Competition for the Mobile Internet

Billions of dollars (and euros, yen, and other currencies) have been spent by wireless services providers to acquire the radio frequency spectrum needed to offer so-called “Third Generation” (3G) mobile services. These services include high-speed data, mobile Internet access and entertainment such as games, music and video programs. Indeed, as voice communications is substituted by data communications, software – rather than terminals or networks – has become the driver of the wireless industry. Meanwhile, services are becoming increasingly specialized. Why has the road to multimedia cellular been so difficult? The devil is in the details. The Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) has been exploring these fundamental questions in its Mobile Internet Project, vis-a-vis ongoing research, a conference, and workshops, including experts from wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, application software developers, investors and government officials. “Competition for the Mobile Internet” is the culmination of these efforts. It explores the “twin drivers” of mobility and the Internet.
Focusing on the industry transformation, this book stresses three central perspectives: public policy debate, industry and market developments, as well as industry perspectives. It explores these perspectives through the collaboration of academic research, policy studies, and industry perspectives.