Network externality and future usage of Internet services

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate different effects of three network externality factors, i.e. local network size, network strength, and total network size, on online messenger, online community, chat room and e-mail services. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper hypotheses are tested with a regression model using a survey data collected from 107 MBA students at a business school in South Korea. Findings – The paper finds that the three network externality factors have different effects on the users’ future usage intention for the four Internet services. Local network size is significant for online messenger services, local network size and network strength are significant for online community services, and total network size is significant for chat room services. For email services, none of the network externality factors are significant. Research limitations/implications – The paper shows that a total network size is an important network exte...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2007
• Where: INTR
• Authors: Sung Yong Chun, Minhi Hahn
• Keywords: INTR 2007, Local Network Size, Network Externality Factors, Network Size