Geographic Patterns and Socio-Economic Influences on Mobile Internet Access and Use in United States Counties

As mobile devices rapidly proliferate and internet services expand concomitantly, a confluence of the two enables users to access the internet on their mobile-cellular devices for a variety of purposes. In this paper, we examine mobile adoption and mobile internet usage in 3,108 counties of the United States for e-entertainment and e-commerce purposes. Spatial patterns of mobile internet adoption and usage are explored to understand the extent of the mobile internet digital divide in the US. Using the Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model, socio-economic, innovation, affordability, and social capital influences on mobile adoption and mobile internet use are examined. Spatial dimensions of county-level mobile internet activity and evidence of strong association of geodemographic and tariff variables emphasize the importance of market forces on mobile internet usage. Policies to bridge the mobile internet digital divide are recommended based upon the significant influence of market factors, innovation, and affordability

The influences on Internet adoption and usage of the Bottom of the Pyramid in Vietnam: a preliminary model

Objectives This research attempts to assess potential influences on the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) in using the Internet by proposing a technology acceptance model. In the course of doing so, the study also provides a better understanding of how the BoP accesses the Internet. Summary The author modified the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology using previous studies of the BoP to create an initial conceptual framework. The model consists of four independent variables: performance expectancy, ease expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions and a dependent variable: usage behavior. Then, eight in-depth individual interviews with the BoP in Vietnam are conducted. Content analysis is adopted to improve the variables proposed in the initial model. Next, the variables are coded to carry out correlation tests, which help suggesting the relationships between them. Conclusions Performance expectancy, which is how much the BoP believes the Internet helps achieving job goals, entertainment and information needs, positively influence the adoption. Ease expectancy measuring the affordability of the Internet and the ease of accesing it also positively correlates with usage behavior. Social influence takes into account the degree the BoP thinks that reference groups expect them to use the Internet, that Internet is a social norm which should be abided to, and that the Internet is beneficial for the whole household. The probability that the BoP uses the Internet increases with Social Influence. Last, Facilitating Conditions, which is the level the BoP believes that a technical infrastructure exists to support their usage and that the BoP have control over their usage, positively influence the degree of usage of the Internet

Cellular Phone and the USAge (Problems of Cellular Phone\u27s USAge in Blank Spot Areas of Indonesia)

Mobile phone as a form of communication technology is acceptable by many peoples. But geographical condition makes them difficult to access. In fact, many potential mobile-phones consumers are in rural areas. They have no enough telecommunications infrastructure. This phenomenon is interesting to study specially about how the USAge and function of cell phone get reduced for bad infrastructure. This article will explore, identify, and map the problems related to mobile-phone USAge in the blankspot in Indonesia. This one also wants to know future research trend. By literature review, this study shows that all three aspects of mobile phone USAge (technical, organizational, and cultural issues) cannot be separated, but interrelated between one-and-among another. Technical issues on the mobile phone\u27s USAge are related to organizational (government and private) and cultural ones. Because of the diversity of cultures in Indonesia, this study recommends to use a constructivism paradigm to study mobile phone penetration. The analysis then will be conducted to know how the individual/group reconstruct and co-construct communications technology on the basis of their own socio-culture context. Because of cultural difference in each area, researchers can set aside generalization principle and focuses more on every individual or group\u27s construction to communication technology

Rural consumers' adoption of CRM in a developing country context

This paper illustrates how understanding consumer preferences through market research may enhance CRM adoption among the rural customers of a developing country like Bangladesh. It presents the case of Community Information Centre (CIC) established by Grameenphone, a company owned by Telenor, the Norwegian telecommunications company and Grameen Bank, the Nobel prize winning micro credit organisation in the rural settings of Bangladesh. The paper shows that CIC is an innovative way of building and maintaining customer relationships and technological interface with the financially constrained consumers in a poor developing economy like Bangladesh

CELLULAR PHONE AND THE USAGE (Problems of Cellular Phone’s Usage In Blank Spot Areas of Indonesia)

