Mobile commerce: issues and obstacles

Byline: Angappa Gunasekaran, Ronald E. McGaughey Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) is any direct or indirect transaction conducted and facilitated through a wireless telecommunication network. M-commerce technologies have the potential to improve consumers' lives, spawn new businesses and make existing businesses more profitable. The flexibility and convenience of new wireless technologies make anywhere, anytime Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) and 'always on' internet a reality. Most companies and stakeholders have not completely grasped the complexities, challenges, opportunities and ramifications of m-commerce. Issues and obstacles abound in this new frontier for business, consumers and regulators; moreover, these issues and obstacles warrant the attention of both researchers and practitioners, if m-commerce is to reach its potential. We reviewed the literature to identify major issues and obstacles in m-commerce. We present them in a framework to assist practitioners in understanding the challenges they face with m-commerce and to identify research opportunities.