Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Sperm Whale Facts (Cachalot)

Sperm Whale Facts (Cachalot) The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the universes biggest toothed predator and most intense creature. The whales basic name is the abbreviated type of spermaceti whale, and alludes to the sleek liquid found in the creatures head, which was initially confused with whale semen. The cetaceans other normal name is cachalot, which gets from an antiquated French word for large teeth. Sperm whales do have enormous teeth, each weighing up to 2.2 pounds, however they dont really use them for eating. Quick Facts: Sperm Whale Logical Name: Physeter macrocephalusCommon Names: Sperm whale, cachalotBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 36-52 feetWeight: 15-45 tonsLifespan: 70 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Oceans worldwidePopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Vulnerable Portrayal Sperm whales are effortlessly perceived by their particular shape, their accidents (tail flaps), and blow design. The whale has a huge rectangular head with tight jaw, raised edges on its back rather than dorsal balances, and colossal triangular accidents. It has a S-formed blowhole set toward the front, left half of its head that blows a forward-calculated shower when the whale relaxes. The species shows a serious extent of sexual dimorphism. While guys and females are a similar size during childbirth, develop guys are 30-half more and up to multiple times more monstrous than grown-up females. All things considered, guys are around 52 feet long and weigh 45 tons, while females are 36 feet long and gauge 15 tons. Be that as it may, there are archived reports of guys estimating 67 feet in length and weighing 63 tons and cases of guys arriving at 80 feet long. While most huge whales have smooth skin, sperm whale skin is wrinkled. Normally it is dim in shading, yet there are pale skinned person sperm whales. Sperm whales have the biggest minds of any creatures, either living or terminated. Overall, the mind weighs around 17 pounds. Like other toothed whales, the sperm whale can withdraw or jut its eyes. The whales impart utilizing vocalization and echolocation. Sperm whales are the most intense creatures on Earth, equipped for delivering sounds as boisterous as 230 decibels. The sperm whales head contains the spermaceti organ which creates a waxy liquid called spermaceti or sperm oil. Studies show spermaceti enables the creature to produce and center sound, may encourage smashing battle, and could serve a capacity during whale plunging. While whales upchuck most undigestible issue, some squid bills make it to the digestive system and cause aggravation. The whale produces ambergris accordingly, much like clams combine pearls. <img information srcset=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/rTN6iodHAdIW-o5BXLpVevb7bUQ=/300x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-108200033-859ed43f90bb4413b70c98453f29e93a.jpg 300w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/gL8Wp9qVKZUnYS38myKYEV5x2eA=/925x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-108200033-859ed43f90bb4413b70c98453f29e93a.jpg 925w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/trDG13W-WkYX2lx0Be4-0KnPeJE=/1550x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-108200033-859ed43f90bb4413b70c98453f29e93a.jpg 1550w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/4eIz7TTbkzv73RV5oZinyQdmHes=/2800x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-108200033-859ed43f90bb4413b70c98453f29e93a.jpg 2800w information src=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/z22QvK0VfEVJzZBybaOvdILwEGc=/2800x2091/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-108200033-859ed43f90bb4413b70c98453f29e93a.jpg src=//:0 alt=Sperm whale accident class=lazyload information click-tracked=true information img-lightbox=true information expand=300 id=mntl-sc-square image_1-0-14 information following container=true /> Sperm whales have particular triangular accidents. georgeclerk/Getty Images Living space and Distribution Sperm whales live in seas around the globe. They incline toward sans ice water that is more than 3300 feet down yet will wander near shore. Just guys visit the polar areas. The species isn't found operating at a profit Sea. It has all the earmarks of being locally wiped out off the bank of southern Australia. Diet Sperm whales are carnivores that essentially chase squid, yet additionally eat octopuses, fish, and bioluminescent tunicates. The whales have astounding vision and may chase by watching the water above them for squid outlines or by distinguishing bioluminescence. They can jump for longer than an hour and at profundities up to 6600 feet looking for food, utilizing echolocation to outline environmental factors in obscurity. Beside people, the main huge sperm whale predator is the orca. Conduct Cases of sperm whales rest around evening time. The whales position themselves vertically with their heads close to the surface. Develop guys structure unhitched male gatherings or live lone lives with the exception of mating. Females bunch with