DRAFT The Role of Work - Related Information in the Intention to Continue Using Mobile Telecommunication : Users at the BOP

Mobile phone adoption and usage is increasingly gaining in importance among users at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BOP). This paper investigates the phenomenon of information obtained through voice services and SMS via mobile phones, among users at the BOP to examine the impact of the two services in the intention to continue using mobile telecommunication. This investigation brings together theories on technology adoption and the information search paradigm to identify factors that affect information obtained through mobile phones. A structured survey conducted among individual telecommunication users as part of the Teleuse4@BOP project by LIRNEasia (a think tank initiative based in Colombo, Sri Lanka), provides the required data from owners of mobile phones from the BOP population. Findings reveal that perceived cost and perceived benefits significantly affect the information obtained using mobile phones using voice services. However, contrary to expectations, findings reveal that perceived ease of use has a negative relationship with information obtained using SMS services. Findings also reveal that subjective norm impacts information obtained more in the context of SMS services compared to voice services. These insights should prove helpful for policy formulation as well as for business development. The paper ends with a discussion on contributions, and directions for future research.