Leaving the technical limitations aside, research shows that two-thirds of mobile customers feel no pressing need to get online. Mobile and desktop users lead two totally different online lives. Where most fixed line connections last on average 31 minutes, the majority of mobile connections last a mere eight minutes. While stationary connections have a myriad of multimedia add-ons to enhance their surfing experience, venturing online using a mobile device is akin to surgical strikes where you seek out strategic blips of data. Current passive mobile offerings of stock listings, sports tickers and weather information need to progress to stock trading, sports betting and weather updates based on the user's location.
Reports show that they are buying books, CDs and gifts.
Staying Alive Third-generation wireless networks are scheduled to come online in the next few years. Whether or not these new networks actually save m-commerce's bacon is unclear. But a government mandate meant to save lives may unintentionally prevent mobile commerce's untimely demise. The American FCC has given wireless carriers until 2001 to devise methods for pinpointing mobile 911 distress calls. Piggybacking on this government initiative is the location-based industry.