Exploring Convergence and Innovation on the Mobile Platform: Mobile Social Media Services as a Case in Point

This paper focuses on the nature of convergence and innovation on the mobile platform. It posits the idea that convergence on the mobile platform is about providing an interoperable technology environment which can serve as a platform for developing multiple services, repurposing web-based applications or enhancing them; and enabling a range of functions for use on mobile devices. Because of this converged platform, the nature of innovation has changed. To illustrate this concept, the evolution of innovation in the mobile social media sector is discussed. Characteristics of companies in the mobile social media arena are described and a case study of MeetMoi, a mobile dating service is presented as representative of this genre and as an example of how the nature of innovation on the mobile platform has changed to include a more individualistic kind of innovation. Implications for the role of the manager in light of these developments are discussed.