The Clicks and Clunks of wireless e-commerce.

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Your e-business. It fits perfectly on a computer screen. Everything's in its place. When your customers sit at their computers, you know what they want. But they're not always at their computers. Many are accessing the Web wirelessly, through their PDAs and phones. Are you losing customers? Do you need to translate your entire site to the handheld, or just a portion of it? Or maybe this new trend is simply not right for your business and you should just ignore it.

How do you know if your e-business is ripe for wireless?

Ask yourself these two questions:

  1. Can you offer answers to questions people ask when they're NOT near the computer?
  2. Can you take advantage of the fact that your customers are walking around and could physically be near your product at any given time?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, you're ready to go unplugged. Let's take a look at a few types of businesses that can benefit from making themselves available wirelessly.

  • Shopping - For years, retailers have thought of ways to entice people to walk into their stores (flashy signs, handing out flyers, the list is endless). Now, with wireless marketing, they've got a new tool. Although not fully developed yet, with the infiltration of GPS on handheld devices, e-tailers with brick and mortar units will be able to send an alert when a customer gets near their store. "In 50 feet, the latest Stephen King novel is available for 40 percent off!" There are also possible wireless uses for comparison shopping. See the MySimon example below.

  • Auctions - You can't expect to be near your computer every time one of your auctions closes. With wireless access to live auctions, you're sure to get the item you want wherever you are.

  • Trading - Ah... the life of a day trader. Sitting in a small room staring at a computer screen for eight hours. You'll never get up for a moment. Not even to go to the bathroom. You can't. You don't know what's going to happen with the market. If you walk away from your computer, you could lose a ton of money. There's got to be a better life. Ideally, one that involves sun. Still in its infancy, E-Trade is leading the way for wireless trading.

  • Restaurants - I'm lost and I'm hungry. Where's a good place to eat that's close? I can't trust the guy with the four teeth missing. I could rely on the few chain restaurants I see, or I could get a recommendation from my trusty Palm VII.

  • Sports and News - If it affects your business, you want to know it wherever you are. Personalize your information and get alerts on breaking stories and scores.

Does your business fall into one of these categories? Does it fall into a category that I haven't even mentioned? Let me know, so I can steal your idea and run with it.

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