A process virtualization theory approach to understanding the usage continuance of cross-channel instant messaging

Increasingly, we are witnessing the advent of IM software on mobile devices for users to communicate with other users who are using either the desktop or mobile channel. The emergence of such cross-channel instant messaging (CCIM) demands a renewed understanding of users' continuance behaviours. In this research-in-progress paper, we draw upon the process virtualization theory perspective to extend the expectation-confirmation model for IT (ECM-IT). According to PVT, we propose that users' confirmation of using the virtualized CCIM is determined by the communication process's dimensions of sensory, synchronism, relationship, and identification & control. In addition, we propose that the extent to which the communication dyads make mutual adaptation to one another will moderate the relationship between confirmation and perceived usefulness of CCIM. We expect our findings to make theoretical contributions to the domain of research on IT usage post-adoption behaviours as well as managerial implications to CCIM application developers and other stakeholders in the mobile industry.