Tomorrow's wireless phones will be something to talk about.
That’s because a team of MIS professors pinpointed the ideal features of the cellular phone’s heir apparent: the wireless mobile-communication device.

The discoveries of Suprateek Sarker and John Wells, working with the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Andrew Urbaczewski, may help shape the burgeoning mobile-commerce market.

“M-commerce” refers to online business conducted over wireless devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Market research giant IDC predicts that m-commerce revenues will surge from $500 million today to $27 billion by 2005.

The professors set out to explore the hows and whys of wireless mobile device adoption and use. They outfitted research subjects with the latest models, which enable users to call associates, dial into the Internet, send e-mail, and more. For months, the professors observed subjects using the devices to collaborate on projects. They assessed the impact of different features on productivity, interpersonal relationships, and user satisfaction.

The research team plans to share its findings with product manufacturers and service providers—so the next generation of devices can deliver optimal usability.