This volume examines the economics of platform structure and firm competition within and between online markets. It also details modern theoretical treatments of regulatory intervention in online markets and the consideration of forward-looking experimental analysis of demand for yet to be provided services. The volume is divided into three parts: innovation and competition in online markets; regulation, pricing and evaluation with real options; and empirical approaches to market analysis.

Russel Cooper and Gary Madden The present volume analyses the frontiers of broadband, electronic and mobile commerce markets. High-capacity and intelligent mobile telecommunication net works have resulted in new services, such as SMS and Internet banking. Growth in mobile Internet network infrastructure and subscription has provided a base for the development of e-commerce. Accordingly, recent research on broadband net works is forward-looking, e. g., forecasting Internet telephony adoption and the structure of future retail markets. The broadband regime brings with it concerns of identifying appropriate standards and delivery for universal service. Regulation and pricing are matters of importance as well as appropriate investment decisions within a market of ongoing innovation. The volume is divided in five parts: e-commerce business models; network technology and productivity; demand and pricing; market growth, regulation and investment; and issues related to the development imperative. The structure of the volume is guided by the basic themes considered at the International Telecommu nications Society's Asia-Australasian Regional Conference "Mcbusiness, E commerce and the Impact of Broadband on regional Development and Business Prospects," which took place in Perth Western Australia on 22-24 June 2003. The volume contains a selection of papers presented at this conference as well as four additional invited papers, commissioned to augment the volume. The invited pa pers are authored by Jerry Hausman (Chapter 1), Jeffery Bernstein and Charles Zarkadas (Chapter 6), M. Ishaq Nadiri and Banani Nandi (Chapter 8) and Glenn Woroch (Chapter 13)."