Journal of Global Information Management, 21(4), 121-142, October-December 2013 121
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ABSTRACT
The usage of mobile Internet service has been on the rise as more people become to use mobile devices.
WiMAX, a mobile Internet service, was frst commercialized in Korea in 2006. However, after frst six months,
a number of users discontinued the service and switched to other Internet services. Because customer retention
is important for the success of any business, this research examines the factors that affect the continued usage
of mobile Internet service. A user of a mobile Internet service is both a user of technology and consumer of
services. Therefore, to examine the continued usage of mobile Internet service, the authors combine the value
adoption model, representing the service consumer perspective, with the information systems continuance
model, representing the technology user perspective. The study is conducted in the context of WiMAX. The
data was collected from 200 WiMAX users. The model developed in this study is a unique contribution to
theory as it discusses the continued adoption of a commercial information system.
User Continuance Intention
Towards Mobile Internet Service:
The Case Of WiMAX in Korea
Hee-Woong Kim, Graduate School of Information, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Sumeet Gupta, Indian Institute of Management Raipur, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
Yoon-Seung Jeon, KT, Seongnam-city, South Korea
Keywords: Customer Retention, Information Systems Continuance Model, Mobile Internet Service, Value
Adoption Model, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
INTRODUCTION
As the adoption of mobile devices (i.e., smart-
phone) by users increases, the usage of wireless
Internet service increases. WiMAX is a wireless
broadband Internet service (i.e., mobile Internet
service) for mobile devices including laptops,
cell phones, and smartphones. It is easily ac-
cessible anytime and anywhere, even when a
user is moving at speeds of 120 km/h. It was
launched by KT for the first time in Korea in
July 2006, after it was selected by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as a
global standard in September 2005 (KT, 2009).
With the increased adoption of smartphones
and tablet PCs, WiMAX is expected to be the
next generation for mobile communication and
wireless Internet access.
To attract new customers, KT offered six
months free access to WiMAX service, as well
as other promotions (such as free netbooks), for
those who subscribed to WiMAX. However,
after the six-month contract period, a num-
ber of users switched to alternative Internet
DOI: 10.4018/jgim.2013100107