Mobile government, mGovernment, is the extension of eGovernment to mobile platforms, as well as the strategic use of government services and applications which are only possible using cellular/mobile telephones, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and wireless internet infrastructure.
Proponents of mGovernment argue it can help make public information and government services available “anytime, anywhere” and that the ubiquity of these devices mandates their employment in government functions. An example of such beneficial use of mobile technologies would be the sending of a mass alert to registered citizens via short message service, or SMS, in the event of an emergency.
Benefits of mGovernment
Mobile Government can be defined as a strategy and its implementation involving the utilization of all kinds of wireless and mobile technology, services, applications and devices for improving benefits to the parties involved in E-Government including citizens, businesses and all government units
- Cost reduction
- Efficiency
- Transformation/modernization of public sector organizations
- Added convenience and flexibility
- Better services to the citizens
- Ability to reach a larger number of people through mobile devices than would be possible using wired internet only
Issues with mGovernment
- Wireless and mobile networks and related infrastructure, as well as software, must be developed
- To increase citizen participation and provide citizen-oriented services, governments need to offer easy access to mGovernment information in alternative forms
- Mobile phone numbers and mobile devices are relatively easily hacked and wireless networks are vulnerable because they use public airwaves to send signals