Exploring e-business implications of the mobile internet: a cross-national survey in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea

The use of the mobile internet has been increasing rapidly around the world, presenting high hopes for new business opportunities. However, only a few studies have been conducted to identify e-business implications of the mobile internet, even though it is one of the crucial factors in realising the potential of the mobile internet. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of local telecommunication markets along with the increasing trend for global e-business have led to a growing need for cross-national studies on the mobile internet. This study aims at investigating e-business implications of the mobile internet from a customer perspective across different countries. To investigate the cross-national differences of the mobile internet, simultaneous online surveys using an identical questionnaire were conducted in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. Results from the online survey in the three countries yielded the following findings. First, adoption patterns for the mobile internet were different across the three countries. Second, customers' perceptions of the importance of the mobile internet, and their willingness to pay for mobile internet services, differed significantly across different countries. Finally, customers' preferred services in mobile internet businesses also differed across the three countries. This paper concludes with the implications of the results of the study for mobile service providers and policy makers.