1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud services for individuals and businesses?

2. How does the adoption of cloud services affect the revenues for computer and software makers? Which companies will “win” and “lose” if individuals and businesses continue to shift to using cloud services?

3. What forces would create pressure for a dominant cloud-based operating system to emerge?

4. What individual advantages do you think Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have in promoting their cloud-based operating systems?

In 2012, more than 75% of the world population was using mobile phones, and 80% of those accessed the mobile Web. Mobile payment systems offered the potential of enabling all of these users to perform financial transactions on their phones, similar to how they would perform those transactions using personal computers. The mobile web is similar to using the web on a laptop, but there was no dominant mobile payment system in place then. Top firms began developing Near Field Communication (NFC) chips for smartphones that can facilitate wireless transactions and enable purchase without contact. Other companies that did not require NFC chips used a downloadable application and the web to transmit customer information. Companies like PayPal had a clear advantage because customers could simply complete purchases by entering their phone numbers and a pin number, or use their PayPal-issued card.

In other parts of the world where mobile phones are used more than banks, intriguing alternatives for mobile banking were gaining traction even faster. The opportunity, then, of giving such people access to fast and inexpensive funds transfer is enormous. The leading system in India is Inter-bank Mobile Payment Service was developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This system uses a unique identifier for each individual that links directly to his or her bank account.