Released on = February 12, 2006, 1:56 pm

Press Release Author = Research Project Mobile Commerce, University of Hamburg

Industry = Financial

Press Release Summary = Mobile Banking has staged a remarkable come-back in Germany,
as a study by University of Hamburg recently discovered. The rapid acceptance of
mobile financial services has created new opportunities and challenges for providers
of financial services. A workshop in Hamburg sets out to deliberate strategic
implications of increased customer mobility for banks and other related
institutions.

Press Release Body = The increased need/wish for mobility amongst various sections
of the society, particularly amongst professionally active groups, is confronting
credit institutions (banks), and other enterprises offering financial services, with
challenges to adjust their service portfolio in a way to best suit customer needs.
On the other hand it also opens up a new arena of opportunities by the way of
offering innovative, value-added services so as to not only cater to the needs
arising out of the mobility of the customer but also by actively inducing demand for
new, mobility-centric services..
Mobile Banking can contribute to the business of banks by serving as:

i) a source of revenue;
ii) an additional distribution channel; and
iii) as an image-enhancing product.

The key to successful implementation lies in employing this medium to effectively
increase sales volume, reduce costs of distribution and enhance customer
satisfaction..

As a recent study by Chair of International Management at University of Hamburg
established, there exists a sustainable and sufficiently large demand for mobile
financial services amongst various customer groups. "The question is no more whether
there exists sufficient demand for mobile services", as Mr. Rajnish Tiwari,
co-author of the study THE MOBILE COMMERCE PROSPECTS: A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GERMAN BANKING SECTOR puts it: "but rather how to identify
interesting customer groups and to offer them desired services for reasonable
prices." The real challenge thus lies in designing suitable products.

In order to contribute to customer- and market orientation of mobile financial
services the authors of the above mentioned study - Dr. Stephan Buse and Mr. Rajnish
Tiwari - are organizing a one-day "Mobile Banking Workshop" in Hamburg. The workshop
is scheduled to take place on 2nd of March, this year. The workshop will include the
presentation of the results of two empirical surveys of customer acceptance and bank
perspective respectively. It will further include a strategic assessment and a
discussion on the viability of Mobile Banking applications and employed mediums
(e.g. clients vs. browsers).

The workshop is primarily targeted at credit institutions, financial services
enterprises, consultancy firms and technology providers. Academic circles involved
with Mobile Commerce or banking are also welcome to attend. Detailed information
about the study including a list of investigated research issues and a table of
contents can be obtained at:
http://www1.uni-hamburg.de/m-commerce/banking/index_e.html

For further information:

Rajnish Tiwari
Universitty of Hamburg
Chair of International Management
Fax: (0049) 040 - 428 38 - 7793
E-Mail: Rajnish.Tiwari@uni-hamburg.de

Web Site = http://www1.uni-hamburg.de/m-commerce/banking/index_e.html

Contact Details = Rajnish Tiwari
Universitty of Hamburg
Chair of International Management
Fax: (0049) 040 - 428 38 - 7793
E-Mail: Rajnish.Tiwari@uni-hamburg.de