Mobile Companies Research Articles

Korporatyvinio įvaizdžio įtaka vartotojų pasitenkinimui paslaugų kokybe: mobiliojo ryšio bendrovių atvejis

Įvairių atliekamų tyrimų, susijusių su vartotojų elgsena paslaugų rinkodaros srityje, nuolat daugėja. Aki­vaizdu, kad vartotojo elgsena svarbi sritis korporatyvinėms organizacijoms. Tačiau pastaraisiais metais išaiškėjo tendencija korporatyvinį pozicionavimą kurti komunikacijos priemonėmis. Straipsnyje kelia­mas klausimas, kokią įtaką korporatyvinis įvaizdis turi vartotojo pritraukimui ir klientų išlaikymui dabar­tinėmis rinkos sąlygomis. Straipsnyje ieškoma sąsajų tarp korporatyvinio įvaizdžio ir paslaugų kokybės vertinimo, tiriant paslaugų vartotojų pasitenkinimą. Teorinėje analizėje, remiantis moksline literatūra, sudaromas vartotojų poreikių tenkinimo modelis, kurio pagrindiniai elementai – įvaizdis ir paslaugos ar produkto kokybė. Šiems elementams priskiriami kriterijai, kurie tikrinami tyrimais. Straipsnyje pristatomi du vartotojų poreikių tyrimai. Žvalgomojo tyrimo – fokusuoto grupinio interviu metu išsiaiškinta, kokie kriterijai lemia mobiliojo ryšio bendrovių klientų pasirinkimą bei lojalumą konkrečioms įmonėms. Iša­nalizavus interviu rezultatus, pastebėta sąsaja tarp praktikos ir teorinio modelio. Iškeltoms prielaidoms tikrinti pasitelktas kiekybinis tyrimas. Remiantis tyrimo rezultatais teikiami pasiūlymai, kaip paslaugų įmonėms, manipuliuojant korporatyviniu įvaizdžiu, reikėtų kurti vartotojų lojalumą.

EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SMART PHONE ATTRIBUTES IN MULTI-COUNTRIES

When conjoint experiments are applied to study complex decision making that wears many attributes, this sometimes results in problems of information overload and respondent burden, potentially weakening the validity of such experiments. To reduce the impact of these potential problems, an integrated hierarchical survey design (IHSD) to be used with Kano model for large conjoint analysis has been suggested. The author compared the utility of mobile phone's attributes for each market by analysing empirical data which wear obtained from 5,400 respondents (1,800 respondents per country) in UK, Saudi Arabia, and Philippines. In total 2,400 respondents in four segments. Firstly, UK showed importance mainly towards Camera, Memory_size, LTE, Brand, FM_transmitter which are the necessary things for a good smart phone. Secondly, Philippines revealed choice largely towards Camera, Brand, External_momory, Mobile_TV, and NFC. Finally, Saudi Arabia selected primarily Brand, Camera, External_memory, 3G, and GPS. The results of this study were successfully implemented for product planning, product development, and marketing strategy in terms of price setting, features prioritising, and optimal designing for new products in the mobile phone company.

Implementation of quality coverage map system via wireless communication service and big data analysis

The objective of this study is to realize the big data service quality maps of mobile communication companies, so that the users can objectively compare communication service qualities and make a reasonable choice. A measurement software was installed on smart phones for the purpose of measuring the service qualities of experience by the users. Furthermore, a measurement of five wireless internet services (broadband LTE, LTE-A, LTE, 3G, WiBro, and WiFi) was performed for evaluating the qualities of the service provider networks and the nationwide qualities. The measured data were stored and periodically uploaded to the database. These data were stored in PostGIS spatial DBMS through the connection of DBs, and they were connected to GeoServer for sharing and editing the geospatial data. The measured data were realized into coverage maps by using Google Maps. The coverage range was defined in Google Maps, and the defined range was divided by a specific cell (approximately 100 m x 100 m). The measured GPS ranges of each cell were retrieved from the quality data collection server table, and their average values were used for organizing and updating the coverage maps. These contents were stored in GeoServer, retrieved by database queries, and provided as visible layers in OpenLayers. In addition, statistical coverage maps via Flash maps were provided.

