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This paper seeks to explore the evolution of a third generation mobile communications (3G) industry based on TD‐SCDMA technical standard in China through the lens of network analysis.

The authors argue that inter‐firm alliances help companies gain and integrate internal and external resources and foster technical innovation. The paper analyzes alliance governance structures and governance mechanisms in particular, and shows how they protect and improve network‐based innovation capabilities and competitive advantages during a ten‐year period with the method of social network analysis and case studies.

The authors offer a theoretical model that incorporates cooperation among organizations, the maturity of the industrial chain, and the accumulation of organizational knowledge and social capital.

The paper offers a theoretical model of factors that contributes greatly to the development of technical innovation.

Industry standards affect the diffusion and adoption of new technology and the competitiveness of individual players but their development is not under the direct control of individual actors. Examines the role and importance of personal networks in the development of industry standards on the basis of a case study of Ericsson’s involvement in the development of standards for 3G mobile telephony. Notes how relations among parties and many types of forums stemming from previous development and marketing involvement affect the complex set of interactions shape the bottom‐up self‐organizing way in which standards emerge. The case study has implications for our understanding of the way standards develop and for managers attempting to influence the outcomes.

This article examines the dynamics of wireless R&D as a combined function of technology and market evolution, focusing on the management and organization of wireless R&D. From the postwar era to the late 1990s, the management and organization of wireless R&D capabilities has been effectively reversed. Industry thrust has shifted from closed specifications, central innovation and domestic market to open specifications, distributed innovation and global networking. The old era is reflected by the classic Bell Labs; the new era by Nokia. Due to the alternation of sustaining and disruptive change, no wireless company can survive without incessant innovation. In this rivalry, the winners are companies that best match their organizational capabilities with the changing industry opportunities.

The purpose of this paper is to answer two research questions which are “What are key factors which influence Chinese to adopt mobile technology?” and “Do these key factors differ from factors which are identified from western context?”.

The findings from a pilot study with 45 in-depth interviews are used to develop questionnaires and test across 800 residents from the three research cities. The data were analyzed by structural equation modeling together with multi-group analysis.

The data suggest eight important concepts, i.e. utilitarian expectation, hedonic expectation, status gains, status loss avoidance, normative influence, external influence, cost, and quality concern, are influential factors affecting users’ intentions to adopt 3G mobile technology. Differences are found between the samples in the three research cities in the effect of hedonic expectation, status gains, status loss avoidance, and normative influence on mobile technology adoption intention.

As the stability of intentions may change over time, only measuring intentions might be inadequate in predicting actual adoption behaviors. However, the focus on potential users is thought to be appropriate, given that the development of 3G is still in its infancy in China.

Previous research into information technology adoption among Chinese users has not paid attention to regional diversity. Some research considered China as a large single market and some was conducted in only one province or one city. Culturally, China is a heterogeneous country.

The purpose of this paper is to show that, since China's accession to the WTO in 2001, standards have emerged as an effective means to protect and promote domestic industries, especially in the ICT sector. China has made several attempts to set its own technological standards – different from international standards – within its own territory and world‐wide. This paper seeks to examine two cases of China's attempts to set its own standards in the ICT sector. By comparing similarities and differences in these cases, it aims to identify motivations and strategies of China's standards‐setting attempts in the ICT sector.

The paper examines the cases of wireless LAN security (WAPI) and 3G mobile communications (TD‐SCDMA). It draws on a set of concepts from the study of national technological innovation systems: techno‐nationalism and techno‐globalism. Data were collected from media and standards‐related institutions.

Despite similarities, each case has a distinguished orientation in terms of techno‐nationalism and techno‐globalism: WAPI is aligned with techno‐nationalism and TD‐SCDMA with techno‐globalism.

China's recent attempts regarding its own standards in the ICT sector are not one‐off occasions, but China's standards policy towards international standards will continue. This research will be a foundation for further inquiry in this increasingly important area of study. A longitudinal follow‐up study tracking the development of each standard over time is required.

Despite the significance of these standard‐setting attempts for China's trade, technology policy and economic development, on the one hand, and for the world economy, on the other hand, there has been little research in this area. The paper offers an enhanced understanding of China's standards policy.

This paper has two interrelated purposes. One is to provide an empirical overview of the developments of new mobile systems and services in Europe, Japan, and South Korea. The other is to examine the discussions regarding the possible explanations for the present lead that East Asia has in new mobile developments. The motivation for making a comparative analysis of mobile developments in Europe, Japan and South Korea is the fact that Japan and South Korea have taken the lead within mobile communications during the last few years, whereas Europe, and in particular the Nordic countries, was leading the way with GSM.

The paper investigates the evolution of the successful mobile internet service i‐mode in Japan, identifies the relevant explanatory factors, and provides implications for the further development of mobile data communications in Europe. In conclusion, the paper argues that there must be a balanced and efficient mix of industry coordination, service experimentation, and dynamic competition in order to provide a foundation for mobile data success in Europe.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework of staged development that examines strategies of domestic companies, government policies, and impacts of foreign multinational companies (MNCs) at different periods of catch‐up of latecomers.

A multi‐case approach is employed to examine four domestic telecom‐equipment companies that have significant impact on China's telecom‐equipment industry. They are: Huawei Technology Corporation (Huawei), Shenzhen Zhongxin Technology Corporation (ZTE), Datang Telecom Technology Corporation, Ltd (Datang), and Great Dragon Information Technology (GDT).

This paper identifies four distinct stages of the catching‐up process, featuring different institutional environment, government involvement, and the ensuing actions of foreign MNCs and domestic companies. During the initial stage, China's government decision of directly leapfrogging to the most advanced switch equipment had a profound impact, because it led to both heavy reliance on foreign MNCs and the pursuance of switch research and development (R&D) by domestic research institutes and new technology companies. The dominance of foreign MNCs is challenged during the growth stage, because several domestic companies ascended and gained the capability to produce large‐scale, stored program controls and the government directly leveraged support in R&D, marketing, and finance. Although many uncompetitive domestic companies failed during the filtration stage, the management training received from foreign MNCs and newly available financing options provided necessary resources for some domestic companies to survive and expand. Domestic leaders globalized their marketing, production, and R&D functions and to become MNCs themselves in the globalization stage, thus finalizing the catching‐up.

The Chinese experiences shed light on late‐industrialization for other developing economies by suggesting that to catch‐up in high‐tech industries, government can become involved strategically to form a competitive and efficient market environment for innovation.

The paper proposes a new conceptual framework to analyze catching‐up of domestic companies as latecomers. This framework can be used to study catching‐up in other sectors in late‐industrializing countries.

Discusses the supply of mobile services, regulatory issues, questions of access to mobile services, pricing trends and the future for this sector. Provides a snapshot of the current state of the mobile phone industry worldwide, beginning with an examination of the boom in mobile cellular subscribers. Uses Figures for explanatory emphasis.