9.2 Mobile Technology Layers for Business

Mobile technology layers provide the basis for mobile architecture. The mobile networks, databases,

middleware, business applications, and devices need to be considered individually and then together to provide a sound basis for a mobile business. Each layer has its own mobility issues as well as issues influencing all other layers.

9.2 Mobile Technology Layers for Business

	Mobile technologies can be best understood from a business point of view as being made up of layers
	with each layer having a corresponding impact on the business.

	Layer 1: Transport/Network Layer
	The first layer of the aforementioned mobile architecture is the network and communications layer. This layer provides the fundamentals of telecommunications on which cellular GSM networks operate. This layer can also be called the data-link layer. It enables the Mobile Internet Protocol version 4 (MIPv4) and rides on top of the standard communications protocols of TCP/IP.

	Layer 2: Content Layer
	The content or database layer controls and manipulates contents presented to mobile users. This management of data includes sourcing of news materials, and audio and video streams (in the case of 3G), and providing handset self-service.

9.2 Mobile Technology Layers for Business

	Layer 3: Middleware Layer
	The middleware layer provides the "glue" between the transport layer, content layer, and one or more applications. Two such technologies are WAP and i-Mode. These middleware technologies handle mobile user requests that are sent as universal resource locators (URL) through the network to the server via the WAP gateway. This Web server then sends back responses to the WAP gateway.

	Layer 4: Application Layer
	The application layer provides software application support for a user/ device. Its management is based on Session Initiation Protocol which makes use of a registrar server and a location services server to keep track of the various connections and devices associated with a given user. The application layer provides support to the mapping of connections and routing of services. Thus, mobility in this layer is supported by e-mail-style identification of users and their connections.

	Layer 5: User and Device Layer
	Some service providers use hardware codes or locks on the mobile devices provided by them to users. These codes prevent the device from being used on "other" networks and thereby hamper device mobility.