How network externality leads to the success of mobile instant messaging business?

The current research investigates the relationship among the factors influencing the success of mobile instant messaging (MIM) businesses: namely, network externalities, network quality, network intimacy, user satisfaction, and usage intention. The patterns of the data collected in China and South Korea confirmed that the impact of network externalities on MIM user satisfaction is mediated by network quality and network intimacy. That is, although network externalities alone can directly influence customers' usage intentions, greater network externalities can be a more valuable strategic asset for mobile service companies when accompanied by a higher level of network quality and greater intimacy with their customers. These findings suggest that MIM businesses should pay attention to increasing the size of their networks to building and promoting both user-to-user intimacy and perceived quality in these networks.

Social Networking Sites as a Multimedia Tool for Brand Popularity – An Exploratory Study

Objectives: To identify the role of content richness (video, photo and link) and time frame of the brand publication (time and date) as factors of brand posts popularity. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The data of 1488 brand posts were collected from the Face book brand pages of five international mobile companies popular in India. For analyzing the data, multiple regressions were used as tool using SPSS software. Findings: The result showed that image has the highest impact on the brand popularity in terms of likes and comments and shares. On the other hand, the video contents significantly increase the volume of likes and shares but fail to attract more comments. Similarly, the provision of the link in the content shows significant but has a negative impact on likes as it carries users to another page. But the link is significant in terms of attracting shares. The time of brand post- publication (non-working hour) is significant in terms of likes but has got negative influence. On the other hand, it has no impact on comments and shares. Finally, the result shows that the day of the brand posts publication (workdays) significantly increases the volume of comments, whereas, for likes and shares, the study did not find any support. Application/Improvements: This paper suggests strategies for brand posts popularity on Facebook which might be helpful for the Indian marketers and contributes to the existing literature on the management of marketing strategies for consumer engagement on social networking sites.

Risks and Barriers Associated with Mobile Money Transactions in Tanzania

The study was about Risks and Barriers Associated with Mobile Money Transactions in Tanzania. The focal point of the study was to spot and reveal risks and barriers experienced by mobile money users in mobile money transactions (MMT) and the frequencies of their incidences. It also assesses the level of users' understanding and how they can avoid themselves from barriers and risks exposing environment. The research was based on primary data which was collected in a survey done in Ilala district through questionnaires. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and interpretation based on positivist assumptions in which the results were quantitative and independent from the researcher. The research findings reveal that while the most likely experienced risks are a loss of password, fake transaction request, and fake money, the barriers are a poor network, agent lack liquidity, and lack of identity card. However, the rate of incidence of risks and barriers in MMT are moderates. The study, therefore, recommend that the regulatory authority should guarantee the security of mobile money users by improving MMT rules and regulations, they should also stress mobile companies to create MMT awareness in risks, rules and regulations to mobile money users to encourage their participation in this industry and finally the mobile company should improve mobile money network infrastructures and application platforms.

EXTRAPOLATION TECHNIQUES EVALUATING 24 HOURS OF AVERAGE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EMITTED BY RADIO BASE STATION INSTALLATIONS: SPECTRUM ANALYZER MEASUREMENTS OF LTE AND UMTS SIGNALS.

International and national organizations have formulated guidelines establishing limits for occupational and residential electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure at high-frequency fields. Italian legislation fixed 20 V/m as a limit for public protection from exposure to EMFs in the frequency range 0.1 MHz-3 GHz and 6 V/m as a reference level. Recently, the law was changed and the reference level must now be evaluated as the 24-hour average value, instead of the previous highest 6 minutes in a day. The law refers to a technical guide (CEI 211-7/E published in 2013) for the extrapolation techniques that public authorities have to use when assessing exposure for compliance with limits. In this work, we present measurements carried out with a vectorial spectrum analyzer to identify technical critical aspects in these extrapolation techniques, when applied to UMTS and LTE signals. We focused also on finding a good balance between statistically significant values and logistic managements in control activity, as the signal trend in situ is not known. Measurements were repeated several times over several months and for different mobile companies. The outcome presented in this article allowed us to evaluate the reliability of the extrapolation results obtained and to have a starting point for defining operating procedures.