different females and their young. Proliferation and Offspring Females become explicitly experienced around 9 years old, while guys develop at 18 years. Guys battle with different guys for mating rights, most likely utilizing teeth and smashing contenders. The pair separate in the wake of mating, with guys giving no consideration to posterity. Following 14 to 16 months development, the female brings forth a solitary calf. The infant is around 13 feet in length and weighs more than one ton. Unit individuals collaborate to ensure calves. Calves regularly nurture for 19 to 42 months, in some cases from females other than their moms. In the wake of arriving at development, females conceive an offspring just once every 4 to 20 years. The most seasoned recorded pregnant female was 41 years of age. Sperm whales may live more than 70 years. <img information srcset=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/Sjp1mtPSs4vjUiK95w_J64VaEXQ=/300x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-568309587-a09dd881e7f24ee8b6eb5ad7f439b45d.jpg 300w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/FSQC4sMUaeOs5GZG_oB3vll7y4s=/755x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-568309587-a09dd881e7f24ee8b6eb5ad7f439b45d.jpg 755w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/d4GY-6edUX1SB76ZmUBH32TegkQ=/1210x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-568309587-a09dd881e7f24ee8b6eb5ad7f439b45d.jpg 1210w, https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/GQzEzG8dtpAnOLXMNSZLNaUmmAY=/2120x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-568309587-a09dd881e7f24ee8b6eb5ad7f439b45d.jpg 2120w information src=https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/BExKVyL7IRMVvxwrlxYc5-7lv4Q=/2120x1415/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-568309587-a09dd881e7f24ee8b6eb5ad7f439b45d.jpg src=//:0 alt=Female sperm whale with calves class=lazyload information click-tracked=true information img-lightbox=true information expand=300 id=mntl-sc-square image_1-0-31 information following container=true /> Female sperm whales care for different calves inside the case. by wildestanimal/Getty Images Protection Status The IUCN groups the sperm whale preservation status as defenseless, while the United States Endangered Species Act records it as imperiled. Sperm whales are recorded on Appendix I and Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Various different understandings additionally ensure the whales all through quite a bit of their range. Sperm whales imitate gradually and are broadly circulated, so the absolute populace size and populace pattern are obscure. A few specialists gauge there might be a huge number of sperm whales. Dangers While to a great extent secured around the world, Japan keeps on taking some sperm whales. Be that as it may, the species most prominent dangers are transport impacts and ensnarement in angling nets. Sperm whales may likewise be in danger from concoction contamination, clamor contamination, and garbage, for example, plastic. Sperm Whales and Humans The sperm whale is highlighted in Jules Vernes Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and in Herman Melvilles Moby-Dick, which depends on the genuine story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820. While sperm whales don't chase people, its hypothetically conceivable an individual could be eaten. There is one story of a mariner gulped by a sperm whale in the mid 1900s and enduring the experience. Sperm whale teeth stay significant social articles in the Pacific islands. While sperm oil use has dropped out of vogue, ambergris may in any case be utilized as a scent fixative. Today, sperm whales are a wellspring of ecotourism pay for whale viewing off the shores of Norway, New Zealand, the Azores, and Dominica. Sources Clarke, M.R. Capacity of the Spermaceti Organ of the Sperm Whale. Nature. 228 (5274): 873â€874, November, 1970. doi:10.1038/228873a0Fristrup, K. M. what's more, G. R. Harbison. How do sperm whales get squids?. Marine Mammal Science. 18 (1): 42â€54, 2002. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01017.xMead, J.G. furthermore, R. L. Brownell, Jr. Request Cetacea. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Well evolved creature Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (third ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. Pitman, R.L. Physeter macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T41755A10554884. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T41755A10554884.enWhitehead, H. furthermore, L. Weilgart. The Sperm Whale. In Mann, J.; Connor, R.; Tyack, P. Whitehead, H. (eds.). Cetacean Societies. The University of Chicago Press. 2000. ISBN 978-0 -226-50341-7.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Definition and Examples of Epitaphs