Telepon seluler sebagai bentuk teknologi komunikasi mudah dijangkau lapisan masyarakat Indonesia. Namun, Kondisi geografis menyebabkan akses ke daerah menjadi sulit. Padahal, di daerah banyak potensi konsumen telepon seluler namun tidak difasilitasi dengan infrastruktur telekomunikasi. Fenomena ini menarik dikaji khususnya mengenai bagaimana pola penggunaan dan fungsi telepon seluler sebagai teknologi komunikasi tereduksi oleh keterbatasan infrastruktur. Tulisan ini akan mengeksplorasi, mengidentifikasi, dan memetakan pokok-pokok permasalahan terkait dengan pemanfaatan telepon seluler di daerah blankspot di Indonesia, serta ingin mengetahui trend penelitian kedepannya. Metode penelitian ingin adalah dengan melakukan tinjauan literatur terhadap publikasi terkait masalah ini. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa dari ketiga aspek permasalahan di atas (masalah teknis, organisasional, dan budaya) tidak dapat diperlakukan secara terpisah, tapi kesatuan yang saling terkait. Masalah teknis pada telepon seluler berkaitan dengan masalah organisasional (pemerintah dan swasta), dan masalah budaya (lokalitas daerah). Karena keragaman budaya di Indonesia, penelitian ini menganjurkan untuk menggunakan konstruktivis untuk mengkaji penetrasi teknologi telepon seluler. Analisis dilakukan untuk mengetahui bagaimana individu/kelompok merekonstruksi teknologi komunikasi sesuai konteks sosial-budaya. Karena konteks budaya yang khas di setiap daerah, generalisasi kuantitatif harus dikesampingkan, lebih menekankan pada keragaman konstruksi dan kokonstruksi individu/kelompok.Kata-kata Kunci: Permasalahan Infrastruktur; Permasalahan Kultur; Penggunaan Telepon                                   Seluler; Daerah Blankspot. ABSTRACTMobile phone as a form of communication technology is acceptable by many peoples. But geographical condition makes them difficult to access. In fact, many potential mobile-phones consumers are in rural areas. They have no enough telecommunications infrastructure. This phenomenon is interesting to study specially about how the usage and function of cell phone get reduced for bad infrastructure. This article will explore, identify, and map the problems related to mobile-phone usage in the blankspot in Indonesia. This one also wants to know future research trend. By literature review, this study shows that all three aspects of mobile phone usage (technical, organizational, and cultural issues) cannot be separated, but interrelated between one-and-among another. Technical issues on the mobile phone’s usage are related to organizational (government and private) and cultural ones. Because of the diversity of cultures in Indonesia, this study recommends to use a constructivism paradigm to study mobile phone penetration. The analysis then will be conducted to know how the individual/group reconstruct and  co-construct  communications  technology on the basis of their own socio-culture context. Because of cultural difference in each area, researchers can set aside generalization principle and focuses more on every individual or group’s construction to communication technology. Keywords: problems of infrastructure; problems of culture; cellular phone usage; Blank spot                       areas

Spatial and Socioeconomic Analysis of Purposeful Mobile Internet Use in US States

The digital divide in the United States has received renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. As achievement of digital equity remains a high priority, this study examines spatial patterns and socioeconomic determinants of the purposeful use of mobile internet for personal and business needs in US states. Agglomerations of mobile internet use are identified using K-means clustering and the extent of agglomeration is measured using spatial autocorrelation analysis. Regression analysis reveals that mobile internet use is associated with employment in management, business, science, and arts occupations, affordability, age structure, and the extent of freedom in US states. Spatial randomness of regression residuals shows the effectiveness of the conceptual model to account for spatial bias. Implications of these findings are discussed

Understanding the Individual-level digital divide : evidence of an African Country

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementDigital divide, the differential in access and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) represents an obstacle to the information society, and general wellbeing. This study combines the extended unified theory of acceptance, and use of technology (UTAUT2) (Venkatesh, Thong, & Xu, 2012), Schwartz’s basic human values theory (Schwartz, 1992) and ICT skills to: (1) understand which factors influence ICT acceptance among individuals; (2) explore the role of basic values on ICT acceptance; and, (3) examine how these factors explain the digital divide. The research model was tested in the context of a sub-Saharan country. Empirical results suggest that ICT use is mainly influenced by behavioral intention, habit, and ICT skills. Hedonism, achievement, benevolence, and universalism were the most significant values

A framework for determining the adoption of new services in the South African mobile telecommunications market