Brands Loyalty

Over the last couple of decades, the mobile communication companies have been growing rapidly and it plays a major role in the emerging economies that can't be underestimated. This study was conducted to better understand the factors that lead to brand loyalty in the Egyptian mobile retail industry as an example of an emerging economy. Based on the literature review and an exploratory study a conceptual framework was proposed that was tested using a quantitative technique. It was launched with 245 responses to test the hypothesis using SPSS tool. The findings of the research showed that Brand Trust, Customer Satisfaction, Brand Affect, and Resale Value are determinants of Brand Loyalty. The outcomes of this study will help in better understanding the determinants of brand loyalty and can be used by marketers to know how to create loyalty of the Egyptian consumers to the multinational brands in the mobile retail market.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE SMARTPHONE USER’S CHARACTERISTICS ON THE INTENTION TO USE OF M-HEALTH

M-Health is a new technology which has evolved from the unprecedented spread of mobile technologies as well as advancements in their innovative application to address health priorities. Implementing mobile technology will promote healthcare services with regards to improvement in accessibility, effectiveness, and affordability. This technology is growing rapidly since it was introduced 20 years ago. There are over 7 billion mobile cellular subscribers worldwide and 1.48 million of these are Malaysian subscribers. The penetration of mobile phone networks in Malaysia has transformed the way health services and information are accessed, delivered, and managed. While this technology is still new, there is a scarcity of research material on the acceptance of M-Health in Malaysia.This study proposes and empirically tests the smartphone users’ characteristics such as users’ sex, age, level of education and health condition as important factors that affected the adoption of new M-Health systems. To fill in this gap, this study is to explore the relationship between the smartphone users’ characteristics, with the intention of using M-Health. This study has recruited 80 smartphone users in Sarawak through random sampling using a survey method. Data were analysed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 17, and various statistical techniques were used such as descriptive analysis, T-Test and One–way ANOVA. Findings indicate that there are no significant differences between sex, age, level of education and having health problems were there was an intention to use M-Health. In conclusion, the acceptance of M-Health is not dependent on the users’ characteristics, hence it is important for health technologies and mobile companies to handle different aspects in the planning and development of healthcare applications for a market strategy. Keywords : Acceptance, Mobile technologies, M-Health, Smartphone users

Behavioural Intention to Use Mobile Entertainment Services among Bangladeshi Students

This study aims to understand why the usage of mobile entertainment services (MES) among young Bangladeshis is negligible. The authors propose a modification of combined technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model with additional factors. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in Bangladesh among young adult mobile users. The authors analysed the data of 251 valid responses via four TAM–TPB models. The study model, based on a modified TAM–TPB framework, fits generally well for mobile entertainment services in Bangladesh. The three factors of perceived behaviour control, perceived value, and attitude are important determinants for intention to use mobile entertainment services, and perceived behavioural control has the strongest direct effect on attitude and indirect effect on behavioural intention. The results suggest that mobile companies need to strengthen their organizational and technical support systems and improve service quality and affordability to encourage young consumers to use MES.

CORE REQUIREMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION, INNOVATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

The present study aims to examine the relationship among core requirements of knowledge management implementation, innovation, and organizational performance in the Iraqi mobile telecommunications sector. A questionnaire was conducted on mobile companies based on a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The results indicated that core requirements of knowledge management implementation had a statistically significant and direct positive effect on innovation. The critical success factors of knowledge management and knowledge management strategies had a statistically significant and direct positive effect on organizational performance. Then the direct relationship of knowledge management processes with organizational performance was positively affected, but it was not statistically significant. The results also indicated that the innovation had a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance. More importantly, the results indicate that core requirements of knowledge management implementation had a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational performance through the partial mediating effect of innovation.

