Wi-Fi Powered WLAN: When Built, Who Will Use It? Exploring Predictors of Wireless Internet Adoption in the Workplace

High-speed wireless Internet technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMAX allow users to go online at broadband speed, anywhere, anytime. Experimental projects in publicly accessible Wi-Fi systems and citywide networks are mushrooming in the United States and elsewhere. Grounded in the diffusion of innovations research paradigm, this study examines factors that influence the adoption of Wi-Fi in the workplace. Similar to the adoption of the Internet at home, results show that perceived advantages and compatibility of wireless Internet, larger number of fellow employees and family members already using wireless Internet, and higher frequency of communication with technicians about the wireless system - but less time spent reading newspapers - all lead to a higher likelihood of using the Wi-Fi powered Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Managerial implications of the findings are discussed.