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and ZuluThe aim of this study was to determine the key factors which explain the adoption of mobile data services in South Africa and incorporate them into an explanatory framework that can be used to indicate whether a new mobile data service that is introduced into the South African Mobile Market will be successful. Additionally, it shows that the current usage of mobile data services in South Africa supports the framework. The research used a design based on a mixed methods methodology. The research was conducted using a literature survey and two research phases. The literature survey was an extensive review of communication technology adoption frameworks and all the possible factors of adoption. This literature survey was also used to develop the discussion document which was used as the guidelines for the Phase 1 interviews. The interviews were with experts in the telecommunications market in South Africa and were used to determine the key drivers of adoption and possible moderating factors of mobile data services. From those interviews a preliminary model was proposed. Phase 2 was a market survey which tested the framework and moderating factors in different metropolitan areas as well as examined the current usage of mobile data services. The statistical analysis used in determining the framework incorporated Descriptive Statistics, Factor Analysis, using Principal Axis Factoring, and Structural Equation Modelling. The framework, which was based on the Technology Acceptance Model, introduced two new constructs. The first new construct was the Mobile Service Providers Marketing Tactics and the second was Social Pressure and Aspirational Value. The two constructs combined can be used to explain why mobile service providers with low cost strategies are not successful. Demographic factors such as Age were found to influence the adoption as well as Socio-economic factors such as Income. Personal factors such as Technical Knowledge, Ability and Skills and Attitude towards Technology were also found to influence adoption. Geographical location was found to be the most important moderating factor. The current mobile data usage supported the framework. The results of data usage highlighted the fact that nearly 50% of the study’s participants spent over 4 hours per day interacting with their mobile devices and that the participants from Gauteng spent more than 2½ times on mobile services than those in the other metropolitan municipalities of Cape Town and eThekwiniDie doel van hierdie studie was om die sleutelfaktore te bepaal wat die aanneming van selfoondatadienste in Suid-Afrika verklaar, en hulle te verenig in ʼn raamwerk waarmee aangetoon kan word of ʼn nuwe selfoondatadiens die Suid-Afrikaanse selfoondatamark suksesvol sal betree. Afgesien hiervan dui hierdie studie aan dat die huidige gebruik van selfoondatadienste in Suid-Afrika die geldigheid van die voorgestelde raamwerk bevestig. ʼn Mengsel van metodes is in die navorsing toegepas. Die navorsing het uit ʼn literatuuroorsig en twee navorsingsfases bestaan. Die literatuuroorsig het ʼn deurtastende oorsig van die raamwerke vir die aanneming van kommunikasietegnologie en alle moontlike faktore daarvoor behels. Uit die literatuuroorsig is die besprekingsdokument saamgestel wat as riglyn gedien het vir die onderhoude in fase 1 van die navorsing. Onderhoude is met kundiges uit die Suid-Afrikaanse telekommunikasiebedryf gevoer om die belangrikste dryfvere vir aanneming en moontlike remfaktore ten opsigte van selfoondatadienste te bepaal. ʼn Voorlopige model is op grond van die onderhoude aangebied. Fase 2 het ʼn markopname behels waarin die raamwerk en remfaktore in verskeie metropolitaanse gebiede getoets en die huidige gebruik van selfoondatadienste ondersoek is. Die statistiese analise waarop die raamwerk berus, het bestaan uit beskrywende statistiek, faktorontleding met behulp van hoofasfaktorering, en struktuurvergelykingsmodellering. Twee nuwe konstrukte het uit die raamwerk wat op die tegnologieaanvaardingsmodel gegrond was, gespruit. Die eerste was selfoondiensverskaffers se bemarkingstrategieë en die tweede sosiale druk en aspirerende waarde. Saam verklaar die twee konstrukte waarom selfoondiensverskaffers wat laekostestrategieë volg, misluk. Daar is bevind dat demografiese faktore soos ouderdom, en sosiaal-ekonomiese faktore soos inkomste, aanneming beïnvloed. Volgens die bevindings word aanneming eweneens bepaal deur persoonlike faktore soos tegniese kennis, vermoë en vaardighede asook houding jeens tegnologie. Daar is bevind dat geografiese ligging die belangrikste remfaktor is. Die huidige selfoondatagebruik bevestig die geldigheid van die raamwerk. Die uitslag van datagebruik benadruk die feit dat byna 50% van die deelnemers aan die studie langer as vier uur per dag met hulle selfone doenig is, en dat deelnemers in Gauteng twee en half keer meer as deelnemers in die metropolitaanse munisipaliteite van Kaapstad en eThekwini aan selfoondienste bestee.Inhloso yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuthola izinto ezibalulekile ezichaza ukwamukelwa kwezinsiza zamadatha amaselula eNingizimu Afrika nokuzifaka ohlakeni oluchazayo olungasetshenziswa ukukhombisa ukuthi ngabe insiza entsha yedatha ethulwe emakethe yamaselula eNingizimu Afrika izophumelela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhombisa ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwamanje kwezinsiza zedatha yamaselula eNingizimu Afrika kuyalusekela uhlaka. Ucwaningo lusebenzise umklamu osuselwe ezindleleni zokwenza ezixubile. Ucwaningo lwenziwe kusetshenziswa ucwaningo lwezincwadi kanye nezigaba ezimbili zocwaningo. Ucwaningo lwezincwadi belungukubuyekezwa okubanzi kokwamukela kwenzinhlaka zobuchwepheshe kwezokuxhumana kanye nazo zonke izici ezingenzeka ukuthi zamukelwe. Lolu cwaningo lwezincwadi lusetshenzisiwe futhi ukuthuthukisa umqulu wezingxoxo osetshenziswe njengezinkombandlela zokuxoxisana nabantu besigaba 1. Izingxoxo ebezinazo bezingochwepheshe emakethe yezokuxhumana eNingizimu Afrika futhi zasetshenziselwa ukuthola izidingongqangi zokwamukelwa kanye nezici zokulingisanisa kwezinsiza zamadatha amaselula. Kulezo zingxoxo, kuphakanyiswe isifaniselo sokuqala. Isigaba 2 bekungukucwaningo lwezimakethe oluhlola uhlaka kanye nezici zokulinganisa ezindaweni ezahlukahlukene zedolobha kanye nokuhlola ukusetshenziswa kwamanje kwezinsiza zedatha yamaselula. Ukuhlaziywa kwezibalo okusetshenzisiwe ekunqumeni uhlaka lufake izibalo ezichazayo, ukuhlaziya izakhi, kusetshenziswa izisekelo eziyinhloko zokuphamba, kanye nesifaniselo sokulinganisa esihlelekile. Uhlaka, olwalususelwa kusifaniselo sokwamukela ubuchwepheshe, lwethule izakhiwo ezimbili ezintsha. Isakhiwo esisha sokuqala kwakungamacebo wokukhangisa wabahlinzeki bezinsiza zamaselula futhi owesibili kwakuyingcindezi yomphakathi nenani lesifiso. Lezi zakhiwo zombili ezihlanganisiwe zingasetshenziswa ukuchaza ukuthi kungani abahlinzeki bezinsizakalo zamaselula abanamasu ezindleko eziphansi bengaphumeleli. Izici ezithinta abantu ezinjengobudala zitholakele ukuthonya ukwamukelwa kanye nezici zezomnotho nezenhlalo ezifana nomholo. Izici ezithinta umuntu ngqo ezifana nolwazi lwezobuchwepheshe, ukwazi ukwenza kanye namakhono, nesimo sengqondo maqondana nezobuchwepheshe zatholakala zithonya ukwamukelwa. Indawo yendawo yatholakala njengesici sokulinganisa esibaluleke kakhulu. Ukusetshenziswa kwedatha yeselula yamanje kusekele uhlaka. Imiphumela yokusetshenziswa kwedatha igcizelele iqiniso lokuthi bacishe babe ngama-50% ababambe iqhaza kulolu cwaningo bachithe isikhathi esingaphezu kwamahora amane ngosuku bexhumana nemishini yabo yamaselula nokuthi ababambiqhaza abavela eGauteng bachithe izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-2½ kuzinsiza zamaselula kunalabo bakwamanye amadolobha amakhulu aseKapa naseThekwini.Business ManagementD.B.L

