Mobile Banking Adoption In Australian Rural Areas

Improvements in wireless technologies and increased uptake of advanced mobile handsets have led to a growing trend in mobile banking activities on a global scale. However, little is known about the potential of mobile banking for rural areas in developed countries. Prior research suggests some difficulties faced by rural areas in accessing ICT services such as high speed Broadband and Mobile Internet compared to urban areas which resonates the situation in developing countries. This paper explores the viewpoint of service providers regarding the potential of mobile banking for rural areas in Australia as little work has been carried out in this context, particularly from the service provider‟s perspective. It identifies some key issues in regard to m-banking development in rural areas, which are related to limited network coverage and technology acceptance among rural consumers. It also explains the differences in social context among developing and developed economies. This study enhances the current knowledge within the area of technology adoption in general and mobile commerce adoption specifically