Thesis advisor: Harold Petersen / This paper examines the effects of monetary policy and credit conditions on housing markets in 15 different countries. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics Honors Program. / Discipline: Economics.

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p> </p><p>Camera phones are moving into the rapid growth stage and they will rapidly be the most common image capture device in the world. Analysis agencies Gartner, ABI-Research and Future Image estimate that over 650 million camera phones were shipped in 2007 and that by the end of the decade there will be a global population of over one billion mobile imaging handsets -- more than double the number of digital still cameras (DSC).</p><p> </p><p>Although handset shipments are flourishing, consumers are not using their camera phones to the fullest extent. Researchers reveal that the number of photos taken, shared, and printed is relatively very low compared with DSC, resulting in a significant unrealised revenue potential for the mobile imaging industry.</p><p> </p><p>Despite the current limitations, recent researches done by Nokia marketing reveal that 40% of camera phone users indicate the camera phone is their primary camera. The researches suggest that with improvements in functionality, quality, usability and usage model, camera phones have the potential to be the most common and most frequently used type of camera.</p><p> </p><p>We believe the industry needs to stimulate more photo activity among camera phone owners to speed up (1) handset purchases, (2) picture taking, and (3) sharing, storing and printing services.</p><p> </p><p>To achieve this we believe companies with niche imaging technologies; such as faster decoding, less memory usage, minor processor (CPU) demands, rich features, and rich user experience have slightly high chance to outstand itself in this market. Also companies within the mobile imaging sphere which should have a competitive edge are the one who can solve inhibitors.</p><p> </p><p>Five out of every six sold cameras will be embedded in mobile phones. We believe the dominance of camera-phones will impact the imaging market in a variety of ways that will benefit the industry.</p><p> </p><p>This report aims to initiate a simple approach to give a high level view for companies aiming and searching for mobile imaging opportunities and should help extending the mobile focus thinking and area.</p><p> </p><p>Initiating a study on mobile imaging has been a challenge and this is due to two main reasons; the speed of development within this particular industry and the access to credible sources whether commercial or scientific. There is a significant fierce competition in the industry and it has been a great advantage to the authors to have had access to commercial reports and information sources first hand.</p><p> </p><p>When it comes to theories and methods, they have been taped from both the mainstream marketing literature and guerrilla marketing. There has been no obvious advantage to exclude mainstream marketing theories for this fast growing and quickly changing industry and methods described has proven worth while for the outcome of this study.</p><p>The mainstream marketing literature has been utilised in the market analysis performed on the materiel obtained and when looking to the future possibilities and opportunities as well.</p><p>The MIO model or the MIO-perspective, has been an excellent tool to help digest the information in a structural way and the three perspectives that are the foundation of the model; Market, Interaction and Organisation are all needed in any successful Marketing activity whether it is a fast moving business like the mobile image one or a more traditional industry e.g. the car industry. The model identifies the present situation, the future, strategy and action plan, all important components in forming the business plan.</p><p>When describing both the present environment and when searching for new opportunities, the usage of the classic 4P’s is outstanding. Product, Price, Promotion and Place are all important parameters to elaborate on and as the MIO model points out, one should first focus on the industry as a whole and not once own enterprise in order to find profitable ways to develop the business.</p><p> </p><p>Some conclusions drawn from the study are; the more megapixels camera phone are released the more the customers’ awareness and education is raised and refined. This leads to better customers inconvenience to get the best out of their phones and the myth of getting a free digital camera does not live any more. The customers are getting better informed and they want their right to one converged high quality device where the camera is as important as the call functions of a phone device.</p><p><strong></strong></p>

