-specific such that they only appeal to the particular industry which they were designed to operate in (Pejović, 2019). The common areas where vertical applications are used include; law enforcement and public safety, the field of medicine, warehousing, and shipping, among other fields (Pejović, 2019). The two types of applications demonstrate the broad nature of mobile computing applications in different industries.
Through mobile computing, organizational operational efficiency is enhanced which integrates this technology into a static information system (Pejović, 2019). In other words, mobile computing enhances supplements static information systems such that they are designed around optimal mobile workers thus eliminating the need to stay in only one working environment. For instance, mobile computers are utilized by mobile workers to avoid unnecessary travel to the office or any location where their organization’s computers are situated. As such, Pejović (2019) adds that with these functionalities in place, it means that mobile computing enhances business efficiency in different ways some of which include eliminating unnecessary travel costs, saving time, and minimizing the time used to address customer complaints, among other benefits.
Advancements in the current computing technology and power are credited for the establishment of the mobile cloud computing technology. Mobile computing is very beneficial to the business environment mainly because it allows enterprises to avoid hiring additional staff at different sites. For example, business managers can now be able to apply mobile computing technology to make important presentations to their major customers and other relevant stakeholders. Through this technology, stakeholders can access the latest information about the business organization from wherever they are. Moreover, they can make easy and quick communication with the organization’s offices regarding any new offers or arrange meetings to respond to discuss any new offers and proposals. As such, mobile cloud computing technology is being integrated into the development of a modern mobile application because it offers better and more powerful performance while enhancing cybersecurity and data storage capacity. With the adoption of mobile cloud computing technology, it becomes easier for organizations to enhance mobile computing capabilities.
The emergence of mobile computing technology has drawn the attention of modern entrepreneurs that this technology is a profitable tool that businesses can adopt. One of the main reasons for this development is the fact that this technology lowers the development and running costs of the mobile application. Moreover, the technology is very attractive to mobile users where it is used as a new technology for attaining the rich experience of the different mobile services that are offered at a much-reduced cost. With adopting these mobile computing technology applications and functionalities, it means that technology enhances business efficiency in different ways some of which include eliminating unnecessary travel costs, saving time, and minimizing the time used to address customer complaints, among other benefits.
Legal Issues in Mobile Cloud Computing
As earlier discussed, mobile computing technology has numerous advantages, especially in modern business environments. For instance, mobile computing technology is being used to conduct micro-payments where today mobile computing users can easily pay for their cable TV connection through mobile payments (Oncioiu, 2020). Moreover, modern organizations have managed to eliminate a lot of paperwork through the use of mobile computing because they can now be able to send bills to their customer’s mobile devices (Oncioiu, 2020). However, despite the technology having these numerous advantages, it has led to serious legal issues and concerns especially in regards to cloud computing where sometimes customer data has to exported aboard to different cloud service providers. Under such circumstances, cloud service providers are faced with the legal challenge of contending with the diverse legal systems falling under a different jurisdiction. This poses huge legal challenges because there is no clarity about the actual location where data resides or how this data is transmitted to the end-users during its passage through diverse legal jurisdictions (Oncioiu, 2020). As such, these serious legal issues involving data ownership and the liability for its misuse or loss have to be looked into keenly by cloud service providers to avoid incurring heavy fines that might arise from the breach of the law in different jurisdictions.
Another serious concern is the fact that legal issues tend to differ from the ones arising from conventional hosting or outsourcing. For instance, traditional server hires o data hosting contract comprised of the use of another person’s computer or the storage medium (Oncioiu, 2020). However, with this type of set up, it was usually clear who n individual or an organization was dealing with and the exact location where this data would be stored or located. Unfortunately, with cloud computing, such arrangements or information is now always clear, a factor that raises numerous legal concerns especially in the event of a potential cybersecurity threat (Oncioiu, 2020). The fact that mobile cloud computing resources are easy to set up means that it is a process that can be done without undertaking an appropriate review that takes the relevant legal issues into considerations.
The Future of Mobile Computing
Initially, Mobile computing technology had a slow start because some enterprises were very skeptical or cautious to adopt the new technology while mobile devices at the time were more expensive and in the hands of just a few people (Burley, Scheepers & Haddon, 2016). However, today that trend has changed because mobile devices have gotten cheaper and more readily available, a factor that is providing immense opportunities for future growth.
In some fields such as medicine, mobile computing technology remains relatively new especially at a time when commercial products being designed and developed by different manufactures to solve varying problems. However, this trend is likely to change with more wireless devices being used to enhance health monitoring while allowing medical professionals to detect and treat diseases while they are still at their absolute infancy stages. This development will mean that diseases like diabetes can be controlled early while they are still at the infancy stage because they new technology will be able to detect them in good time before they develop into serious complications (Burley, Scheepers & Haddon, 2016). Additionally, mobile computing technology will also be used to monitor modern diets and eating habits and their effects on human health thus making it easier to control unhealthy habits like alcohol consumption, smoking while maximizing exercise (Burley, Scheepers & Haddon, 2016).
Finally, with connectivity upgrading from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G technology, it means that nearly all devices used today from house appliances to cars, among others will be fitted with mobile computing technology. Additionally, the evolution of other concepts like grid and cloud computing will add to the existing mobile computing technology to make it more advanced (Burley, Scheepers & Haddon, 2016).
Conclusion
From the foregoing, Mobility computing technology is emerging to be one of the new technologies promoting the growth of mobility within the field of computing. Because of the convenience and flexibility that comes with mobile computing, more people are embracing this technology to fulfill their daily computing needs. With such advancements in place, computing has become location independent and has facilitated a steady transition from personal and mainframe computers to mobile devices that are flexible and readily available. Organizations and businesses achieve their strategic business objectives through the use of mobile computing because it enhances interactions between organizations and their customers. In conclusion, mobile computing technology remains relatively new, this trend is changing because mobile devices have gotten cheaper and more readily available, a factor that is providing immense opportunities for future growth.
References
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Burley, L., Scheepers, H., & Haddon, B. (2016). Outcomes of Introducing a Mobile Computing Application in a Healthcare Setting. Unwired Business, 235–252. doi: 10.4018/978-1-59140-664-8.ch016
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