Why You Must Teach Your Business Communication Course within a

Mobile Context by 2015

Teaching Business Communication in the Midst of a Mobile Revolution

A hardware revolution (where computers are shifting to mobile devices like smartphones and tables), and

The Mobile Revolution Has Two Parts

A software revolution (which is the mobile apps that will run on those devices). That means the rise of mobile apps for all business functions is a rapidly accelerating trend that no one can ignore.

Mobile has become the primary communication tool for many business professionals, including a majority of executives under the age of 40.

In early 2014, the landscape in which businesses operate changed forever when Internet usage on mobile devices exceeded PC usage.

Nine-two percent of executives own a smartphone they use for business.

Eighty-six percent of executives use their tablet and 72 percent use their smartphone to conduct research for products or services for the business by which they’re employed.

Two-thirds of small businesses say they wouldn’t be able to survive without mobile technology.

More than 50 percent of small businesses use mobile for remote work.

Small businesses are increasingly reliant on mobile apps for day-to-day operations. Three-quarters of small businesses report they use mobile apps. The most popular app usage (in rank order) is for GPS/navigation, social media marketing, document management, location-based services, time management, travel and expense tracking, debit/credit payments in the field, and conferencing.

Whether the day-to-day focus is business management, marketing, sales, SEO (search engine optimization), social media, advertising, software development, or customer relationship management, the mobile device is increasingly becoming the dominant tool for work and communication. As a result, it should become a chapter-by-chapter topic in every business communication classroom.

A Sampling of How Business Are Using Mobile Devices and Apps

Create, view, and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on mobile devices.

Give presentations on an iPad.

Fill in forms, sign, and return documents from mobile devices.

Use mobile phone technology, QR codes, to give customers more information. By using a QR scanner on a mobile phone, customers can use the codes to take them directly to a webpage, to get a coupon, or even to get a discount.

Using a combination of an inventory software app and a barcode scanner app, an inventory can be tracked and checked on a mobile phone. A variety of apps also make it possible to track packages being received or delivered.

Mobile Communication Is a Game Changer

Venture Capitalist Joe Schoendorf says, “Mobile is the most disruptive technology that I have seen in 48 years in Silicon Valley.”

Research Maribel Lopez calls mobile “the biggest technology shift since the Internet.

"Bovée and Thill are the only authors who explain and illustrate in every chapter how mobile is revolutionizing business communication.

“Surprisingly, although we’re in the midst of a mobile revolution, no other business communication authors cover mobile business communication, which should tell you everything you need to know about which authors keep their textbooks current.”

To teach your business communication course within a mobile content, adopt one of Bovée and Thill’s business communication textbook’s listed below. No other business communication textbooks on the market cover mobile business communication.

Business Communication Today, 13th Ed. To be published January 2015

Business Communication Essentials, 7th Ed. To be published January 2015

Excellence in Business Communication, 12th Ed. To be published January 2016

Here’s how to order an examination copy of these texts from your local Pearson Education representative.

A Preview of the Major Topics about Mobile Business Communication

Integrated into Bovee and Thill’s New Editions in 2015 and 2016

The Rise of Mobile as a Communication PlatformHow Mobile Technologies Are Changing Business Communication

The Unique Challenges of Communication on Mobile DevicesEthical and Legal Issues in Mobile Communication

Mobile Communication EtiquetteUsing Mobile Tools for Collaboration and TeamworkMobile Variations in Cross-Cultural Communication

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile MediaWriting and Reading on Mobile Devices

Message Design and Formatting for Mobile DevicesOptimizing Content for Mobile Devices

Mobile Considerations in Social Networking, Blogging, Video, and Other MediaUsing Mobile Technologies to Improve Routine Communication

Creating Promotional Messages on Mobile DevicesVisual Media on Mobile DevicesResearch Using Mobile Devices

Using Mobile Devices in PresentationsMobile Devices in the Job Search Process

Mobile Aspects of Personal Branding

A Complimentary Set of Seven Infographics about Mobile Business Communication Is Available on SlideShare. Click each infographic to see it full screen.

Visit Bovée and Thill’s Online Magazine, How the Mobile Revolution Is Changing Business Communication

“Business communication instructors who don’t recognize now that mobile should be integrated throughout their textbook and be a central part of their course will rapidly experience the declining relevancy of their course to today’s students.”

For a wealth of free business communication resources, visit Bovee and Thill’s Business Communication Blog.

See this informative and well-illustrated slide presentation about mobile business communication:

How Mobile Technology Is Revolutionizing Business Communication

Also, compare your current text’s coverage of mobile business communication to Bovee and Thill’s texts.

Can Your Business Communication Text Pass This Test of Essential Mobile Coverage?

Sources

Slide 2. Daniel Burras, HuffPost Blog, “Mobile Apps Will Transform All Business Processes: Is Your Company Ready?, March 31, 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-burrus/mobile-apps-will-transfor_b_4688878.html Slide 3. “The Rapid Rise of Mobile Business Communication,” Bovee and Thill’s Business Communication Blog, September 20, 2014. http://blog.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/2014/09/20/the-rapid-rise-of-mobile-business-communication Slide 4. “Mobile Now Exceeds PC: The Biggest Shift Since the Internet Began,” Search Engine Watch, July 8, 2014. http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2353616/Mobile-Now-Exceeds-PC-The-Biggest-Shift-Since-the-Internet-Began

Slide 5. Jolie O’Dell, “How Small Business Are Using Mobile,” Mashable, http://mashable.com/2011/06/08/smb-mobile

Slide 6. Jolie O’Dell, “How Small Business Are Using Mobile,” Mashable, http://mashable.com/2011/06/08/smb-mobile

Slide 7. Anita Campbell, “10 Ways to Use Mobile Devices to Run Your Business,”November 10, 2014. http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/mobile-devices-to-run-your-business.html

Slide 8. Untethered Executive--Mobile, Accessible, Connected--Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops: Age of Business Mobility, July 19, 2012. http://bizshifts-trends.com/2012/07/19/untethered-executives-mobile-accessible-connected-smartphones-tablets-laptops-age-of-business-mobility/

Slide 9. Jolie O’Dell, “How Small Business Are Using Mobile,” Mashable, http://mashable.com/2011/06/08/smb-mobile Slide 10. Jolie O’Dell, “How Small Business Are Using Mobile,” Mashable, http://mashable.com/2011/06/08/smb-mobile

Slide 11. Anita Campbell, “10 Ways to Use Mobile Devices to Run Your Business,”November 10, 2014. http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/mobile-devices-to-run-your-business.html

Slide 12. “The Rapid Rise of Mobile Business Communication” Bovee and Thill’s Business Communication Blog, September 20, 2014. http://blog.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/2014/09/20/the-rapid-rise-of-mobile-business-communication