The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing on Relationship between IT Capability and IT Support as Predictors of Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study on Mobile Companies in Iraq

Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between the IT capability and IT Support to predict Innovation performance via the mediating role of knowledge sharing as a vital matter in mobile communication companies in Iraq. The suggested model was designed of IT capability and IT Support as an independent variables, while Innovation performance as a dependent variable. To determine IT capability and IT support on Innovation performance and may asked of the employees in these companies for questionnaire responses. Population was consisted of four mobile communication companies in Iraq and participants 276 employees were selected. Based on a number of relevant measures of research topic, the hypotheses have been prepared. The data were analyzed statistically using structural equation model (SEM) and factor analysis to extract results. The regression analysis results indicate to a positive and statistically significant association between IT capability and IT Support on Innovation performance. Based on this, the researcher recommends the staffs to encourage the use of IT support for expand knowledge and promote innovation performance in these companies.

Mobile phone use and possible cancer risk: Current perspectives in India.

Mobile communication is now essentially ruling our daily lives through better connectivity and intelligent smartphone services. There has been a tremendous growth in Indian communication industry along with growing concerns regarding health effects of mobile radiation exposure. Concerns posed are especially regarding carcinogenesis and other health-related effects of mobile radiation exposure. In the effort to establish or refute any such concerns, many studies have been undertaken in the past three decades, mostly case-control designs or cross-sectional surveys. However, most of them considerably failed to establish causal association primarily owing to potential biases and errors in their conduct and analysis. Past cohort studies have provided contradictory results leading to continued uncertainty regarding tumorigenic potential of mobile radiation exposure. In India, there remains a huge knowledge gap pertaining to this particular topic and only few studies are presently underway such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) cell phone study in the National capital region (NCR). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields associated with wireless phone use as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), causing major concerns worldwide among mobile companies and subscribers equivocally. The World Health Organization (WHO) is presently carrying formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radio frequency field's exposures and is likely to publish it by the year 2016.

Identifying the Effective Parameters for Vertical Handover in Cellular Networks Using Data Mining Techniques

The need for seamless mobility within the heterogeneous environment of cellular networks imposed the need for finding different vertical handover (VHO) mechanisms to select the best network. The selection process is based on different factors, such as: cost, battery status of Mobile Terminal (MT), the capacity of each network link, available bandwidth (ABW), received signal strength (RSS), etc. However, the major problem here is to find the most effective parameters for VHO and their priorities for these decision mechanisms. Besides, it would be useful to know the values of these parameters for data mining (DM). For this purpose, we collected real log data server of two mobile telecom companies in Lebanon, Touch and Alfa for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks. After preprocessing and discretizing the data, frequent patterns (FP) were extracted to summarize the log data files. The summarized data was then analyzed by using descriptive and visualization techniques in order to find the most effective parameters for handover (HO) process. Three effective parameters were obtained: the Received Signal Strength (RxLev/RSCP), the Available Bandwidth (ABW) and the Received Signal Quality (RxQual/EcNo). Results showed that they cooperatively work together to accomplish the same task. This paper provide an effective solution to identify the most valuable factors for vertical handover mechanism in telecommunication area by using frequent pattern mining.

Customer-based brand equity and firms' performance in the telecom industry

The paper investigates the relationship between customer-based brand equity (CBBE) and the performance of mobile communication companies. A self-administered survey questionnaire was used to collect empirical data on brand perception along with secondary data on cellular companies' performance based on their customer base. The findings reveal strong positive relationship between CBBE and company's performance. In brand equity element, perceived quality has strongest direct effect on company performance whereas brand image has slightest effect. The study put forward some useful insights into a comprehensive understanding of CBBE in telecommunication industry. The findings are more useful to practitioners in a way to understand link between brand perception elements and organisational performance. The findings of the study assist cellular companies to develop effective advertising campaign and design customer satisfaction policies and programmes.

Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility Reporting Practices from an Emerging Mobile Telecommunications Market

This study examines corporate social responsibility reporting practices in the rapidly growing mobile telecommunications industry in Bangladesh. This industry sector is one of the fastest growing in the world making it an attractive global investment. Using content analysis we reviewed and analysed the annual reports of four major mobile companies between 2008 and 2011. The findings reveal that mobile telecommunications companies in Bangladesh disclose social and environmental responsibility information across a range of categories. We find that these mobile companies provide significant benefits to education and health in Bangladesh and that their focus on community and development disclosures are motivated in part by seeking to maintain legitimacy in an extremely competitive industry.