A multivariate study of Internet use and the Digital Divide

Method: The article is based on survey data (N = 2,304) collected in Spain, which are analyzed using multiple regression, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis. Results: Two dimensions are identified: the first is the comprehensive use of Internet and the second is the nature of this use, differentiating between a professional use and a recreational and social use of Internet. The article verifies that factors explaining the digital divide are age, education level, and income. Conclusions: The article identifies digitally excluded segments, and the efforts and actions for digital training to eradicate the digital divide should be directed at these groups. The most serious problem is encountered in homeworkers who are mainly woman. NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) are frequent users of Internet, but they only use it for entertainment and to certain extent they are digitally excluded

E-commerce and small and medium enterprises (SME) in least developed countries : the case of Tanzania

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.The purpose of the study was to investigate the E-Commerce phenomena in Tanzania with the goal of understanding how E-Commerce is typically made sense of by Tanzanian SMEs and how the sense making is produced, sustained and affected by environmental and organisational conditions. Structuration theory was used as a theoretical lens from which the social construction of the E-Commerce phenomena could be understood. The study primarily adopted a subjective interpretive stance. A preliminary quantitative study using questionnaires and interviews was done to gain an initial understanding of the E-Commerce status quo in Tanzania. The main study was qualitative in nature and used interviews with 33 Tanzanian SMEs as the data collection method