Definition and Examples of Epitaphs Definition (1) A tribute is a short engraving in composition or stanza on a headstone or landmark. The best tributes, composed F. Lawrence in 1852, are commonly the most brief and the plainest. In no portrayal of structure is intricate and exceptionally elaborate expressiveness such a great amount strange (Sharpes London Magazine). (2) The term tribute may likewise allude to an announcement or discourse recognizing somebody who has kicked the bucket: a memorial service speech. Descriptive word: epitaphic or epitaphial. Expositions on Epitaphs On Epitaphs, by E.V. LucasOn Graveyards, by Louise Imogen GuineyOn Inscriptions and the Lapidary Style, by Vicesimus KnoxOn the Selection of Epitaphs, by Archibald MacMechan Instances of Epitaphs Here falsehoods Frank Pixley, as usual.(Composed by Ambrose Bierce for Frank M. Pixley, an American columnist and politician)Here lies my better half: here let her lie!Now shes very still, as am I.(John Dryden, tribute proposed for his wife)Here lies the assemblage of Jonathan Near,Whose mouth is extended from ear to ear;Tread delicately, stranger, oer this wonder,For in the event that he yawns, youre gone, by thunder.(Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton, Funny Epitaphs. The Mutual Book Company, 1902)ThorpesCorpse(Quoted in Gleanings from the Harvest-Fields of Literature by C. C. Bombaugh, 1860)Under the sodUnder these treesLies the group of Jonathan PeaseHe isn't hereBut just his podHe has dished out his peasAnd gone to God.(Epitaph in Old North Cemetery, Nantucket, Massachusetts, cited in Famous Last Words, by Laura Ward. Authentic Publishing Company, 2004)Here falsehoods an incredible and forceful kingWhose guarantee none depends on;He never said a silly thingNor ever did an insightfu l one.(John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, on King Charles II) The tribute thrived in the seventeenth century when essayists battled over the social capacity of the dead. . . . From the mid eighteenth to the mid nineteenth century, the most significant idyllic memorials look for better approaches for approving the significance of the dead.(Joshua Scodel, The English Poetic Epitaph. Cornell Univ. Press, 1991)The guideline goal of tributes is to sustain the instances of righteousness, that the tomb of a decent man may flexibly the need of his quality, and worship for his memory produce a similar impact as the perception of his life.(Samuel Johnson, An Essay on Epitaphs, 1740)O Rare Ben Jonson,neither commendation nor concision can be conveyed farther than in those straightforward words, and no Latin could give the true and liberal impact of the English...The general inability to deliver an ideal engraving is the more striking, on the grounds that the author of commemorations isn't worried to paint a valid and precise representation. The motivation behind a memorial is preferably to adulate over to depict, since, as per [Samuel] Johnsons astounding expression, in lapidary engravings a man isn't upon pledge. The substance, to be sure, might be typical, if just the style be adequate.(The Lapidary Style. The Spectator, April 29, 1899) Dorothy Parkers Epitaph for HerselfThat would be something beneficial for them to cut on my gravestone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment.(Dorothy Parker, who likewise said that Excuse my residue and This is on me would make appropriate inscriptions) Benjamin Franklins Epitaph for HimselfThe body ofBENJAMIN FRANKLINPrinter,Like the front of an old Book,Its substance torn out,And stript of its Lettering and GildingLies here, Food for Worms;Yet the work itself will not be lost,For it will (as he accepted) show up once moreIn another and increasingly wonderful editionCorrected and altered, byThe Author.(Benjamin Franklin on himself, made numerous years prior to his demise) Rebecca Wests Epitaph for the Human RaceIf the entire human race lay in one grave, the commemoration on its tombstone likely could be: It appeared to be a smart thought at the time.(Rebecca West, cited by Mardy Grothe in Ifferisms, 2009) Further Reading Normally Confused Words: Epigram, Epigraph, and EpitaphObituary

Friday, August 21, 2020

Mobile Commerce Basics What, Why, and How

Mobile Commerce Basics What, Why, and How The internet and other technological advances have certainly changed the way we do things today. Even the most mundane things can now be accomplished through various ways and means, which have a lot to do with technology. Just look at customer behavior, particularly on how they shop and where they shop, and you will see a marked difference from the time before the internet and e-commerce came about.For a while, e-commerce has been a major catchphrase in business. E-commerce, also known as  electronic commerce, was about trading products and services via the internet and other computer networks and electronic systems. These activities include, but are not limited to, banking, insurance, advertising and warehousing. Even transportation transactions were also completed using e-commerce. Basically, e-commerce was broadly referred to as conducting business on the internet.The evolution of how we transact did not stop there. The increasing usage of mobile and telecommunication devices acte d as another precursor to change, and that change led to the rise of mobile commerce, also known as m-commerce. © Shutterstock.com | tovovanIn this guide, you will understand 1) what is mobile commerce and what are its unique features, 2) what