Mobile information and entertainment services: business models and service networks

Abstract

The mobile telecommunications industry is undergoing a rapid change, which is increasing the interdependency of firms in the sector. This trend increases the likelihood that mobile information and entertainment services will be delivered through inter-organisational networks of firms. These networks are the topic of this research. In particular, we examine service networks and the possible influence of business models on their characteristics. Using data from five case studies of mobile service networks, we examine the influence of revenue models and network membership benefits on network characteristics. The results of this exploratory research demonstrate that revenue models have a relationship with governance and that both revenue sharing agreements and governance mechanisms become less standardised with greater distance from the end user. In the conclusion we discuss the implications of these findings for research on both inter-firm service networks and business models.