The synergy between mobility and the cloud: Evaluating the feasibility and viability of mobile business services enabled by mobile cloud computing
D.G. Liesveld · 2012
Research over the past several years has identified a convergence of the technology trends mobile computing and cloud computing into mobile cloud computing. While the term ‘mobile cloud computing‘ is often used to refer to the complementary benefits of mobile cloud based services, some translate the cloud vision from access to remote cloud resources in large data centers to local shared and pooled cloud resources consisting of mobile devices. Technical literature has showed the technical feasibility of this approach, however literature fails to show the practical viability of the local cloud approach for mobile business services that could be exploited to create value for organizations. This study evaluates the feasibility and viability of mobile business services enabled by mobile cloud computing that can be exploited by business enterprises. The research approach was design oriented and exploratory in nature. A literature review was conducted in order to identify technological opportunities and enabling capabilities of mobile cloud computing for mobile business services were. In addition, based on business model literature a framework was constructed that provides a blueprint of the process from the identification of a potential business service idea to business exploitation within an organization. This framework was applied to the business model outline of a potential local cloud based mobile business service. The results of this study indicate that the feasibility and viability of mobile business services enabled by mobile cloud computing is influenced by four aspects. First of all, the feasibility and viability depends on depends on the approach to mobile cloud computing. Secondly, the feasibility and viability is negatively influenced by security, privacy and trust issues, limitations regarding performance, reliability and scalability, and compatibility issues. Thirdly, the feasibility and viability seems to be negatively influenced by a lack of knowledge of how the technology should be designed in order to realize potential local cloud based business services. Fourthly, the feasibility and viability seems to be negatively influenced by the mismatch between technology and market need. The suitability of the technological opportunities and enabling capabilities of local cloud approach to mobile cloud computing are very context dependent and are not driven by solving business problems. All four aspects impact the feasibility and viability of mobile business services enabled by mobile cloud computing that can be exploited by business enterprises. With regard to the future of mobile cloud computing it can be suggested that organizations should be more involved in the development phase for identifying and matching customer needs and for the development of potential mobile cloud service concepts. It is expected that this will drive the development and diffusion of mobile cloud computing concepts in the future.