Mobile commerce is a product of the convergence of the two fastest growing technologies of the modern era: cellular phones and the Internet (Attwood and Duncan, 2000). It delivers electronic commerce capabilities into a consumer's hand via wireless technology, that is an ability to perform a transaction using a mobile device (cell phone, laptop, PDA), such as the cellphone banking service. The cellphone banking service allows banking customers to perform banking transactions directly on their cellphone, using either WAP or WIG technology. Four big banks in South Africa provide the cell phone banking offering to customers. Nedcor first launch the cell phone banking service and other banks followed. Standard Bank launched the service in 2001 and thus far only 28 000 customers have registered for the cell phone banking service. The level of service adoption is very low, considering that there are 15million cellphone subscribers in South Africa. Banks projected that the take-up would be much higher than it currently is. For the purpose of this research study, the Standard Bank's cell phone banking offering will be evaluated. The problem area is that while Standard Bank launched the cellphone banking service in 2001, the consumer take up has been far lower than expected. Thus far, only 28 000 customers have registered for the service. No analysis has been conducted at Standard Bank to understand the reasons behind the slow rate of adoption by customers. The objectives of the study are to: o identify the factors that contribute to the non-adoption of the cell phone banking service by customers o identify factors that can increase the rate of service adoption and therefore assist the banks in promoting the service to critical mass o Establish the future of m-commerce in the banking industry. - v - A literature review has been conducted, where studies conducted internationally in mobile banking space have been discussed. These are studies conducted in Europe and the United States. The cell phone banking adoption framework model has also been derived. In terms of the research methodology, qualitative and quantitative research methods were both employed to gather the required data. For the qualitative methodology, interviews were conducted with the Standard Bank management team and a questionnaire was administered. For the quantitative methodology a questionnaire was designed and was used to gather the information from Standard Bank customers. The research results reveal that cellphone banking has not been widely adopted, despite the rapid diffusion of cell phones in South Africa and the popularity of cell phone functionality such as SMS. Factors likely to influence adoption include trialability, relative advantage, and the customer need for banking services from a cellphone and lower perceptions of technology risk. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Kwazulu-Natal, 2004.

This aim of this study was to establish if individual characteristics have an impact on the adoption of cellphone banking amongst low-income (Mzansi) consumers. The second component of the study then set out to assess the impact that cellphone banking adoption has on the financial behaviour of these consumers. This data was obtained using the data mining technique. Data from one of the local banks was extracted and analysed. In addition to using descriptive statistics, the ANOVA was used. The ANOVA is an inferential statistical method. It establishes whether there is a relationship with the defined variable and the adoption of cellphone banking. Race, age, income, gender, number of bank products and channel of registration where the variables that were analysed. With the exception of age, no other variable had an impact on adoption for both Mzansi customers as well as the entire base. The subsequent post adoption behaviour analysis that was conducted identified some key behaviour changes. Consumers who adopted cellphone banking significantly increased (>300%) their demand of prepaid products. Secondly, the demand for cash amongst adopters was lower than the demand from non-adopters which could signal a shift towards cashless solutions. And finally, the cellphone banking adopters were found to perform more transactions prior to adoption when compared to non adopters thereby demonstrating a higher need for a mobile banking solution. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

In South Africa, the penetration rate of Cellphones is greater than 100 percent. South African banks are leveraging off this technology by providing a bouquet of financial services via the Cellphone – Cellphone banking. However, the adoption of Cellphone banking has been much slower when compared to other electronic banking channels, such as internet banking. The objective of this research was to compare factors that inhibit adoption of Cellphone banking between the low and high income groups. Based on existing innovation adoption theory, there were five factors of adoption identified: Trialability, Perceived Complexity, Perceived Value, Perceived Credibility and Perceived Risk. A telephonic survey was administered. The survey questionnaire contained a series of closed-ended questions relating to the five factors of adoption and a single open-ended question to identify factors not being researched. The results of the survey found that the greatest inhibitor to Cellphone banking was Trialability, followed by Perceived Complexity and Perceived Risk (regardless of income levels). The results of the open-ended questions were grouped in two themes; Personal Preference and Banking Perception. The comparison of results between the open-ended themes found that personal preferences have a significant impact between the low and high income groups. The majority of the high income respondents preferred Internet banking to Cellphone banking. However, banking perceptions had a higher impact on the low income respondents when comparing the two themes. The study establishes that financial institutions should provide a demonstration and give the customers the opportunity to test Cellphone banking in an effort to increase adoption; as this should reduce the perceived complexity and risk associated with this service. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigate the di erent available GSM bearer channels that can be used to launch a cellphone banking application. Speci c attention is given to launch such a cellphone banking application to the so called \bottom of the pyramid". In South Africa, there are an estimate 11 to 13 million people with no bank accounts. The cellphone create an ideal opportunity to be used as a tool to reach this untapped market segment that today mainly uses cash to pay for day to day living expenses. The thesis provide more information on the cellphone banking arena in South Africa as well as certain projects in other parts of the world. The thesis also highlight new devel- opments on cellphone technology that include Android and IPhone delivery channels. Focus is placed on how the cellphone banking presentation layer must be delivered through the USSD GSM bearer channel. USSD is at the current moment the ultimate channel to consider due to its extensive reach and ability to work on any GSM cellphone handset. In conclusion, although cellphone banking can be used by any person, the bene t to bring nancial services to the bottom end of the pyramid must be considered to achieve nancial inclusion. The cellphone due to its reach is the ideal medium to access this lower end market. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek beskikbare GSM selfoon kanale wat gebruik kan word om 'n selfoon bankdienste toepassing te initieer. Spesi eke aandag word gegee om so 'n selfoon bankdienste toepassing uit te rol na die sogenaamde onderste gedeelte van die bevolkings piramiede. Die tesis verskaf meer informasie oor die selfoon bankdienste arena in Suid Africa maar dit brei ook ooit oor sekere soortgelyke projekte in ander dele van die wereld. Die tesis lig ook nuwe ontwikkelings uit in selfoon tegnologie wat Android en IPhone mediums insluit. Fokus word geplaas op die selfoon bankdienste vertoning deur die USSD GSM kanaal. USSD is huidiglik die beste kanaal om te oorweeg as gevolg van die wydverspreide beskik- baarheid omdat die tegnologie op enige selfoon handstuk werk. Die uiteindelike gevolgtrekking uit die werkstuk is dat selfoon bankdienste deur enige persoon gebruik kan word, maar selfoon bankdienste is 'n goeie idee om te oorweeg om mense in te sluit uit die onderste gedeelte van die bevolkings piramiede. Die selfoon kan dus as 'n ideale medium gebruik word om hierdie mense te betrek by nansiele dienste.