This thesis demonstrates the popularity of mobile telephony within a population of undergraduate students, and provides explanations regarding the adoption, use and meaning of mobile phones therein. Research has been conducted at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne amongst 1030 18-24 year old, full-time, UK-resident 'traditional entry' students, using social science methods. Due to a lack of existing research on this type of population, the thesis also includes ethnographic data from the everyday lives of the individuals concerned. This data in turn supports the main findings of the research. Although some theorists conceptualise the mobile phone as `impacting' on social life, this research adopts a `social shaping' approach from work in social studies of technology, and is also informed by social anthropology. This theoretical basis helps formulate the argument that changes engendered by the mobile phone must be viewed in association with other recent changes within the University and its population. Correspondingly, the thesis suggests that the mobile phone is now integral to what Haselgrove (1994) terms the 'student experience', precisely because of the nature of this experience for the contemporary undergraduate population. The thesis therefore provides an explanation of the adoption rates, use patterns and meanings associated with mobile phones within the undergraduate population at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, in conjunction with a study of their behaviours and attitudes. It concludes that the use and meaning of mobile phones in student lives is directly linked to the specific circumstances of the population studied.

Malgré la croissance de la téléphonie mobile, la diversité des services et la spécificité de cette technologie, nombreuses sont les populations urbaines et rurales en Afrique qui n’en bénéficient pas. L’investigation théorique et empirique des facteurs déterminant la pénétration de la téléphonie mobile en Afrique a fait l’objet de cette thèse. Cette recherche s’inscrit dans une démarche hypothético-déductive et est structurée en deux parties. L’objet de la première partie était de développer un modèle conceptuel de l’usage de la téléphonie mobile en Afrique en partant d’une revue de la littérature sur les modèles d’adoption et d’usage des Technologies de l’Information. Plusieurs concepts issus de la théorie unifiée de l’acceptation et de l’utilisation de la technologie (Venkatesh et alii, 2003, 2012) et des théories d’adoption des technologies de l’information en Afrique ont ainsi été examinés : la théorie d’identité (Ndiaye et alii, 2008), les théories de distribution (Touré, 2010) et les théories de l’énergie (Chéneau-Loquay, 2010). La seconde partie avait pour objectif de vérifier les relations entre les variables du modèle de recherche. Un instrument de mesure a ainsi été élaboré et testé auprès d’experts avant son administration au Mali et au Sénégal afin de cerner les antécédents de la pénétration du mobile en Afrique. Partant du postulat que le comportement individuel peut être imputé aux perceptions de l’individu sur : la performance attendue, la facilité d’utilisation, l’influence sociale, la motivation hédonique, la valeur du prix, le réflexe dû à l'habitude et les conditions de facilitation ; nous avions présumé que ces construits, ainsi que leurs interactions, influençaient positivement l’intention d’utilisation et l’utilisation de la téléphonie mobile. D’une manière générale, les résultats ont confirmé ces hypothèses. Les résultats sont discutés dans une perspective managériale et professionnelle. Ils peuvent guider les autorités de régulations et les pouvoirs publics et orienter les opérateurs de télécommunications, les équipementiers et les fournisseurs de services dans l’élaboration de leur stratégie. / Despite the growth in mobile telephony, the diversity of services and specificity of its technology, there are many urban and rural populations in Africa who do not benefit from it. The theoretical and empirical investigation of the determining factors of mobile telephony penetration in Africa is the subject of this thesis. The research uses a hypothetical-deductive reasoning and is divided into two parts. The purpose of the first part was to develop a conceptual model of mobile telephony usage in Africa beginning with a review of the literature on the models of adoption and usage of Information Technologies. Also, several concepts from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (Venkatesh et alii, 2003, 2012) and theories of adoption of information technology in Africa were examined: the theory identity (Ndiaye et alii, 2008), theories of distribution (Touré, 2010) and theories of energy (Chéneau-Loquay, 2010). The second part was to verify the relationships between the variables of the research model. A questionnaire for data collection was developed and tested by experts prior to its administration in Mali and Senegal in order to be able to identify the background regarding mobile telephony penetration in Africa. Starting from the premise that individual behavior can be attributed to the perceptions of the individual’s : expectation of performance, the ease of use, social influence, hedonic motivation, price value, a reflex due to habit and the facilitating conditions ; we assumed that these constructs and their relationships positively influence the intended use and the use of mobile telephony. In general, the results have confirmed these hypotheses. The results are discussed from a managerial and professional perspective. They can guide regulatory authorities and governments and can orientate the telecom operators, OEMs and service providers in developing their strategy.

