Question

How is m-commerce different than e-commerce?

Answer 1

1. The differences between E-commerce and M-commerce

Both of these terms have different meanings though both aim at making consumer lives easier. To better understand the differences between E-commerce and M-commerce, please have a look at the following table

	E-commerce	M-commerce
Definition	Electronic Commerce (or also called E-commerce) refers to the activities of buying and selling products and services with the use of electronic systems such as the internet.	Mobile Commerce (or also called M-commerce) refers to the process of buying and selling products and services with the use of internet/cellular data via wireless handheld devices.
History	1970’s	1990’s
Devices used	Computers, laptops…	Wireless handheld devices such as cell phones, iPads, tablets…
The use of Internet	Mandatory	Not mandatory(allow the use of offline mode, might not work properly though)
Connectivity	Smaller	Larger owing to the bigger number of mobile users
Mobility	Limited	Less limited because of lighter weight and smaller size leading to easier to carry
Reach	Only at the places where the electricity and the internet are available	Broader due to its portability
Payment gateway	Credit cards	Caller’s rate, mobile banking or user’s credit card
Usage	Less simple because of a more complicated user interface and more functions	Simple because all functions have been simplified
Platform used	Web stores	Web stores (mobile version/web app), hybrid app, native app
Cost	Less costly for the creation a web store and the use of internet	More costly for the creation of a mobile app and the use of cellular data