Mohammed A. Alqahtani, Obead Alhadreti, Roobaea S. AlRoobaea & Pam J. Mayhew
International Journal of Human Computer Interaction (IJHCI), Volume (6) : Issue (1) : 2015 1
Investigation into the Impact of the Usability Factor on the
Acceptance of Mobile Transactions: Empirical Study in Saudi
Arabia
Mohammed A. Alqahtani
[email protected]
School of Computing Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
College of Computer Science and Information Technology
University of Dammam
Saudi Arabia
Obead Alhadreti
[email protected]
School of Computing Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
College of Computer
Umm Al-Qura University
Roobaea S. AlRoobaea
[email protected]
School of Computing Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
Faculty of Computing and Information Systems
Taif University
Saudi Arabia
Pam J. Mayhew
[email protected]
School of Computing Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
Abstract
Both the rapid advances in wireless technologies and the high proliferation rate of mobile
communication services and artefacts have had a profound impact on industry, and are beginning
to offer interesting and advantageous new services. In particular, the mobile transaction (m-
transaction) system has emerged, enabling users to pay for physical and digital goods and
services using their mobile devices whenever they want, regardless of their location. Although it is
anticipated that m-transactions will enjoy a bright future, there is apparently still reluctance among
users to accept mobile transactions, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it is believed that
usability is critical to the success and acceptance of mobile technology innovations in general,
and m-transactions in particular. While most of the research into IT innovation acceptance is
based on TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) and its many variants, the literature review
reveals that there is little research on mobile application usability as an important antecedent
factor for the success and acceptance of mobile technologies. This is particularly true in
developing countries, especially the Middle East, therefore this project aims to fill this gap in the
research.
This paper is an extension of four previous studies by the authors, which indicated that usability is
the most influential factor in Saudi users’ intentions of utilising mobile transactions. It aims to
investigate and empirically test the usability level of mobile transactions from the perspective of
Saudi users; this will be achieved by conducting usability experiments with real mobile