Abstract   Camera phones are moving into the rapid growth stage and they will rapidly be the most common image capture device in the world. Analysis agencies Gartner, ABI-Research and Future Image estimate that over 650 million camera phones were shipped in 2007 and that by the end of the decade there will be a global population of over one billion mobile imaging handsets -- more than double the number of digital still cameras (DSC).   Although handset shipments are flourishing, consumers are not using their camera phones to the fullest extent. Researchers reveal that the number of photos taken, shared, and printed is relatively very low compared with DSC, resulting in a significant unrealised revenue potential for the mobile imaging industry.   Despite the current limitations, recent researches done by Nokia marketing reveal that 40% of camera phone users indicate the camera phone is their primary camera. The researches suggest that with improvements in functionality, quality, usability and usage model, camera phones have the potential to be the most common and most frequently used type of camera.   We believe the industry needs to stimulate more photo activity among camera phone owners to speed up (1) handset purchases, (2) picture taking, and (3) sharing, storing and printing services.   To achieve this we believe companies with niche imaging technologies; such as faster decoding, less memory usage, minor processor (CPU) demands, rich features, and rich user experience have slightly high chance to outstand itself in this market. Also companies within the mobile imaging sphere which should have a competitive edge are the one who can solve inhibitors.   Five out of every six sold cameras will be embedded in mobile phones. We believe the dominance of camera-phones will impact the imaging market in a variety of ways that will benefit the industry.   This report aims to initiate a simple approach to give a high level view for companies aiming and searching for mobile imaging opportunities and should help extending the mobile focus thinking and area.   Initiating a study on mobile imaging has been a challenge and this is due to two main reasons; the speed of development within this particular industry and the access to credible sources whether commercial or scientific. There is a significant fierce competition in the industry and it has been a great advantage to the authors to have had access to commercial reports and information sources first hand.   When it comes to theories and methods, they have been taped from both the mainstream marketing literature and guerrilla marketing. There has been no obvious advantage to exclude mainstream marketing theories for this fast growing and quickly changing industry and methods described has proven worth while for the outcome of this study. The mainstream marketing literature has been utilised in the market analysis performed on the materiel obtained and when looking to the future possibilities and opportunities as well. The MIO model or the MIO-perspective, has been an excellent tool to help digest the information in a structural way and the three perspectives that are the foundation of the model; Market, Interaction and Organisation are all needed in any successful Marketing activity whether it is a fast moving business like the mobile image one or a more traditional industry e.g. the car industry. The model identifies the present situation, the future, strategy and action plan, all important components in forming the business plan. When describing both the present environment and when searching for new opportunities, the usage of the classic 4P’s is outstanding. Product, Price, Promotion and Place are all important parameters to elaborate on and as the MIO model points out, one should first focus on the industry as a whole and not once own enterprise in order to find profitable ways to develop the business.   Some conclusions drawn from the study are; the more megapixels camera phone are released the more the customers’ awareness and education is raised and refined. This leads to better customers inconvenience to get the best out of their phones and the myth of getting a free digital camera does not live any more. The customers are getting better informed and they want their right to one converged high quality device where the camera is as important as the call functions of a phone device.

Thesis (doctoral)--City University, 1994. / BLDSC reference no.: DX183264.

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

Dissertation, Paris. / Bibliography, one page following t.-p.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, Davis, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2007. / Thesis directed by Frances Hagopian for the Department of Political Science. "June 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 452-487).

This research seeks to provide an understanding of how the nature of the property market affects the valuation practice and how valuers manage such conditions during the valuation process. Specifically, the study investigates challenges that uncertain conditions of the Lagos property market pose to valuers and how valuers navigate a path through these challenges. This is with a view to providing a theoretical explanation for valuers' behaviour in an uncertain environment. The rationale for the study is that valuers' behaviour is influenced by the nature of the environment where they operate; however, there is yet to be a clear understanding of how valuers manage the conditions of property markets fraught with high uncertainty. The study pursues five objectives, namely, an examination of the nature of the Lagos property market as it relates to property valuation, an assessment of the nature of challenges valuers are exposed to within the Lagos property market and an investigation of how valuers manage the challenges of the uncertain nature of the Lagos property market. Others are an analysis of the existing real estate education in Nigeria to establish how it prepares valuers for the nature of the market they operate and a proposal of a framework for a better understanding of valuers' behaviour in an uncertain environment. Two working propositions were set for this study in relation to these objectives. Firstly, it was proposed that the Lagos property market exhibits a high level of uncertainty which poses challenges to property valuation practice. Secondly, it was proposed that in dealing with the challenges of the market, valuers would put up certain coping strategies, which can be understood through their cost minimisation behaviour. The study employs an exploratory sequential mixed methods research approach where qualitative and quantitative data were collected sequentially from multiple sources. Specifically, qualitative data were extracted from expert valuers using semi-structured interviews, while quantitative data were extracted from professional valuers and final-year students of tertiary institutions using questionnaires. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, while data extracted through questionnaires were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic tools. Furthermore, this research explored the theoretical lens of Transaction Cost Economy (TCE) to explore the understanding of valuers' behaviour in an uncertain market. The study finds that the Lagos property market is characterised by features that directly affect the valuation practice. The market characteristics include the lack of a formal database of market transactions, weak institutions/corrupt property rights registration system, the dominance of valuation for mortgage purposes, and an improved standardisation and internationalisation of professional services. The shows that the nature of the market presents uncertain conditions and poses peculiar challenges to valuers. The study also finds that valuers put up various strategies to manage the challenges. The study established that while some of the identified valuers' coping strategies are logical and expected, others seem counterintuitive and unprofessional. However, the coping strategies are contextual in nature, as they are based on valuers' understanding of the nature of the market. The study also finds that gaps exist between academic training and the practice of valuation in Nigeria. That is, valuers' academic training does not reflect the actual experience of valuers in the market. Thus, the results partially confirm the first proposition and substantially confirm the second proposition. Overall, the study concludes that the uncertain nature of the Lagos property market opens valuers to several forms of coping strategies influenced by their understanding of the market environment and academic training. Assessing valuers' behaviour through the lens of TCE, the study demonstrates that while some valuers' coping strategies reduce valuation uncertainty, others increase the uncertainty and bias in valuation. It is also concluded that the provisions of TCE more accurately reflect the actual experience of valuers in a volatile and uncertain market. This study makes a number of contributions to knowledge. Specifically, it contributes to theory by expanding on the principles of TCE and applying them to the property market and valuation practice. It contributes to policy development by offering insights that can help develop improved ethical and professional standards. Lastly, the study contributes to the empirical literature by providing a deeper understanding of how valuers utilise heuristics in their decision-making processes.