An integrated hierarchical survey for a large-scale conjoint study for mobile phones

Recent trends in the mobile phone industry have significantly influenced the application of multi-attribute preference measurement techniques (conjoint analysis). As mobile phones become more complex and as consumers become more informed about a large number (10 or more) of product attributes in developed and emerging countries, the aim of this study – to reduce the number and complexity of the questions asked of the consumer – has led the authors to propose an integrated hierarchical survey design to be used with the Kano model for large-scale conjoint analysis. This method was used to determine the high utility levels of the key attributes of mobile phones in a mature and emerging market. The results of this study were successfully implemented for product planning, product development and marketing by a mobile phone company through utilization of the results to set prices, prioritize features and provide guidelines for selecting target market segments.

The Impact of Internal Recruitment on Job Satisfaction in Jordanian Mobile Companies

ABSTRACT The current study aims at determining the main sources of internal recruitment in mobile telecommunication companies in Jordan and its significant impact on job satisfaction. It also determines the main criteria applied in internal recruitment policies. A total amount of 300 employees from three mobile companies (i.e., Zain, Orange, and Umniah) participate as a unit of analysis. The data is collected through a structured questionnaire which was analyzed by regression analysis and t-test. The results show a positive relationship between all sources of internal recruitment (i.e., internal advertising, promotion, transfer, and friends) and job satisfaction. In addition, the findings reveal that all mobile companies applied specific criteria in internal recruitment process which have a good knowledge about their employees, and the development of recruitment sources and criteria.

English

Mobile communication is very often materialized by the use of mobile Internet, SMS and MMS by companies to send advertising messages via mobile phones. SMS and MMS are a genuine social phenomenon. Furthermore, companies have found a new opportunity to operate in terms of targeted communication. Indeed, mobile communication is a fast and effective way of communication at lower cost. Many studies have already been undertaken on this topic in Europe, America and Asia. These studies have indicated that mobile marketing is more efficient than other contact modes with the permission that is in standards given in advance by the consumer to be sought. But in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular, there is still a timid interest among the researchers on the field of mobile marketing. Despite a high penetration rate (71% in 2014) of mobile phone holders and a growing use of more advertising SMSs by enterprises, there is not yet legislation text in the sector of mobile communication in Cameroon. This explains why there is a misuse of advertising SMSs by Cameroonian enterprises. That is why the objective of this paper is to describe the reactions of Cameroonian mobile phone consumers toward advertising SMSs and the conditions of acceptance of advertising. The results have shown that the way Cameroonian mobile companies exploit this means of communication push them to adopt negative behaviors or negative reactions towards mobile advertising. For instance, 22.7% of Cameroonian mobile phone consumers delete advertising SMSs without reading them. In addition, in the absence of permission, the consumers condition receiving advertising SMSs by their entertaining and informative character.   Key words: Mobile marketing, advertising SMSs, intrusiveness, consumer’s reactions, conditions of acceptance, privacy, behavioral control.

An Exploratory Study on Service Quality Measurement of the Fourth Generation Mobile Telecommunication: The Case of the Korean Market

Now, the Korean mobile communication market already reached full growth. In this situation, mobile communication companies are constantly trying to find ways to differentiate their services. But it was quite difficult. The only thing that differentiates their service is quality. This study aims to examine the impact of service quality and satisfaction on continuous use intention in the Korean mobile telecommunication context. More specifically, the objectives of the present study are to investigate how service quality and satisfaction influence directly continuous use intention of LTE, and what is the most significant constructing factor of service quality as antecedents of a subscriber's satisfaction and continuous use intention of LTE. Though studies measuring service quality mainly used SERVQUAL and SERVPERF, studies considering the uniqueness of mobile communication market were rare. There were few studies that measured the quality of Korean mobile communication service. But they didn't reflect the distinctiveness of the market. We were able to find critical common variables that can be applied to Korean mobile communication market from prior research. We suggested billing system, device, call quality, corporate image, speed, customer support and bonus system as core variables of service quality. Afterwards, we conducted a questionnaire survey of college students mainly in their twenties. As a result, customer support, corporate image, and speed among service quality factor presented in this paper significantly influenced customer satisfaction. Also, customer satisfaction has a strong relationship with continuous use intention.