use cases are enabled by mobile commerce, 3) what issues are related to mobile commerce, and 4) what mobile commerce trends weve identified.MOBILE COMMERCE DEFINEDThe simplest way to describe mobile commerce would be the buying and selling of products â€" or the conduct of commercial transactions and activities â€" through telecommunication and other mobile devices that run or operate on wireless network technologies.It is safe to say that m-commerce is an upgraded version of e-commerce. In fact, m-commerce has been defined as the conduct of e-commerce activities using mobile or cellular devices. If business transactions involve the use of wireless telecommunication networks, then it is highly likely to fall under m-commerce.While terminologies such as internet banking, electronic money transfers and online shopping were very exciting and phenomenalin t he past decade, what excites consumers now is mobile banking, money transfer via mobile and mobile bookings among many others.Some fun facts on mobile commerce.[slideshare id=24292822doc=50must-knowmobilecommercefactsandstatisticsmobify-130716072744-phpapp01w=640h=330]M-commerce vs. E-commerceBetween e-commerce and m-commerce, the latter is the newer concept, seeing as mobile technology had not exploded until about two decades after the internet was able to be used to conduct commercial transactions using electronic systems.While e-commerce mainly makes use of computers, and requires internet connectivity, m-commerce uses mobile devices such as smartphones, PDAs, tablets and it relies mainly on an internet connection provided by wireless telecommunication networks.One of the major advantages of m-commerce over e-commerce is portability and flexibility. While internet connectivity is required in e-commerce, that is not the case in mobile commerce since these devices come with their o wn connection to the internet using telecommunication networks. Since the mobile devices are also smaller and more portable, users can literally conduct commercial activities anywhere, even in places with no electricity. This means, that usage of m-commerce is also broader, thanks to this portability feature.The rise of m-commerce has certainly boosted e-commerce as a whole, since users are given more options on the platform and tools, and a majority of the limitations that they have encountered in e-commerce do not exist in m-commerce.M-commerce vs. M-businessThere is a growing confusion regarding the concepts of m-commerce and m-business (or mobile business), with many people believing that they are one and the same. The given definition of m-business is that it is the “ability to interact and transact with anyone, anytime, anywhere, using wireless communications”. That definition is already very broad to be applied to m-commerce, which is limited to the “buying and selling of products and services over the internet through the use of mobile or cellular devices”.Therefore, it can be said that m-commerce is simply one of the many aspects of m-business.Unique Features of M-CommerceIn order to fully understand what sets mobile commerce apart from e-commerce and m-business, it is a good idea to take a look at its unique features, which can be clearly seen in its advantages.Mobility and ubiquityMobile commerce involves the use of portable mobile or cellular devices, such as mobile phones, smartphones and tablets.Portability results in closer proximity between businesses and their consumers, meaning it is now possible for businesses to reach their target audience faster. The parties are not restricted by physical or geographical locations when doing commerce, be it purchasing a product, completing a bank transaction, or even bidding on an auction. In addition, the technology and devices that power mobile commerce are also available and readily accessible. As such, the probability of the businesses making a sale is also higher.Electricity requirementIn e-commerce, a constant connection to an electric outlet is mandatory to power the devices. Thanks to the increased usage and flexibility of mobile devices which come with their own batteries, shopping via mobile devices is possible even without electricity.Comfort, convenience and spontaneityMany people prefer making their purchases over their desktop or laptop computers, in the comfort of their own homes or offices, instead of making that trip to the physical store or location of the goods or services that they want to buy.However, there are even more people who find it more convenient to do their shopping on their mobile phones, and they can do this while sipping some latte at a coffee shop or even in a bus or train as they travel. There is no need to rush home or to the office to access the computer in order to buy something. All users have to do is whip out their tablets of phones a nd do their shopping from there.This is a nice presentation on the Mobile Commerce Playbook which provides a deeper look into m-commerce.