A Theoretical Review of Mobile Commerce Success Determinants

Abstract

Mobile commerce (M-Commerce) involves the delivery of trusted transaction services over mobile devices for the exchange of goods and services between consumers, merchants and across organizations.  It may be accomplished through a variety of mobile devices over a wireless telecommunication network in a wireless environment. Despite the rapid pervasiveness of mobile based transactions in Kenya, questions relating to m-commerce success drivers are largely unexplored. This paper reviews prominent information system adoption theories, information systems success concepts and pertinent mobile commerce literature to derive m-commerce success imperatives. Based on the review, an appropriate model for m-commerce success is proposed. A preliminary conclusion that emerges from this study points towards compatibility to user needs, ease of use, pricing and innovation as constructs with the strongest potential for determining the success outcomes of a mobile commerce arrangement. The emergent perspectives and the proposed framework offers value to both theory and practice by providing new insights into various issues that have largely been overlooked when conceptualizing mobile commerce initiatives.

Keywords: Mobile commerce, adoption theories, information system success, m-commerce model