Abstract Competitive Strategies from 2G to 3G ¡V A case of Taiwan Mobile Group In trend with WTO, globalization and government policy, the domestic telecommunication market has gradually moved from monopoly to free market. Suddenly, the liberalization of telecommunication resulted in fierce competitions in the market, each fighting for customers and market share, staging a battle scene in the telecommunication industry. Although 2G has excelled, it could not lead the fixed network out of its distress. Business enterprises were still stuck in the swamp of the last mile. On the other hand, 3G was launched with a thunderbolt posture, but its expensive license fee has deeply scarred business enterprises once again. Competitors tried their best in both hard selling and lucrative promotions, only to find very few customers have been touched. Money has been spent, but the future seems dim. Faced with a chaotic market, fierce competition and a hazy future of 3G market, how the telecommunication business enterprises innovate new business models, provide attractive service content to consumers, so as to avoid fierce price competition and establish new competitive advantage, the business mindset, strategic positioning are crux of the matter. In Porter¡¦s Competitive Strategies, the objective of competitive strategy is to be different. In other words, when a business manager establishes a different set of business activities, provides a unique set of values to customers, can it thus have a unique competitive advantage. Taiwan Mobile Group is one of the three largest domestic telecommunications company. Its scope of business includes fixed network, cellular network, 2G and 3G mobile telecommunication, customer service and all other telecommunication businesses since the liberalization of the industry. The business team ¡V Fubon Financial - is one of the top business group in Taiwan. Is its factor of success in 2G one of internal advantage or one of external opportunity? What is its competitive strategy from 2G to 3G? Can its success in 2G ensure similar success in a competitive advantageous position in the 3G and future market? Faced with a slow development of 3G market, lack of competitiveness in the service function, as well as the impact of 4G WiMAX V technology, what kind of strategic posture should it take? This thesis investigates the development of Taiwan Mobile Group from 2G to 3G, its strategic positioning, internal competitiveness and how it should innovate a new business model, establish a different set of business activities, or provide unique service value, so as to create an unique competitive advantage, to reap greater market opportunities and continually create competitive advantage. Six conclusions are made for the case study company: (1) The success of 2G is the strength and foundation for Taiwan Mobile Group in the 3G market. (2) The development of Triple Play digital bus cross-industry system integration aids in the competitive advantage of 3G. (3) Merger strategy and resource integration strategy may not achieve synergy. (4) Corporate governance has poor results, unclear vision does not aid the long term development of the business. (5) Concern for employee should take a higher priority than focus on customers. (6) Dependence on external technology and lack of R&D capability do not facilitate development of continuous competitive advantage. Eight recommendations to the case study company: (1) Research and develop a killer ¡§integrated mobile digital service platform¡¨ to dominate the 3G and markets of the future. (2) Cultivate senior management with skills in innovation and integration. (3) Institute a forward-looking ¡§vision¡¨ to lead its employees, inspire passion and seize the future. (4) Build up a corporate culture of ¡§customer is paramount¡¨, ¡§employee first¡¨, and ¡§continued business operation¡¨. (5) Decentralize the organization, humanistic management, simplify process, rationalized costs. (6) Construct a ¡§business resource integration platform¡¨ to integrate all internal resources and build up a strong competitive force. (7) Cultivate the ¡§corporate client¡¨ market. (8) Plans moves in China with a global vision. Further studies: (1) Study of the competition and cooperation strategies between 3G and WiMAX. (2) How does Taiwan innovate an ¡§integrated mobile digital service platform¡¨. Keyword: Competitive Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Second Generation Mobile Telephony (2G), Third Generation Mobile Telephony (3G)