[slideshare id=43926553doc=mobilecommerceplaybook-150126202507-conversion-gate02w=640h=330]USES OF MOBILE COMMERCEAside from making purchases through apps on mobile devices, other m-commerce examples include purchase of ringtones, games and music online. Mobile ticket bookings and mobile parking meter payments are also m-commerce applications. While large purchases, such as purchase of real estate and automobiles, are still being worked on, there is no doubt that there will soon come a time when these major transactions may also be completed on mobile devices.The most common products and services on mobile commerce that are seen today are:Mobile banking. Inquire about your bank balance, manage your bank accounts, remit money and transact with your bank through your mobile phone.Mobile browsing and purchase. Shopping can now be done on your mobile d evice and if something catches your eye, you can immediately purchase it while browsing. This is made faster and easier if the merchant has an app, instead of browsing their website on your phone.Mobile content purchase and delivery. This is no longer a new concept, since this is one of the earliest forms of mobile commerce. You can purchase mobile content such as music, games, movies, ringtones, wallpapers and even apps, and they will be sent directly to your mobile phone.Mobile ATM. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions, specifically, cash-in and cash-out transactions, are now considered for widespread mobile application. At present, only a select countries and mobile companies (such as Hungary’s Vodafone) allow the payment â€" through cash or bank card â€" of phone bills.Mobile money transfers. Now, money can be transferred through the use of mobile devices.Information and location-based services. Sometimes users may not necessarily want to purchase anything, but they wou ld still be interested in receiving information, such as news, local weather, stock and financial quotes, movie and TV programming schedules, traffic reports and even sports scores.Mobile advertising. People check their mobile phones more often than they do their desktop computers, so marketers and advertisers believe that they will be able to catch the attention of their target consumers better if they send the promotional and marketing materials directly to them through their mobile devices.Mobile ticketing, vouchers and coupons. Tickets, vouchers, coupons and even loyalty cards are now sent to users on their mobile phones. Since they are in digital form, all that is required would be to present these tickets, vouchers or cards, in order to get the service or benefits that they entail.Mobile commerce may be conducted using a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a phablet, a notebook or, in some cases, a laptop. Basically, any device that has these two features may be used to supp ort mobile commerce:Portable and mobileHas the ability to gain access to a networkWhen we speak of mobile commerce, the first devices that come to mind are mobile phones. Mobile devices, as a whole, are known for their ubiquity, identifiability, and context awareness. In other words, mobile device users can access the resources that they need from practically anywhere. All users of the cellular network make use of a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, which serves as their unique identity when accessing the network, and mobile devices are also designed with the ability to be geo-located.There are a number of reasons why more users prefer using mobile devices in transactions and commercial activities.Mobile devices improve efficiency. The use of mobile devices will reduce the costs usually associated with the delivery of goods and services, such as warehousing and storage costs and the cost of maintaining physical locations and stores of businesses.Mobile devices promote tim eliness. If you have a mobile device, transactions may be done in real-time, and this also spurs the businesses to get right away to fulfill their end of the transaction.Mobile devices improve communications and relationships between the parties involved. The instant connection made through mobile devices results in better relations between businesses and their suppliers, sellers, customers and distributors. It also cuts through the time (and costs) that would have been used or spent on dealing with middlemen, since communication is done directly. Customer loyalty and retention are also strengthened.Mobile devices offer a wider “reach”. From the looks of things, the use of mobile devices is not a passing trend. In fact, we can see it playing an even bigger role in business in the future, and so we expect more businesses to adopt mobile commerce, if only to be able to enter bigger markets and reach a wider target audience.ISSUES ON MOBILE COMMERCEMobile commerce is not perfect, j ust as e-commerce is not without its challenges and problems. It is then up to adopters of m-commerce to deal with these issues accordingly.Security and Privacy IssuesThis is a concern that is also seen in e-commerce, or practically any transaction over the internet. Users still harbor a certain level of distrust when it comes to internet and network security, and this has translated over to mobile commerce. It is for this reason that, although there are capabilities available to mobile users, they do not make use of them. They