Mobile shopping is increasing in prevalence and has become a necessary part of many people's daily lives. However, one main channel for mobile shopping, mobile shopping applications (apps), has not been thoroughly investigated. This study focused on mobile text advertising delivered from mobile shopping apps using the intention to purchase as the dependent variable for testing its marketing effect. In the context of a promotion focus vs. a prevention focus, we used Higgins' regulatory focus theory combined with Ajzen's TPB and Herzog's U&G to analyze the mechanism by which consumers formulate an intention to purchase in a mobile advertising context. This empirical study surveyed 320 consumers who had made a purchase using a mobile shopping app in the previous month. The results showed that infotainment, irritation, and subjective norms were significantly associated with attitudes; in turn, attitudes mediated the impact of these three factors on the intention to purchase. Moreover, a high promotion focus not only strengthened the positive effect of infotainment on attitudes but also intensified the mediation effect of attitudes between infotainment and the intention to purchase. A high prevention focus also consolidated the negative effect of irritation on attitudes as well as reinforced the mediation effect of attitudes between irritation and the intention to purchase. Furthermore, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control collectively impacted the intention to purchase. These findings shed light on ways to customize goods information in mobile advertising and have strong theoretical and practical implications.

We examined the influence of the overall content characteristic of short message service (SMS) advertising on consumer attitudes toward advertising on mobile devices. Attitudes of 246 Chinese (145 women, 101 men) toward permission-based SMS advertising received on electronic products were measured using structural equation modeling. Results showed that of the 4 dimensions of the overall content characteristic, entertainment, informativeness, and credibility positively and significantly influenced the attitude of consumers, whereas irritation had a negative effect. In addition, the overall content characteristic significantly impacted on consumer attitudes, with advertising value playing a mediating role. Finally, the influencing path coefficients revealed a significant difference according to gender. The credibility dimension had a greater impact on attitude toward the overall content characteristic for women than for men. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Mobile marketing has become an effective medium for advertisers. Effective mobile advertising could greatly improve customers purchase intention in this context. This study focuses on the prevailing form of mobile advertising, i.e., SMS advertising. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the authors explore the influence of SMS advertising on the consumer behavior in China. Participants are Chinese students and office workers. The results indicate that (a) the perceived infotainment and credibility have a positive significant effect on consumer attitudes, whereas irritation has a negative significant effect on consumer attitudes; (b) attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control have significant effects on the intention to use; (c) attitudes also mediate the relationship between subjective norms and intention to use; and (d) men and women pursue different paths to influence the intention to use. Based on the above results, theoretical and practical implications are also discussed in this study.

Mobile marketing has become an effective medium for advertisers. Effective mobile advertising could greatly improve customers purchase intention in this context. This study focuses on the prevailing form of mobile advertising, i.e., SMS advertising. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the authors explore the influence of SMS advertising on the consumer behavior in China. Participants are Chinese students and office workers. The results indicate that (a) the perceived infotainment and credibility have a positive significant effect on consumer attitudes, whereas irritation has a negative significant effect on consumer attitudes; (b) attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control have significant effects on the intention to use; (c) attitudes also mediate the relationship between subjective norms and intention to use; and (d) men and women pursue different paths to influence the intention to use. Based on the above results, theoretical and practical implications are also discussed in this study.

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