Open AccessCapitalising on Mobile Instant Messaging for Undergraduates Business Empowerment
Author(s) -
Che Faridah Che Mahmood,
Nazihah Omar,
Norshaieda Adnan@ Abdullah,
Nor Balkish Zakaria
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
asia-pacific management accounting journal/asia-pacific management accounting journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2550-1631
pISSN - 1675-3194
DOI - 10.24191/apmaj.v14i3-01
Subject(s) - mobile phone , flexibility (engineering) , instant messaging , mobile business development , computer science , mobile payment , mobile web , mobile technology , internet privacy , mobile device , realm , business model , instant , multimedia , world wide web , mobile computing , business , telecommunications , marketing , statistics , mathematics , physics , quantum mechanics , political science , law
Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) or Instant Messaging (IM) via various web-based applications like WeChat, Viber, WhatsApp (WA) and Snapchat have gained much attention. It allows mobile phone users to access instant messaging services right from their smartphones. Despite various general publications indicating the advantages of mobile business, ranging from the start-up cost, flexibility, mobility up to inventory, the MIM’s application via mobile businesses are still scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the realm of MIM usage as a platform for mobile business among undergraduates in Malaysia by examining the uses of MIM for mobile business and to identify the perceived advantages of MIM as a platform for mobile business. An online questionnaire was designed and randomly distributed among identified undergraduates who have actively engaged in mobile business. The results show that MIM is frequently used to advertise and sell products most needed by undergraduates. Among the perceived advantages of MIM as a platform for mobile business is its cost effectiveness. In addition, undergraduates can easily and conveniently start-up mobile businesses and generate income simply via a mobile device and a mobile number as it is indeed preferable for reaching a general audience. Keywords: mobile business, instant messaging, perceived advantages, undergraduate