Crowdsourcing is the outsourcing of a job or task to a large group of individuals. Crowdsourcing has emerged from the concepts of Outsourcing, Open Source Software (OSS) Collaboration, Open Innovation, and User Innovation. While Crowdsourcing has provided an innovative way in which work can be outsourced to a large group of people, the advent of Mobile Telephony in Africa has provided a whole new dimension. This is the merging of the concepts of Crowdsourcing and Mobile Telephony, to form Mobile Crowdsourcing. Mobile Crowdsourcing has the potential to contribute significantly to the use of Information Technology (IT) in developing countries by providing a platform that would enable people such as those in peri-urban Kenyan communities, to utilise their mobile handsets to perform a set of mobile-based tasks. Payment for these tasks is made possible through mobile money platforms such as “M-Pesa”. Such innovation could provide a means for social empowerment for many of these unemployed technology users. This study sets forth to examine a set of factors that are likely to predict the “participation intention” of peri-urban Kenyan youths in Mobile Crowdsourcing. Motivational Theory, and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) form the core of the theoretical framework used for this study. The McKnight Model is used as a supporting theory, to examine “trusting beliefs”. In addition, the constructs “perceived credibility”, “social influence” and “community identification” are derived from prior studies that use Socio Cognitive Theory and an extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These also play a supporting role. Using a survey instrument, data was collected from peri-urban youths in four peri-urban communities, and 279 usable responses were obtained for this study. Findings show that “self-development”, “integrity”, and “reputation” are the most significant predictors of “participation intention”. These three variables account for 17% of the variance in “participation intention”. Contrary to suggestions made in prior literature on Crowdsourcing, “monetary compensation” was not found to be a key motivator. This finding will no doubt spark future debate as to the role money plays in Crowdsourcing, especially in Africa. Additional findings show that “attitude” was found to be a strong mediator of the relationship between “technology anxiety” and “participation intention”. Moreover, “community identification” was found to be a full moderator of the relationship between “social influence” and “participation intention”. Findings made uncovered new insights about the perceptions and attitudes of mobile phone users in developing countries. Contributions made to theory and practice are also discussed.

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene por objetivo general determinar la relación entre satisfacción y el valor de marca en la categoría de servicios de telefonía móvil en hombres y mujeres de 25 a 30 años, pertenecientes al NSE B – C en la zona 7 de Lima en los distritos de Surco, La Molina, San Borja, Miraflores y San Isidro, Lima. Se establecieron objetivos específicos: el primero consiste en describir los factores de la variable satisfacción y valor de marca para poder identificar cuáles son los mas relevantes para fines de la investigación. Como segundo objetivo se tiene estipulado identificar qué factor de la satisfacción influye más en la fidelidad y como objetivo tres se tiene estipulado identificar cuál de los factores de valor de marca es más influenciado por los factores de satisfacción. En cuanto a las herramientas de investigación utilizadas, estas fueron de tipo cualitativo y cuantitativo. En la investigación cualitativa se tuvo como finalidad recolectar información de los participantes tanto de expertos como usuarios para encontrar relación con lo expuesto por los autores. En lo que refiere a la investigación cuantitativa, se identificó la relación que existe entre las variables identificadas en la parte cualitativa para analizar la relación que existe entre ellos y su grado de influencia. Finalmente, las conclusiones arrojaron que existe una influencia de la satisfacción en el valor de marca del usuario. Dos factores son los más relevantes, la