Page 212 - Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce

Team Assignments and Projects 195

TOPICS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION lte.html). Prepare a report on the status of 4G and 5G
AND DEBATES based on your findings.
2. You have been asked to assemble a directory of Wi-Fi
1. Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of con- hotspots in your local area. There are a number of sites,
ducting m-commerce on social networks. such as hotspot-locations.com that offer search capabili-
2. Discuss the strategic advantage of m-commerce. ties for finding hotpots in a specific area. Make a list of
3. Google acquired AdMob (google.com/ads/admob) partly locations that offer this feature.
to compete with Apple’s iAd. Discuss the strategic impli- 3. Juniper Research has created a variety of white papers deal-
cations of AdMob versus iAd. ing with different segments of the mobile entertainment
4. Debate the issue of tracking the whereabouts of employ- market (e.g., mobile games). Go to Juniper Research (juni-
ees. Related to this is the privacy issue of tracking peo- perresearch.com) and download a white paper regarding
ple and cars. Discuss the pros and cons. one of these market segments. Use the white paper as a
5. Debate the issue of a company’s right to check all employ- guide to write a summary of the market segment you
ee’s e-mail and voice communications, done either on selected—the size of the market, the major vendors, the
their own or on the company’s devices during work hours. factors encouraging and impeding its growth, and the
6. Examine the use of mobile devices in restaurants and future of the market segment.
debate the possibility of the elimination of paper menus. 4. Enter meetup.com and review their mobile apps. Write a
7. Search the issue of m-commerce usability. Start with summary.
baymard.com/mcommerce_usability. 5. Find information about Google Maps for mobile devices.
8. Research the evolvement of Google Glass. Write a report. Also review the capabilities of Google SMS and other related
Start with the evolution of Google Glass at redmondpie. Google applications. Write a report on your findings.
com/the-evolution-of-google-glass-in-two- years- 6. Enter mobile.fandango.com and find the services they
since-its-inception-image. What will be the benefits of offer to mobile customers. Write a report.
the device to users? (See golocalworcester.com/busi- 7. Enter IBM’s Smarter Cities Challenge (smartercities-
ness/smart-benefits-vision-coverage-for- google-glass- challenge.org). Find the recent activities related to IBM’s
is-clear.) Compare to competitors’ products. initiatives about smarter cities. Then check MIT Media
9. Find information on IBM’s “smarter cities.” What are Lab Initiative City Science (cities.media.mit.edu) and
the benefits of the initiative to the residents of such cit- find their latest smart cities projects. Finally, enter
ies? (See ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smarter_cit- European Smart Cities (smart-cities.eu). Write a report
ies/overview.) on the major current projects related to smart cities.
10. Find information about Cisco’s “BYOD smart solution.” 8. Enter Facebook and find all their features that facilitate
Examine the benefits and discuss the possibility of using mobile shopping. Also see shopify.com/facebook. Write
this solution in medium or small companies. (See cisco. a report.
com/web/solutions/trends/byod_smart_solution/ 9. Conduct a Google search for comparisons on tablets ver-
index.html.) sus PCs. Write a report.
11. Find the latest applications of the “Internet of Things”
and discuss their usability.
12. In-store mobile tracking of shoppers in brick-and- mortar TEAM ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS
retailers is increasing. Examine the benefits and the neces-
sary protection of the customers (e.g., choice to opt-out). 1. Assignment for the Opening Case
Under what circumstances would you allow customer Read the opening case and answer the following ques-
tracking? tions.
13. Join the discussion at iotcommunity.net. Write a report. (a) Do you really need the NeverLost GPS (fee of $13.99/
day) when you can get almost the same information
with a smartphone like the iPhone (or iPad) and a por-
table GPS? Why or why not?
INTERNET EXERCISES (b) Which one of Hertz’s mobile applications can be con-
sidered a mobile enterprise and which one can be
1. Research the status of 4G and 5G. You can find information considered a mobile customer service?
by conducting a Google search and by going to Verizon (c) Identify finance and marketing-oriented applications
Wireless (see verizonwireless.com/wcms/consumer/4g- in this case.