• Information Systems Review
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.61-84
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• 2005

Previous studies indicate that information and communication technology (ICT) adoption is affected by innovation influence such as usefulness, ease of use and self-efficacy. Most of these studies, how-ever, bypassed imitation influence such as subjective norms, word-of-mouth, and advertising, specifically, interactive innovation having critical mass in technology acceptance research. Thus, this study focuses to investigate imitation influence in individual adoption of mobile communication technology. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the causal relationships between initial acceptance and the intention to use in terms of a holistic approach. The results of this study show that there is an imitation influence including word-of-mouth and subjective norms, from the prior adopters to potential adopters, and mass advertising through TV or news-paper commercials in the ICT diffusion process. In addition, this imitation influence also stimulates innovation influence such as perceived usefulness. Finally, this study provides a set of guidelines to mobile communication equipment manufacturers and ICT vendors in developing effective strategies for technology diffusion.