Abstract
This paper extends common contentions of why the mobile Internet has been widely embraced in Japan but obtained lukewarm reaction in most GSM countries. In particular, we analyze commonalities and differences pertaining to the wireless killer application in both the West and the East — messaging. A framework consisting of service specifications, properties and gratifications is used to analyze short messaging, multimedia messaging and e-mail in Scandinavia and Japan. An architecture which better supports interlinking, integrating and transitioning of interpersonal and data-based communications over the service platform was successfully established in Japan while the disjointed nature of messaging, multimedia messaging and data services has inhibited Scandinavian users to fully embrace the mobile Internet. In Japan mobile e-mail integrated instrumental and aesthetic service properties on top of the powerful expressive service properties. Accordingly, content and process gratifications have augmented powerful social gratifications which initially have been driving m-service use in both places. Idiosyncrasies identified across service integration provide insights to critical enabling and constraining factors that shape development of mobile services.
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Knutsen, L.A., Lyytinen, K. (2005). The Difference is in Messaging. In: Krogstie, J., Kautz, K., Allen, D. (eds) Mobile Information Systems II. MOBIS 2005. IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing, vol 191. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-31166-1_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-31166-1_3
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