Title: The mobile business value chain in China: a case study

Authors: Yaobin Lu, Yuanyuan Dong, Bin Wang

Addresses: School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China. ' School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China. ' College of Business Administration, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA

Abstract: China, a fast-growing developing country, has the largest number of mobile phone users around the world, and its mobile business (m-business) is booming. We propose an m-business value chain in China, and analyse the participants of the value chain and their roles. We apply our value chain in a case study on China Mobile, the largest Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in China. Our results provide a foundation for future strategic analysis of the telecommunications industry in China. Drawing on technological factors that may influence the development of m-business, we also discuss the future of m-business in China.

Keywords: value chain; electronic business; e-business; mobile business; m-business; mobile commerce; m-commerce; mobile network operators; MNO; China Mobile; telecommunications industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2007.015441

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2007 Vol.5 No.5, pp.460 - 477

Published online: 17 Oct 2007 *

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