New(s) functions for the mobile: a cross-cultural study

Abstract

In recent years the mobile phone has evolved from essentially an interpersonal communication device to a multimedia machine providing always-on internet connection. However, actual use of mobile internet, including functions such as news services, has been slow in most countries. This article focuses on questions related to usability and cost for using the mobile as a news medium, drawing upon cross-cultural data gathered in Sweden and Japan during fall 2007. Although Japan and Sweden have superficially equivalent news media systems, the Japanese more favourably perceive the usefulness of accessing news on the mobile than do Swedes. However, the Japanese judge mobile news as more expensive and are less willing to pay for it. In reporting on this research, the article illustrates some of the methodological challenges in doing cross-cultural comparisons.