personalización como factor de la satisfacción influye en mayor medida a la recomendación a compañeros como factor de fidelidad. Por último, la hipótesis planteada se cumplió totalmente ya que según el contraste con la investigación teórica existe coincidencia con lo encontrado. / The main objective of this research work is to determine the relationship between satisfaction and brand value in the category of mobile telephony services for men and women aged 25 to 30 years, belonging to NSE B - C in zone 7 of Lima in the districts of Surco, La Molina, San Borja, Miraflores and San Isidro, Lima. Specific objectives were established: the first consists of describing the factors of the variable satisfaction and brand value in order to identify which are the most relevant for research purposes. As a second objective, it is stipulated to identify which factor of satisfaction influences more in fidelity and as objective three it is stipulated to identify which of the factors of brand value is more influenced by satisfaction factors. Regarding the research tools used, these were qualitative and quantitative. In qualitative research, the purpose was to collect information from participants, both experts and users, in order to find a relationship with what was presented by the authors. Regarding quantitative research, we identified the relationship between the variables identified in the qualitative part to analyze the relationship between them and their degree of influence. Finally, the conclusions showed that there is an influence of satisfaction on the user's brand value. Two factors are the most relevant, personalization as a factor of satisfaction influences to a greater extent the recommendation to colleagues as a factor of fidelity. Finally, the proposed hypothesis was completely fulfilled since according to the contrast with the theoretical research there is a coincidence with what was found. / Tesis

Novas demandas por serviços de valor agregado têm surgido constantemente em sistemas de telefonia celular. Somente o tráfego de voz não tem sido mais suficiente para suprir as necessidades dos usuários, que hoje clamam também por serviços de dados que sejam rápidos, eficientes, baratos, com mobilidade e que atendam às mais diversas aplicações, como correio eletrônico, vídeo-conferência ou acesso à Internet. Este trabalho apresenta um método de determinação das taxas mínimas necessárias nos canais de tráfego para atender a essas aplicações. Utilizando-se da tecnologia CDMA2000, será feita uma análise do impacto na interface aérea da alocação dos canais de tráfego determinados. A mesma análise será feita nos casos em que se determinem taxas mínimas e/ou máximas alocadas para cada usuário, comparando-se também tempo necessário para a transmissão dos dados, eficiência na célula (taxa útil / taxa total transmitida), etc. As conclusões deste trabalho podem indicar estratégias para se atender aos usuários de serviços de dados em redes de telefonia móvel sob diferentes aspectos, como melhor relação custo-benefício, nichos específicos (concentrar-se em serviços que demandem maiores ou menores taxas de transmissão, por exemplo) ou até mesmo prever a quantidade de recursos de rede necessária para atender a uma determinada base de usuários. / Mobile telephony systems have been constantly asked for new demands of value added services. Voice traffic only is not enough anymore to support the new needs of mobile users because nowadays they ask for fast, cost-efficient, cheap and mobile services to support electronic mail, videoconference or Internet access. This work presents a method of how to determine minimum rates on traffic channels to support these services. Considering CDMA2000 technology, an impact analysis will be made in the air interface for these specific traffic channels. Same analysis will be made when minimum or maximum rates are reserved for each user, also comparing the time needed for data transmission, efficiency of the cell (useful rate / maximum rate) and others. The conclusions of this work may allow strategies to support data users in mobile telephony networks in such different ways, as better cost-effective solution, specific segment of the market (i.e., to concentrate in services with higher or lower transmission rates) or even to foresee the amount of resources needed in a network to support a forecasted number of users.

