Title: Mobile services: potentiality of Short Message Service as new business communication tool in attracting consumers

Authors: Constantinos-Vasilios Priporas, Ifigeneia Mylona

Addresses: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Marketing and Operations Management, University of Macedonia, 49 Agiou Dimitriou, Edessa 58200, Greece; 6, Vlachava Str., 54634 Thessaloniki, Greece. ' Adjunct Faculty, Department of Marketing and Operations Management, University of Macedonia, 49 Ag. Dimitriou, Edessa 58200, Greece; Department of Communication and Public Relations, TEI Western Macedonia, Kastoria 52100, Greece

Abstract: Short Message Service (SMS) is used worldwide by many corporations in order to communicate with consumers. The objective of this study is to investigate the use of SMS in young consumers and their responses to SMS as a potential communication vehicle by the companies. The research was qualitative in nature. Data was collected through open and semi-structured interviews of 40 university students. The results reveal that SMS, in general, has a positive acceptance by young consumers as a communication tool since it is an integral part of their life and seems to be an effective tool by enterprises in reaching consumers.

Keywords: business communication; consumer behaviour; marketing; mobile services; mobile telephony; short message service; SMS; m-services; mobile communications; young consumers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2008.018053

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2008 Vol.6 No.4, pp.456 - 466

Published online: 28 Apr 2008 *

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