Mobile-Money Benefits and Usage: The Case of M-PESA

Launched in Kenya in 2007, M-PESA is one of the world's first mobile-money services. This study examines different M-PESA business models, their associated benefits, and factors leading to the service's growth. The study assesses the benefits of person-to-person, person-to-business, and business-to-business models, and investigates factors leading to M-PESA's adoption and growth at individual, organizational, and societal levels. With the spread of mobile-money services, especially in developing countries, an improved understanding of these services can better serve development agencies and nongovernmental organizations by providing not only another tool for international development but also effective ways to use that tool. This article is part of a special issue on mobile commerce.