This paper addresses the formation of industries that involve direct network effects. Using two concepts from the literature on network effects (critical mass and inverse demand curves) and descriptive data from the formation of five telecommunication-related industries, this paper argues that a...

This paper describes the evolution of the mobile Internet in terms of three concepts: the startup problem, standard setting, and mental models. Products in which there is little or no value to the first users due to the existence of strong direct (e.g., telephone) or indirect (complementary...