Esta pesquisa reflete sobre o ambiente de mobilidade decorrente da popularização das tecnologias móveis, com redes sem fio, no contexto das Novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação (NTICS). O telefone celular, símbolo da mobilidade informacional-virtual na qual estamos inseridos, cria impactos em diferentes práticas sociais, ao trazer a promessa de permanente conexão a outras pessoas e informações, a qualquer momento e em qualquer lugar. As interações entre telefonia celular e mobilidade, consumo e comunicação são o objeto da pesquisa, que tem o objetivo de analisar o processo comunicacional que envolve a produção de sentido por parte das marcas das operadoras de telefonia celular e suas expressões publicitárias, por um lado, e a apropriação dos significados da mobilidade pelo consumidor e presentes visualmente no espaço público, por outro lado. Este processo é cada vez mais dialógico, numa dinâmica negociada entre as instâncias de produção e consumo, configurando um sistema complexo e integrado. Do ponto de vista da comunicação marcária, nosso recorte se concentra na análise das expressividades publicitárias que valorizam os benefícios da mobilidade, a partir de um roteiro analítico que utiliza a semiótica peirceana como fundamento. Em relação ao consumo, realizamos entrevistas em profundidade para investigar os impactos das tecnologias móveis para os indivíduos consumidores em seus processos identitários. Adicionalmente, exploramos a presença visual da mobilidade nos espaços e na cultura urbana, com a realização de trajetos fotoetnográficos. Esta dinâmica comunicacional e de consumo da telefonia móvel foi pesquisada de forma comparativa, avaliando semelhanças e especificidades a partir de contextos socioeconômicos diferentes, que representam igualmente distintos estágios na adoção da tecnologia móvel. Para isso, escolhemos três países (Angola, Brasil e Portugal) que representam estes estágios de adoção, embora partilhem de raízes históricas entrelaçadas, simbolizadas pela língua portuguesa. Pudemos concluir que embora a telefonia móvel traga uma série de significados que pareçam associados intrinsecamente a sua tecnologia, a manipulação ativa de consumidores e marcas criam diferentes relações de sentido de acordo com as características de cada localidade. Além disso, percebemos um processo de evolução nos signos associados à telefonia móvel de acordo com a evolução da popularização dos serviços. Finalmente, propomos a utilização das tríades da semiótica peirceana para propor um modelo de gestão evolutiva de marca, composto por um gradiente sígnico de acordo com o estágio de adoção da telefonia celular, correlacionando-o a cada país pesquisado. Pretendemos organizar os efeitos de uma naturalização da tecnologia que impacta gradativamente os significados da mobilidade, e demonstrar que estes são renovados e ressignificados por marcas e consumidores em alta velocidade, de forma semelhante ao que ocorre com o desenvolvimento das próprias tecnologias de informação e comunicação. / This research reflects on mobility environment due to the popularization of mobile technologies (wireless networks) in the context of New Information and Communication Technologies (NICT). The cell phone, symbol of informational-virtual mobility, has created impacts in different social practices, raising promise of permanent connection to other people and information, at anytime and anywhere. The interactions related to mobile telephony and mobility, consumption and communication are the object of this survey, which aims to analyze the communication process involving the production of sense by brands of cell phone operators and their advertising expressions, on the one hand, and the appropriation of meanings by mobility consumers and visually present in public places, on the other hand. This process has been increasingly dialogical, a dynamic negotiation involving the instances of production and consumption, setting up a complex, integrated system. From the point of view of brand communication, this study focuses on analysis of advertising expressiveness that values the benefits of mobility, based on peircean semiotics. In terms of consumption, we investigated the impacts of mobile technologies on consumers, conducting in-depth interviews. In addition, we explored the visual presence of mobility in urban areas, collecting photoetnographic data. This communicational and consumption dynamics of mobile telephony was investigated in a comparative form, assessing similarities and specificities from different socioeconomic contexts, which also represent distinct stages in adoption of mobile technology. For this reason, we chose three Portuguese speaking countries (Angola, Brazil and Portugal) representing these adoption stages, while sharing intertwined historical roots. We can conclude that although the mobile telephony has brought a series of meanings that might seem intrinsically associated to its technology, the active manipulation of consumers and brands may create relations of sense according to characteristics of each locality. Besides that, we noticed a process of evolution in signs related to mobile telephony according to the evolution of popularization of services. Finally, we propose the use of peircean semiotics triads to design a brand evolution model, composed by a signic gradient according to the stage of adoption of mobile telephony, correlating it to each surveyed country. Furthermore, we intend to organize the effects of a naturalization of the services offered by the operators that gradually impact the senses of mobility, and also to demonstrate that these senses are renovated and reinterpreted by brands and consumers at the same speed as it happens in the development of information and communication technologies.

