A Living Lab research approach for mobile TV

More and more, a user-centered approach is adopted for information and communication technologies (ICT) innovation research. One of the recently emerging concepts within this research tradition is the so-called ‘Living Lab’. Within this paper, we argue that the Living Lab-concept is closely linked to the notion of ‘open innovation’, the ‘interactionist’ stance regarding user research and concepts from the social shaping of technology such as ‘social learning’ and ‘innofusion’. We explore the origin and roots of this concept, explain the different visions and review a bottom-up approach of Living Lab-characteristics. We then present a concrete application of Living Lab-research into the possibilities of mobile TV, a notable example of ICT-innovations that incorporates the convergence of mobile telephones and television. This research was carried out within Flanders’ mobile TV trial ‘MADUF’ and echoes a long tradition of interactive and digital TV trials. We describe the different research steps and the most notable results they yielded, and relate these to the characteristics of the Living Lab-concept in the first part of the paper. We also propose an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Living Lab-research based on this case study. This way, we contend that a Living Lab-approach might serve as a way to meet the challenges posed to companies when developing ICT-innovations in general and seems suited for innovation research into television technologies in particular, but that certain issues remain to be tackled in order to optimize this kind of research.     

Developing ecological index for identifying roles of ICT industries in mobile ecosystems: The inter-industry analysis approach

With the convergence of information and communication technology (ICT) industries in the mobile communication sectors, new actors have started emerging such as mobile contents and media service industries. The traditional distribution of power in ICT industries of mobile communication sectors has significantly changed based on relations with the new actors. Recently, the concept of a “mobile ecosystem” which embraces this environmental shift is highlighted. The traditional industries such as hardware and network-based firms and new ICT industries such as software and service-based firms grow up simultaneously creating the mobile ecosystem. In this respect, this study aims to explore ecological indexes for identifying roles of ICT industries in the mobile ecosystem. To be specific, the ecological indexes are proposed to take new roles and position of ICT industries in the perspective of ecosystem into account. For this, the inter-industry analysis, which includes the physical flows between industries, is mainly used since the ecosystem is operated by streamlining physical flows. First, the mobile ecosystem is structured by using physical input-output flows and industrial relationships. Second, to explore roles of ICT industries in the mobile ecosystem, four ecological indexes have been developed and combined based on the result of inter-industry analysis: productivity, size, spillover effect, and coverage. As a result, we identified six roles for ICT industries and their relationships: commodity, landlord, controller, keystone, facilitator, and dominator. Regarding these ecological roles and relationships in ICT industries, strategic and policy implications are also suggested to improve the health of the mobile ecosystem.     

Consumers’ acceptance of information and communications technology in tourism: A review

The impact of information and communications technology (ICT) in tourism (e-tourism) has altered the ways tourism services are accessed and consumed. Ubiquitous and highly innovative ICTs provide different channels for consumers to use tourism services; thus, studies on e-tourism are numerous and fragmented. Different factors account for how consumers embrace these channels. The purpose of this study is to review studies on consumers’ acceptance or adoption of e-tourism in order to group the studies, synthesize the theories, models and frameworks used and identify the antecedents influencing consumers’ e-tourism acceptance and usage. A total of 71 studies from 2005 to 2016 (inclusive) from both tourism-based and non-tourism-based journals were selected, synthesized, and included. Based on their contexts, similarity and relevance, the 71 studies were segregated into three distinct groups. This study found that research among the groups is uneven. Implications and research directions are suggested.     

ICT impact on competitiveness, innovation and environment

This paper examines the impact of ICT on competitiveness, innovation and environment in the glass, ceramics and cement concrete industry. The results show that use of ICT seems to favor innovation and competitiveness. As for the effect on the environment, the use of some ICT helps to reduce emissions, whereas others increase them.     

