The Usage and Perceptions of Mobile Telecommunication Services by Selected South African Students

Abstract

Young people are fascinated by new information and communication technologies. This is evident in the attraction to social networks and new modes of communication offered by mobile telecommunication networks. Beyond communicating with others, new generation mobile phones enable users to perform an assortment of tasks which were hitherto inconceivable. The youth use mobile technology to create and maintain social interactions while also relying on it for educational purposes. This paper, based on empirical research, examines the educational and social uses of mobile telecommunication services by first-year Information Technology (IT) students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study provides insight into the usage of mobile telecommunication services for different academic and social activities from students' perceptions. The study identifies some factors that influence the adoption and usage of mobile phones in education. Students' use of mobile telecommunications services is analyzed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the theory of planned behaviour.