Novas demandas por serviços de valor agregado têm surgido constantemente em sistemas de telefonia celular. Somente o tráfego de voz não tem sido mais suficiente para suprir as necessidades dos usuários, que hoje clamam também por serviços de dados que sejam rápidos, eficientes, baratos, com mobilidade e que atendam às mais diversas aplicações, como correio eletrônico, vídeo-conferência ou acesso à Internet. Este trabalho apresenta um método de determinação das taxas mínimas necessárias nos canais de tráfego para atender a essas aplicações. Utilizando-se da tecnologia CDMA2000, será feita uma análise do impacto na interface aérea da alocação dos canais de tráfego determinados. A mesma análise será feita nos casos em que se determinem taxas mínimas e/ou máximas alocadas para cada usuário, comparando-se também tempo necessário para a transmissão dos dados, eficiência na célula (taxa útil / taxa total transmitida), etc. As conclusões deste trabalho podem indicar estratégias para se atender aos usuários de serviços de dados em redes de telefonia móvel sob diferentes aspectos, como melhor relação custo-benefício, nichos específicos (concentrar-se em serviços que demandem maiores ou menores taxas de transmissão, por exemplo) ou até mesmo prever a quantidade de recursos de rede necessária para atender a uma determinada base de usuários. / Mobile telephony systems have been constantly asked for new demands of value added services. Voice traffic only is not enough anymore to support the new needs of mobile users because nowadays they ask for fast, cost-efficient, cheap and mobile services to support electronic mail, videoconference or Internet access. This work presents a method of how to determine minimum rates on traffic channels to support these services. Considering CDMA2000 technology, an impact analysis will be made in the air interface for these specific traffic channels. Same analysis will be made when minimum or maximum rates are reserved for each user, also comparing the time needed for data transmission, efficiency of the cell (useful rate / maximum rate) and others. The conclusions of this work may allow strategies to support data users in mobile telephony networks in such different ways, as better cost-effective solution, specific segment of the market (i.e., to concentrate in services with higher or lower transmission rates) or even to foresee the amount of resources needed in a network to support a forecasted number of users.

This dissertation relates and analysis the development of the Swedish mobile telephone industry from 1950-98. Based on a research of entrepreneurial theories three forms of entrepreneurship are formulated, the individual as entrepreneur, the company as entrepreneur, and the network as entrepreneur. The mobile telephone industry is seen as a technological system incorporating a broad spectrum of participants, and the account analysis how the entrepreneurs carry out different types of innovations. It starts out as a technical project, with market related innovations becoming a greater force in the final phase. The source of entrepreneurship varies over time and the individual plays a significant role early on while the network becomes of a greater importance as the system develops. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

This collection of published scholarly work concerns the growth and development of community radio and mobile telephony during the period 2000-2009, with reference to specific examples and case studies. The associated report examines the extent that the public are using these media to the benefit of individuals and communities and also suggests that the public have regained use of the electromagnetic spectrum through the use of community radio and mobile phones. The over arching hypothesis is that both community radio and mobile telephony are: • providing benefits to society, rangmg from improving daily life and avoiding inconveniences, to ameliorating critical or life-threatening situations and resisting oppression, • re-establishing rights of usage in the electromagnetic spectrum for ordinary members of the public which were surrendered to governmental authorities in the early years of spectrum experimentation, • using the electromagnetic spectrum as a tool for activism, political discussion, social engagement and exchange of information about matters of common interest, • worthy of research and examination to investigate how these two forms of communications media are impacting on the lives of individuals and society as a whole.