Unleashing the potential of mobile broadband: Evidence from Indonesia's underdeveloped regions on its role in reducing income inequality

Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and socioeconomic development, limited research has focused on the impact of ICT infrastructure expansion on income distribution. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the effect of mobile broadband network coverage on income inequality in underdeveloped regions of Indonesia using unbalanced panel data encompassing 122 second-level subnational regions over the period from 2018 to 2021. This study utilizes map charts to visually depict the disparities in mobile broadband coverage and income inequality across the selected regions and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression on the pooled panel data to estimate the relationship between the two variables. The findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between mobile broadband coverage and income inequality, indicating an adverse effect on inequality during the early stages of network deployment that persists until coverage reaches approximately 60 percent of the population area. Beyond this threshold, the effect becomes favorable in reducing inequality. The findings of this study remain robust even after accounting for potential biases, utilizing fixed and random effect models, and disaggregating the data for the pre- and during-pandemic periods. However, a minor discrepancy in statistical significance is observed when the dataset is disaggregated by the level of regional development. The implications of these findings are discussed, providing theoretical insights and policy/practical implications for addressing income inequality.     

ICTs and radio in Africa: How the uptake of ICT has influenced the newsroom culture among community radio journalists

This article highlights the influence that new ICTs and Computer Mediated Communication is having on the newsroom cultures among community radio journalists in Africa, especially the use of mobile phones and the internet. The discussion is based on findings from a research study that investigated the impact of ICTs on community radio using regional case studies from three African countries – Mozambique, Uganda, and Mali. We argue that the integration of ICTs impacted journalism practice positively as it improved information gathering, processing, distribution, storage, and engagement with the communities, particularly through the use of mobile phones and the internet. However, the synergy with rural community radios that tend to be located in remote areas is yet to be felt in the three countries. While the community radio stations in semi-urban areas or those situated in areas with fairly good infrastructure have better capacity for integration of ICTs and their sustainability, the rural-based community radio stations are greatly inhibited in their integration of new ICT due to lack of the electricity or regular power supply, the high fees charged by the service providers (internet and telephone), as well as the high cost for the ICT equipment, maintenance expenses and operational costs. The article calls for more support for infrastructural development to rural-based community radio stations to close the rural–urban gap and to enable the journalists working there to benefit from ICT integration like their counterparts in the semi-urban and urban community radios.     

Why do firms adopt cloud computing? A comparative analysis based on South and North Europe firm data

In this paper we empirically investigate and compare to what extent Northern and Southern European firms view cloud computing (CC) as a means of: (a) ICT investment reduction; (b) supporting and facilitating product/service innovation and process innovation; (c) experimenting with and exploiting new ICT; and (d) supporting and facilitating electronic innovation collaboration. This is done by estimating econometrically a model of CC adoption propensity containing measures of the four main adoption motives mentioned above besides further variables that are associated with technology adoption and a series of controls for firm size, sector and country affiliation. Our study is based on a dataset collected through the e-Business W@tch Survey of the European Commission from 556 European firms from the glass, ceramic and cement sectors. These findings indicate that Southern European firms are mainly oriented towards ‘first-level’ cost (and especially investment) reduction related benefits from CC as well as from new emerging ICT, while on the contrary Northern European firms are mainly oriented towards ‘second-level’ transformation related benefits from CC, which are associated with support and facilitation of innovation and external collaboration.     

ICT Development and Innovation Policy in China

The information and communications technology （ICT） industries＇ development and the China＇s trend to innovative economy are outlined. The relationship between the national innovation system and innovation policy are analyzed. Moreover, the innovation policy in China is discussed and a recommendation to the further ICT innovative policy making is made.     

ICT expansion and the digital divide in democratic freedoms: An analysis of the impact of ICT expansion, education and ICT filtering on democracy

In recent years, several case studies have appeared on how mobile telephones, SMS and the Internet had an impact on political activities. It has been widely argued that information and communication technology (ICT) is influencing democracy all over the world. However, few studies provide any analysis of how ICT expansion correlates with measures of democracy. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the global expansion of ICT and the level of democracy within nations. We analyze archival data on 133 countries from 1995 to 2003, which was the period-of-time of explosive ICT expansion. Some important findings of our study are: (a) there is a growing digital divide in democratic freedoms among countries; (b) in spite of rapid ICT expansion in some countries, Internet filtering is having a significant impact on democratic freedoms.     

