Exploring the adoption and use of the Smartphone technology in emerging regions: Case of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This paper starts with a preliminary theoretical research model which is developed based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). A number of qualitative methods, namely brainstorming, focus group and individual interviews, have been conducted to evaluate, select and validate the existing factors, as well as introduce new factors, to identify only the most related factors to be included in the preliminary research model. A survey questionnaire has been developed and validated to survey general users of the Smartphone in Saudi Arabia. A web-based survey has been designed and sent through email to 5,000 randomly selected smartphones users in Saudi Arabia. Data has been statistically analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that performance expectancy construct, effort expectancy construct, brand influence construct, perceived enjoyment construct and design construct have a positive and significant relationship with users' behavioral intention to adopt and use smartphones in Saudi Arabia. Also, the results indicate that social influence construct has a significant and positive relationship with use behavior or actual use of smartphones in Saudi Arabia.

Investigating the intention to adopt smartphone apps among the entrepreneurs of a developing country

“…Thus, H3 was accepted. These positive results are in contradiction with Venkatesh and Davis (2003), Yang (2005) and Aldhaban et al (2016) and matching with Hassan et al (2014). These events may happen because the businessmen are getting enjoyment from the different sources such as e-commerce and website usage.…”

The Adoption and Usage of Smartphone Media Technologies as A Source of News by Egyptian University Students

“…Universaluseofsmartphonesamonggroupsofcommunities,suchasuniversitystudentshasreshaped andrevolutionizedthewayyoungadultsandvariousgroupscommunicate.AccordingtoKatzand Aakhus( 2002)"thespreadofmobilephonesisaffectingpeople'slivesandrelationshipsandaffects howpeoplecommunicateandinteractwhenfacetofaceor,ratherandincreasingly,face-to-face-tomobile-phone-face,sincepeopleareevermorelikelytoincludethemobilephoneasaparticipantin whatwouldotherwisebeaface-to-facedyad"(P:31).Thisextensivediffusionofmobiletechnologies hasdrawntheattentionofmediascholarsandresearcherswithdifferentinterests,usingdifferent approaches,methods,andtheoriestostudynumerousaspectsrelatedtomobilephonestoinvestigate andbetterunderstandusers'adoptionanduseofthisnewcommunicationtechnology (Aldhaban, 2016).Intheirarticle,exploringtherelationshipbetweenurbanizedMalaysianyouthandtheirmobile phones,BalakrishnanandRaj(2012),categorizedthereasonstousemobilephonesbyuniversity studentsintofourphases. AccordingtoBalakrishnanandRaj(2012),"fourmaincategorieswere identified,namely,reasonstousemobilephones,patternofmobilephoneusage (Balakrishnan&Raj, 2012;Brownetal.,2011;Essam,2017;Mehrotra&Nguyen,2012)purchasingfactors (Balakrishnan &Raj,2012;Tsai,2012)andbehaviourrelatedissues (Alanazi,2014;Aldhaban,2016;Keengwe, &Bhargava,2014).Althoughmanystudiesprovidedvaluableinsightonuserbehavioringeneral, noticeablylessisknownabouthowusersusesmartphonesasanewsresource.Thus,thecurrent studyaimstoinvestigatetheusesofsmartphonesasanewsresourceamongstEgyptianuniversity students.Severalresearchers(e.g., Akeriwa,Penzhorn,&Holmner,2015;Kafyulilo,2014;Keengwe, &Bhargava,2014)havefocusedondefiningmobilelearningwhileothershavefocusedontheoutcome ofusingthesemobiledevicesforonlinelearning).Mostofstudieshavelookedatmobilephoneusage amongstuniversitystudentsfordifferentpurposes (Alanazi,2014;Aldhaban,2016;Balakrishnan& Raj,2012;Grellhesl&Punyanunt-Carter,2012;Lee,2004;Leung,2007;North,Johnston&Ophoff, 2014;Tindell&Bohlander,2011;Park,2005)…”

The influence of consumer awareness in the digital era on the selection of smartphones: A study among Jordanian university students

“…In Filipino, A study by Castillo, Flores [ 41 ] found that Filipino consumers were focusing on product brand and brand equity in their purchase intention of a smartphone. In Saudi Arabia, A study by Aldhaban, Daim [ 42 ] concluded that performance expectancy construct, effort expectancy, brand influence, perceived enjoyment and design determined a smartphone purchase intention. An Iranian study found that High-quality consciousness, brand consciousness, novelty-fashion consciousness, price consciousness, impulsiveness and carelessness, choice confusion, habitual and brand orientation, store location, recommendations and criticism by others, and power of parents were key determinants in the purchase intention of smartphones [ 43 ].…”