Research Article
“Just Another Distribution Channel?”
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-03569-2_1, author={Wolter Lemstra and Gerd-Jan Leeuw and Els Kar and Paul Brand}, title={“Just Another Distribution Channel?”}, proceedings={Mobile Wireless Middleware, Operating Systems, and Applications - Workshops. Mobilware 2009 Workshops, Berlin, Germany, April 2009, Revised Selected Papers}, proceedings_a={MOBILWARE WORKSHOPS}, year={2012}, month={11}, keywords={Mobile operators content providers industry structure business models technology convergence strategic options}, doi={10.1007/978-3-642-03569-2_1} }- Wolter Lemstra
Gerd-Jan Leeuw
Els Kar
Paul Brand
Year: 2012
“Just Another Distribution Channel?”
MOBILWARE WORKSHOPS
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-03569-2_1
Abstract
The telecommunications-centric business model of mobile operators is under attack due to technological convergence in the communication and content industries. This has resulted in a plethora of academic contributions on the design of new business models and service platform architectures. However, a discussion of the challenges that operators are facing in adopting these models is lacking. We assess these challenges by considering the mobile network as part of the value system of the content industry. We will argue that from the perspective of a content provider the mobile network is ‘just another’ distribution channel. Strategic options available for the mobile communication operators are to deliver an excellent distribution channel for content delivery or to move upwards in the value chain by becoming a content aggregator. To become a mobile content aggregator operators will have to develop or acquire complementary resources and capabilities. Whether this strategic option is sustainable remains open.