ITU通用充电器建议书介绍

介绍了ITU新报批的建议书“通用移动终端及其它ICT设备的电源适配器和充电器方案”。     

面向政企用户的ICT服务研究

中国信息产业"十一五"规划提出推进电信业务的全面转型,全面提供综合性信息服务,提高业务创新能力和创新模式.在这种背景下,中国的电信运营商都制定了相应的转型战略,并且都把ICT服务作为其转型战略的一部分.本文从ICT服务分类、ICT客户分类等方面对ICT服务进行了研究,提出了运营商ICT服务要分阶段实施的建议,并描述了各阶段实施的重点.     

The mobile phone use in Mainland China: Some insights from an exploratory study in Beijing

China is the primary market for the mobile phone (with almost 700 million of these devices) and one of the world’s leading countries in ICT production. Inside Mainland China, the capital Beijing and the other coastal industrialized towns have been the first to adopt and appropriate the mobile phone. Until now a certain amount of qualitative research has been devoted to the study of ICTs in China. However, quantitative studies are scarce. Here we present the results of a research based on empirical data specifically focused on mobile communication and carried out in Beijing. A structured questionnaire was personally administered to 487 respondents. This study investigates mobile phone use, its implementation in public spaces, attitudes towards its increasing complexity, opinions on its advantages and disadvantages, and its status in comparison to other technologies of information, communication and mass media in the capital of Mainland China. One main result of this study is that a very positive image of the mobile phone among our respondents was accompanied by only two disadvantages: its being a threat to privacy and its presenting the logistical problem that there is no obvious means to carry it. This latter concern should send a strong message to the fashion industry: the diffusion of the mobile phone has worsened the problem of how to wear these “little essential objects”, which up to now still continues to be unresolved.     

Potential pitfalls of smart city development: A study on parking mobile applications (apps) in Hong Kong

Smart cities are built upon information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enable a broad range of advanced services. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study identified four pitfalls brought by the pervasive application of ICT, including information insecurity, privacy leakage, information islands, and digital divide. Therefore, a questionnaire survey together with 27 interviews was conducted in Hong Kong to investigate how the public perceived these pitfalls within the context of mobile apps providing real-time parking information which form a major part of smart mobility. System insecurity and privacy leakage were found to arouse worries among the app-users while their awareness of protecting personal data was found to have room for improvement. Islands of real-time parking information occur as a result of the lack of collaboration among private carpark operators. Digital divide existed widely among the disadvantaged groups and the problem cannot be solved by mere provision of ICT facilities. Overall, technologies alone cannot make a city smart or smarter. It is the suitable way in which ICTs are used to serve all citizens that matters.     

Technological innovation systems and IT industry sustainability in China: A case study of mobile system innovation

In recent years China not only caught up with countries leading the field of wireless mobile technologies but has kept a pace following years of innovation, as mobile technologies like TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE in China have been recognized as international standards by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Through case studies of the technological innovation systems (TISs) of 3G (TD-SCDMA), 4G (TD-LTE) and 5G in China, this work advances our understanding of the relationship between technology innovation and TISs, as well as that between the TIS and industry sustainability in the IT field. An innovation system function-based framework is applied to structure the data collection and analyse the results. Extensive documentary research and semi-structured interviews are conducted in this study. The key point of the reasoned argument of our conclusion is that a well-functioned TIS not only facilitates technology development and diffusion, but also promotes the sustainability of the IT industry by pushing forward socio-technical transformation.     

