Users and Non-users of Smartphones for Travel: Differences in Factors Influencing the Adoption Decision

This study aims to understand individuals' decision processes to adopt smartphone for travel and, thereafter, to explore differences in the factors influencing users and non-users. Based on the innovation-decision process model by Rogers [2003. Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press], smartphone users are classified into user and non-user groups depending upon their use of smartphones for travel purposes. In order to empirically examine the group differences, a survey was conducted for college students in November 2011 (n=350). The results of this study reveal that smartphone users for travel are higher in their level of innovativeness than non-users. Significant discrepancies in the use of smartphone functions also existed; albeit no difference in general smartphone-use habit including length of smartphone use and daily use. In terms of perceived innovative characteristics of smartphone use for travel, users are more positive in usefulness, compatibility, result demonstrability, and visibility. A predictive model of smartphone use for travel suggests that personal innovativeness, smartphone functions being used, and perception on result demonstrability could improve the predictability of the adoption behavior of smartphone for traveling. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.