ber of PC users in many countries, it becomes imperative to see the transition from e-commerce to m-commerce. It is clear that we are heading towards an environment where e-services IMS, Services and Applications 9501101020962 9501101020962> identification keys Data carrier(s) Mobile device Network provider Information Provider(s) Identification Data capture Data exchange/Information processing Figure 9.8 M-commerce technical environment. Reproduced with permission from C 2008 GS1 [15] are transformed into m-services, but m-commerce is still in the infancy stage with a lot of challenges that need to be overcome in order to make it a successful endeavor on a large scale [14]. 9.12.1.1 Technical Environment Figure 9.8 shows a high level m-commerce architecture showing the different building blocks involved in the process. These building blocks are [15]: Identification Keys are numeric codes that are used to identify objects. Data carriers are physical representations that carry the numeric codes (such as a bar code, RFID or NFC tag). Mobile devices that are able to capture data from the data carrier. Network providers and technologies that make it possible to exchange data across a network. Merchants and information providers that provide information processing and transactional function- ality. Numeric identification codes are used to uniquely identify traded items, locations or services. Bar codes, RFID or NFC (near field communications) tags are used to represent these identifiers SO that the mobile devices can capture them. An owner of a mobile device scans the bar code or tag and captures the identification code. A particular request is then issued by the mobile device and sent through a network to a merchant (information provider). Information processing takes place and the desired response is sent back to the mobile device. 9.12.1.2 Applications A number of m-commerce products and services are available as shown in Table 9.2. 9.12.1.3 Players Mobile Commerce and Mobile Payment depend heavily on the active co