沃达丰的全球化战略及其启示

介绍了沃达丰两代首席执行官的全球化战略.借鉴沃达丰的经验，我国移动运营企业在迈向海外市场时应谨慎选择合作伙伴和市场进入方式，进一步加强业务创新，大力推广统一品牌，适时调整组织结构与内部管理战略，同时要打造开放性的企业文化和价值以     

Effects of the development of competition framework and legal environment for media contents on the generational transition of mobile networks

Recognizing the value and potential of the next generation mobile networks, major advanced countries, including South Korea, are developing various policies, and competitively considering the transition to secure next-generation mobile networks. This study aims to examine the factors influencing the generational transition of mobile communication networks. In particular, this study focuses on how previously unknown institutional factors, including the competition framework in the ICT market and the legal environment for media contents, affect mobile networks’ transition to 3G and 4G. Through a comparative cross-country analysis using more than 143 countries over 18 years of data, this study showed that a well-established competition framework in the information and communications technology (ICT) market positively affects the generational transition from 2G to 3G and from 3G to 4G mobile networks. Further, the legal environment for media contents also positively affects the generational transition from 3G to 4G mobile networks. The results provide crucial insights for policymakers and industry players to develop and implement policies and strategies for the generational transition of mobile communication networks not only from 3G to 4G and but also from 4G to 5G.     

Digital technology and innovation trajectories in the Mediterranean region: A casualty of or an antidote to the economic crisis?

Weak macroeconomic conditions mean admittedly that government spending on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is reduced and consequently that ICT-related policies are scrutinized for their necessity, efficiency and impact on growth. At the same time, such conditions bring into the spotlight and set priority to measures targeting the ICT sector and promoting ICT-based innovation as a means of pursuing economic recovery. The 2008 financial crisis affected severely several parts of the world and particularly the Mediterranean region, where, even today, several years after the start of this economic turmoil in Europe, finding an effective response to mitigating the consequences of recession is still pertinent. Building on previous literature that recognizes ICT-based innovation as a crisis mitigation enabler, this paper propels discussion on the association among ICT- and innovation-oriented indicators and the economic crisis context in four Mediterranean countries, namely Spain, Greece, Italy and Cyprus. In this respect, it leverages a set of open and credible indicators of both technological and economic character and attempts to reflect on the effects of the crisis on ICT or conversely seen the potential of the latter to enable the affected countries to come out of the crisis.     

移动增值业务新发展刍议

国内电信业务运营收入陷入了一定的增长瓶颈,而移动增值业务的新发展则是突破瓶颈的关键点之一.电信运营商通过参考互联网企业百花齐放的业务创新点和通过用户培养迅速发展壮大业务并获得丰厚的回报,进一步秉承作为国家基础设施服务供应商持续服务普通大众和贡献社会的基本责任.移动增值业务通过在现有运营业务基础上发展新的模式,在短信、彩信、彩铃以及其他业务或平台上积极发展广告业务进行新的尝试,电信运营商将在新阶段获得跨越发展的新动能.     

数据网的现状及发展方向

网络技术创新是应用和业务创新的基础和使能条件。工业互联网、5G、ICT 基础设施三大场景对数据网络提出了新的需求与挑战,包括确定性的传输、差异化的接入服务、泛在移动支持、内生的安全可信及自治运营维护等。重点分析了当前数据网络存在的问题,指出数据网络分代研究思路,提出“网络5.0”的若干关键技术,最后深入探讨了网络创新平台建设涉及的问题。     

The dynamics of ICT,foreign direct investment,globalization and economic growth: Panel estimation robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence

In the modern era of globalization, information and communication technology (ICT) are considered key sectors that profoundly contribute to economic growth. Most of the economic activities, trade, and foreign direct investment are mainly dependent on modern sources of ICT. The objective of present research work is to investigate the dynamic relationship between ICT, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth incorporating trade and globalization for BRICS economies over 2000–2014 by employing OLS with fixed effects, the FMOLS, the DOLS and the group-mean estimator techniques robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Empirical results of the study suggest the long-run elasticities between ICT and economic growth, which suggests that ICT positively contributes to economic growth. Findings from long-run output elasticities show that both FDI and globalization have a long-run effect on economic growth. Furthermore, bi-directional causality exists between GDP and FDI, globalization and economic growth, and trade and economic growth. Also, unidirectional causality is running from globalization to trade. Globalization and ICT also Granger causes each other. Sensitivity analysis is employed to check whether findings of the study are valid and reliable for policy recommendation. The outcome of our study suggests policy recommendations for improving ICT with the focus on economic growth, trade openness and facilitation of foreign investment in BRICS countries.