Developing a Theoretical Framework for the Adoption of Biometrics in M-Government Applications Using Grounded Theory

Abstract

Mobile devices have become the world’s most common means of interpersonal communication; and, the growing marketplace for new software, or “apps”, enriches an already burgeoning array of purposes to which mobile technology can be lent. We are thus witnessing the advent of conditions for a range of mobile technology enabled information systems. According to the latest statistics produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), there were 5.3 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide in 2010 out of a world population of about 7 billion people (World Fact Book 2011). With the advancements in mobile technologies, several governments have started looking to provide their services via wireless and mobile devices. Mobile government (m-government) is a new delivery channel using Information and Communication Technology to deliver and improve government services that complements current e-government (Antovski and Gusev 2005). Currently, a number of m-government applications exist in several countries around the world. With the growth of m-government services, the importance of security for its acceptance and adoption has been noted in many studies (NECCC 2001; Al-khamayseh et al. 2006; Clarke and Furnell 2005, 2007). Requirements for user acceptance lead to a greater need for user and government authentication to protect data, services, and the promotion of public trust. The negative security perception is a serious issue that citizens have regarding the use of mobile services which may affect their adoption of the technology for critical applications (Chang and Kannan 2002).