Page 197 - Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce

180 6 Mobile Commerce and the Internet of Things

major trust issues. Gamblers and bettors have to believe that Service Industry Consumer Applications
the site is trustworthy and fair. Finally, while the legislative
and regulatory picture is very restrictive, it is also unclear A large number of mobile applications are used in different
and keeps changing. service industries. Here are two examples.
Online gambling is booming despite the fact that it is ille-
gal in almost all U.S. states. In 2013, Delaware and Nevada Healthcare
were the first U.S. states to allow some online gambling, fol-
lowed by New Jersey (in October 2013, Delaware became the Mobile devices are everywhere in the field of healthcare, as
first state to allow a “full suite” of Internet gambling). In illustrated next:
February 2014, both Delaware and Nevada signed a deal to
allow interstate online gambling. Note that Federal Law lim- • Using a handheld device, a physician can submit a pre-
its online gambling to players while they are physically pres- scription directly to participating pharmacies from her
ent within each state. (This can be verified by using geolocation office or patient bedside. In addition, your physician can
software.) Therefore, if one state allows online gambling, you order tests, access medical information, scan billable
can play only when you are in that state. As of February 2014, items, and check costs and fees for services.
ten states were considering legalizing or expanding online • Remote devices not only monitor patient vital signs while
gambling (washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/02/ he/she is at home, but also can adjust operating medical
05/at-least-10-states-expected-to-consider-allowing- equipment. This is done by using sensors.
online-gambling-this-year). However, in March of 2014, a • To reduce errors, mobile devices can validate the managing,
bill was introduced in Congress to outlaw any Internet gam- tracking, and verifying of blood collected for transfusions.
bling, including in the states where it is already legal (review- Promises Treatment Centers (alcohol and drug rehabilita-
journal.com/news/new-bill-would-prohibit-internet- tion) uses a free mobile app (iPromises for iPhone; ipromises.
gambling-including- where- already-legal). org) that works as a virtual recovery tool (e.g., list of AA
meetings in the USA and Canada, add friends, track prog-
ress). While the iPromises Recovery Companion does not
Mobility and Sports generate revenue for the company, “it is aimed at bolstering
Promises’ reputation among patients and doctors.”
There are many sports mobile applications (e.g., see the clos-
ing case about the NFL in Chapter 1). For more applications, see motorolasolutions.com/
Here are some representative examples of unique sports US-EN/Business+Solutions/Industry+Solutions/Healthcare
mobile applications: (now Zebra).

• Nike and Apple introduced an iPod shoe called Nano (a Hospitality Management
best seller), which can calculate how many calories are
burned during workouts. This is done via wireless sen- Many applications exist from travel reservations to ensuring
sors. In addition to calories burned, users can get informa- safety in hotel rooms. Examples are: two-way radio commu-
tion about the distance they run. The data collected by the nication, wireless hotspot solutions, food safety checks,
sensors are transmitted to the runner’s iPod and head- parking lot management, asset location and management,
phones. In addition, the Nike+iPod system delivers music guest services, safety and security on the premises, entertain-
and voice entertainment, including podcasts on different ment, inventory management, and much more. For details,
sports topics. For details, see Frakes (2010). see motorolasolutions.com/en_us/solutions/hospitality.
• Personalized live sport events can be viewed on mobile html. One area in hospitality that benefits from a wireless
devices. The user can select the event to watch. In the future, system is restaurant operations.
systems will be able even to predict users’ preferred events
during several simultaneous live sports competitions. Example: Dolphin Fast Food
Streaming live sports to mobile devices is becoming very Dolphin Fast Food Inc. operates 19 Burger King franchises
popular. Unfortunately, there may be a fee to enjoy this. in Minnesota. The company uses a wireless system to
• ESPN’s SportsCenter offers WatchESPN, is a system where streamline operations, control costs, increase staff and cus-
subscribers can watch ESPN on a desktop or on a mobile tomer satisfaction, and comply with regulations. The system
device. For details, see espn.go.com/watchespn/index. includes free Wi-Fi access both in the restaurants and in a
• Eventbrite eventbrite.com is a company that provides corporate management wireless network. The company real-
several applications for event management online (e.g., ized that customers can use their mobile devices while wait-
creating tickets, promoting events, managing event entry). ing and during dining. Managers use mobile devices to