Relationship between Intention to Use Peer-to-Peer Payment App and Personal Characteristics

Abstract

Smartphone-based apps for peer-to-peer payment (P2P payment apps) are today used by many people in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and the United States. A P2P payment app is a service that digitalizes peer-to-peer payments such as splitting of bills and payment of ticket fees, which were made physically in cash in the past. The digitalized payments will be used for various purposes in the future.

Although more than 80% of people in Sweden and Denmark use P2P payment apps, it is hard to say that P2P payment apps are widely used in Japan. We can see a similar scenario in countries such as the United Kingdom and France. Given the fact that most people in Japan, especially those in their 50s or younger, already have smartphones, and there are few companies that provide P2P payment apps, it can be said that some people prefer not to use P2P payment apps even if they have smartphones.

Based on these circumstances, this paper examines the relationship between the intention to use P2P payment apps and personal characteristics. According to the results, it was found that those who seek simplicity, those who are worried about theft and those who care about the security of smartphones intend to use P2P payment apps. Furthermore, certain characteristics were found to differ among male and female users; for example, women who seek speed tend to have a negative intention to use P2P payment apps.