Value of Mobile Phones for Tanzanian University Students
2015 ◽
Vol 7
(2)
◽
pp. 57-70
Keyword(s):
Mobile phones have become highly popular both in industrialised and developing world. In developing countries, previous studies of why people value mobile phones have focused on the financial benefits of mobile phone and user groups such as farmers or entrepreneurs. This paper presents a mixed-method study on how university students in Iringa, Tanzania value mobile phones. The study discovered a number of positive and negative value factors that define the worth of mobile phones for Tanzanian students, and shows how the factors are tied to the physical, social and cultural context of use. The study highlights the importance of understanding what users value and why when designing technology.