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Mobile commerce 

(m‑commerce)

Electronic transactions 

and communications 

conducted using 

mobile devices such as 

smartphones and tablets, 

and typically with a 

wireless connection.

Mobile apps

A software application 

that is designed for use on 

a mobile phone, typically 

downloaded from an 

app store. iPhone Apps 

are best known, but all 

smartphones support 

the use of apps which 

can provide users with 

information, entertainment 

or   location‑  based  services 

such as mapping.

Mini case study 1.1

An example of the popularity of  location‑  based mobile services is Qype (www.qype.com). Founded in 2006, 

Qype is Europe’s largest site for  user‑  generated reviews and recommendations of places, events and expe‑

riences. Qype allows users to search for and read reviews about a restaurant, shop, service or experience 

and, with the Qype app, users can read and add reviews on their phone and use the application as a per‑

sonal satnav to find places nearby. Available in seven different languages, Qype is a  pan‑  European local 

review site with 3 million reviews covering more than 900,000 places worldwide. In 2013 it merged with Yelp, 

a US‑based site with 102 monthly unique visitors and 39 million local reviews across the US, Europe and 

Asia Pacific. Although Facebook and Google offer similar services, it shows that there are opportunities for 

other companies that focus on this niche.

Qype and Yelp provide  location‑  based review services

Part 1  Introduction

Trends update

Mobile usage

Mobile usage was forecast to overtake desktop usage in 2014. Find out the latest 

statistics on mobile and app usage at: http://bit.ly/smartmobilestats.

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Chapter 1 Introduction to digital business and e‑commerce

  What is the difference between digital business and e‑commerce? 

 The rapid advancement of technology and its application to business has been accompanied 

by a range of new terminology and jargon such as e-CRM, e-retail and e-procurement. Do 

we need to be concerned about the terminology? The short answer is no; Mougayer (1998) 

noted that it is understanding the services that can be offered to customers and the business 

benefits that are obtainable through digital technology that is important. However, labels are 

convenient in defining the  scope  of the changes we are looking to make within an organisa-

tion through using electronic communications. Managers within an organisation need to 

agree and communicate the digital transformation they are proposing through using digital 

technologies to employees, customers and partners.