Wireless redefines e-commerce

The Wireless Data Forum and Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing have joined forces to define a new market for wireless electronic commerce.

As part of a new project, called the Wireless E-Commerce Initiative, the organizations aim to educate the wireless industry from two perspectives. "The first is simply helping the wireless industry sell what it has better over the Web," said Alan Reiter, president of Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing.

The group also will seek e-commerce applications unique to wireless. "Are there potentials for wireless e-commerce that don't exist to someone conducting e-commerce at their desktop?" asked Mark Desautels, managing director for the Wireless Data Forum. Applications could include stock trading or electronic banking. "The first order might be those commercial activities that would benefit from having anytime, anywhere buying capabilities," he said.

The wireless industry could modify existing applications to fit broader market segments. "Even those skeptical about the data industry understand that money has been made in the vertical markets," Reiter said. "They've been using e-commerce for years-it's just not pegged with that name," he said.

The initiative also will look at how the Internet can help wireless operators cut customer care costs by letting users perform self-care functions such as checking accounts or adding services via handsets. Wireless Application Protocol Forum members such as Unwired Planet are already pursuing such concepts. Also, Geoworks last week introduced a professional services consulting group that offers expertise in application development, operating system extensions and hardware and software integration.