Beyond mobility : EFI Yearbook 2007 Upplaga 1

The book's title metaphor "Beyond Mobility" brings forth a number of questions and potential deve-lopments 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 undisputable, 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 airplanes 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 develop-ment 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. EFI Year Book 2007