simply do not have enough trust that they are protected or that the content they will download is completely safe to use.Apps, for instance, are often met with skepticism by users. App developers are thus becoming increasingly motivated to create apps that will dash away all the doubts of users regarding their security.Users are naturally protective when it comes to sharing their personal information and payment details. Incidents of identity theft and hackin g that lead to stolen money certainly are not helping.Mobile Website Design IssuesAdopters of mobile commerce have one important aspect that must be paid attention to, if they want to make a success of their mobile commerce efforts and, in the process, even help their traditional sales. That is to make sure that they have a mobile-friendly website.Certainly, the biggest hurdle would be the small screen sizes. There is only so much that you can fit on a small screen size, but still be able to fully convey the message that you want. Therefore, adopters of mobile commerce need to pay attention to the design of their mobile websites.Studies show that consumers’ purchasing decisions are affected by how mobile-friendly â€" or unfriendly, for that matter â€" the website is. There are businesses that think that, as long as their websites are viewable on the small screens of mobile devices, that is enough. Apparently, that is not the case, because users also tend to be put off from making any purchase when they come across a mobile-unfriendly website.Mobile MarketingWhile the general concepts are the same, mobile commerce also calls for marketing that is specifically designed for mobile use. This is called mobile marketing, which covers mobile email marketing and mobile content marketing. Marketers must adapt their strategies while taking into account the implications of making that shift to mobile. After all, the customer experience of mobile users will be slightly different from that of consumers in traditional methods of doing business.TRENDS IN MOBILE COMMERCEMobile commerce is here to stay, and so industries have two choices: to adopt mobile commerce or stay away from it completely. However, competitiveness would dictate that they should consider adopting mobile commerce, considering how a larger part of the world now uses mobile devices even for simple activities such as making bank balance inquiries.Ever-increasing mobile internet usageAccording to the Interna tional Data Corporation, 44% of the population of the world â€" that is around 3.2 billion people â€" will have internet access before the end of 2016 and, out of those 3.2 billion people, 2 billion are mobile users. This number is predicted to increase by more than 25% annually over the next five years.If you look at smartphone subscriptions, you will notice that the numbers are growing. Today, the estimated number of global subscriptions is around 2.6 billion. That number is predicted to increase up to 6.1 billion in less than 4 years. And we are talking here of smartphone users only, which account for roughly 70% of the total number of mobile or cellular phone users all over the world.Global mobile expansionIt is no longer just the western world that is making use of mobile devices, internet and mobile technology for its commercial transactions. Emerging markets, particularly in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, are commanding attention. China, India and Indonesia are seen to be taking on bigger roles in mobile commerce, as their wireless networks are growing and expanding.By 2020, it is forecasted that Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East will comprise 80% of all new mobile or cellular subscriptions.Shift of marketing efforts to mobileEven advertisers and marketers are now slowly integrating mobile marketing to their plans and programs, with advertisers taking more note of the market’s online behavior. Online advertising is certainly becoming more pronounced, and many companies are actually starting to transition to online advertising, while only maintaining a minimum investment in traditional marketing methods.Introduction of new mobile devices and applicationsManufacturers of mobile devices are certainly on a roll, churning out new products almost every quarter, with their features becoming increasingly advanced and with more functionalities. Mobile app developers are following suit, designing m-commerce applications to be functional and user-f riendly on any mobile device.Development of new technologiesIt seems that the most brilliant minds on the planet are coming out with new mobile technologies to facilitate the conduct, or processing, of transactions. For example, new payment options that are designed to integrate seamlessly with mobile applications are developed. The mobile wallet, for one, allows users to conduct monetary transactions using their smartphones.One other technology that has been developed and is increasingly seen as an excellent tool in m-commerce is Near-Field-Communication, also referred to as NFC. Instead of mobile devices connecting through a wireless network, they need only have to be in close proximity with each other.