Examining The Adoption of Mobile Data by Full Adopters of Technology: An Exploratory Study

The technological environment in which contemporary small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate can only be described as dynamic. The exponential rate of technological change, characterised by perceived increases in the benefits associated with various technologies, shortening product life cycles and changing standards, provides for the SME a complex and challenging operational context. The primary aim of this research was to concentrate on those SMEs that had already adopted technology in order to identify their needs for the new mobile data technologies (MDT), the mobile Internet. The research design utilised a mixed approach whereby both qualitative and quantitative data was collected to address the question. Overall, the needs of these SMEs for MDT can be conceptualised into three areas where the technology will assist business practices; communication, ecommerce and security. The explosive rate of technological change, characterised by perceived increases in the benefits associated with various technologies, shortening product life cycles and changing standards, provides for the SME a complex and challenging operational context. The development of infrastructures capable of supporting the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and associated technologies represents the latest generation of technological innovation with potential appeal to SMEs and end-users alike. For all stakeholders, the primary appeal of these mobile data technologies, apart from mobility, is that associated ‘services’ are delivered on existing devices with which users are familiar – mobile phones, palm-tops, or other personal digital assistants (PDAs). However, whilst much attention has focused on high volume enduser ‘lifestyle’ applications for mobile data services (Mobile Data Conference, 1999), less emphasis has been placed on applications and services that would meet the needs of SMEs. There are two objectives for this paper. First, to discuss the literature in the area of adoption of mobile data innovation and, second, to report on the findings of an empirical study with SMEs in a regional setting, where the focus was on those businesses that were already full-adopters of technology. The primary aim of this research is to identify the needs of SMEs in regional areas for mobile data technologies (MDT), the mobile Internet