User Acceptance and Mobile Payment Security

Abstract

There have been multiple studies detailing mobile payment and its market potential. There is a gap in the literature when it comes to the study of acceptance factors focusing on security and trust. The researchers asked which qualities of security have an influence on the acceptance of a mobile payment service provider. Therefore this study will focus on distinguishing security in two dimensions: objective and subjective security. Objective security represents the user's perception of existing technical safety mechanisms. Subjective security is intangible, based on the user's feelings and perception towards security (trust). The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was the theoretical model used in the study. About three hundred responses were collected using an online questionnaire. The study showed that despite the financial crisis banks are still the preferred providers for mobile payment services, where over 80% of the respondents would like to receive the service from a bank. In contrast, only 20% would like to receive such a service from a mobile phone producer. Additionally objective security does not substantially increase subjective security; hence the user trusts the provider rather than the technology itself.