Mobile Wallet Adoption: Does Ubiquity Make a Difference?

Smartphones have become versatile in their functionality, including providing an alternate method of contactless payment. Mobile wallets have become popular, and this popularity is expected to continue to grow. Enticements such as convenience and efficiency have led some to adopt mobile wallets. However, challenges and apprehensions of adoption still exist. Our research investigates potential factors influencing adoption of mobile wallets in USA and Canada and explores the differences between the two countries. We utilize Diffusion of Innovation Theory and extend it to include ubiquity to understand important factors of mobile wallet adoption. Our survey findings suggest that relative advantage, results demonstrability, and ubiquity are influential factors for mobile wallet adoption, except for females in the USA. Complexity, however, was not significant. Trialability was only marginally significant for the USA and compatibility had mixed effects. Our results provide guidance to practitioners regarding factors to consider in their endeavors to understand and expand mobile wallet adoption, as well as suggesting avenues for future research.