Need-Oriented Product Development in the Mobile Business
The exact application fields of the third generation mobile (3G) – the path to the "wireless information society" – have been primarily outlined from the aspect of technical feasibility. The Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS or IMT-2000) is the technical standard that makes mobile communication more flexible. It opens a wide range of possibilities on the application side. Compared to today's 2G networks (e.g., GSM), the flexibility is achieved by higher data transmission rates, the "quality of service" concept, and package-based data communication. However, in today’s technology-driven situation, the usability for customers and their future demands seems to be of subordinate interest. Profitable diversification possibilities in the competition for customers can only be obtained with knowledge of user needs.
Communication as a System
Communication is a central component of daily life. Over the decades, many definitions and models of communication have been developed, focusing on the transmission of knowledge and cognition. Early models emphasized information transmission, supplemented by a common code that both sender and receiver can understand. These theories inform the formulation of user demands and requirements for a mobile communication system. Shannon and Weaver's linear communication model, which views communication as message transmission, is particularly suitable for designing a practical system model for mobile communication.
