5 M-services and applications: Perspectives on regulatory measures to foster diffusion and access Author: Mercy Wanjau, Assistant Director, Communications Authority of Kenya “The world was so recent that many things lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was necessary to point.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez1 One Hundred Years of Solitude 5.1 Introduction We are living in the midst of a social, economic, and technological revolution. How we communicate, learn, socialize and conduct business has moved beyond the narrow confines of language and geographical proximity and onto the Internet. The Internet has, in turn, moved into our phones, laptops, homes and cities, and it continues to wield profound influence on civic, commercial and social engagement in society. One of the outcomes is an explosion of data that is bringing numerous insights that are changing our world.2 A study conducted in 2013 found that the impact of the mobile sector on other industries such as energy, health and financial was so profound that it could fundamentally change how those sectors operate.3 5.2 Welcome to the digital ecosystem For the last two decades or so, mobile technology has been at the heart of the digital ecosystem, with innovations in voice, data and increasing speeds of broadband. This mobile revolution has helped to bridge access gaps, delivering services to businesses and citizens alike. The objective of this chapter is to discuss perspectives on regulatory strategies that can be adopted to facilitate diffusion and access of m-services and applications.5.2.1 What are m-services and applications?In beginning this discussion, it is important to mention that m-services and apps (i.e., applications) are different. Apps ride on networks that also deliver m-services (mobile services). Indeed, both can thrive on similar regulatory approaches, to some extent. However, at some point they call for differentiated regulatory intervention, in order to establish an enabling environment. Given this context, this chapter will illustrate regulatory strategies to promote the diffusion of both m-services and applications. Particular references will be made to m-payments and m-health, to highlight specific issues.The portability of mobile has promoted ease of access to the Internet. Conventional services such as banking, access to government services, and education are now accessible in regions where these services were either unavailable or inadequate before. Governments throughout the world -- and particularly in developing countries -- are looking to mobile platforms for innovative ways to improve the delivery of public services and to foster participation in public policy-making.4 The unique capabilities heralded by the “Golden Age of Mobile” enable efficiencies that continue to hold much promise for citizens, businesses and governments alike.The interface between the Internet and devices, particularly portable ones, offers an attractive distribution platform for multiple apps and services. Initially, mobile apps were offered to enable general productivity and information retrieval, including email, online calendars, contacts, stock market and weather information. However, public demand and the availability of developer tools drove rapid expansion into other categories, such as word processing; social media; picture sharing; mobile games; factory automation; GPS mapping and location-based Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016 125