This study comprehensively analyzed the key quality factors of mobile payment applications that shape consumer perceptions and their influence on market performance. Leveraging text analytics techniques, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling and sentence-level sentiment analysis, we analyzed a vast dataset of 230,940 reviews of nine mobile payment apps. Our investigation revealed four significant quality factors discussed in online consumer reviews: payment convenience, security, customer service, and app design. Crucially, this study demonstrated the substantial impact of positive and negative evaluations of these factors on the market performance of mobile payment apps, with numerical ratings acting as mediators. This study breaks new ground by empirically validating the link between post-usage evaluations and the app success. Additionally, it also empirically validated the link between post-usage evaluations and app success, elucidating the role of quality factors. The insights can empower app developers and marketers to enhance user experience and attain market dominance.

It is important to understand the growth of startups because they are a driver of economic prosperity and wealth. However, due to their short history and high failure rate, research measuring startup growth has been limited and has relied on qualitative data. This study uses monthly active user (MAU) data of mobile-based startups (n = 266) collected by InnoForest, a startup growth analysis platform in South Korea, to classify the patterns of their growth curves using GA-NLS-based Bass model estimation. We also investigate how growth patterns differ depending on several popular business characteristics across mobile apps. The Bass model was used to categorise the pattern of the growth curve, resulting in the four growth patterns: Stealthy Influencer, Rapid Scaler, Late Bloomer, and Niche Dominator. Furthermore, there were differences in growth patterns between the platform and non-platform businesses, and between fixed-fee and pay-per-transaction services. This study reveals that the growth of mobile-based startups, as measured by MAUs using Bass model, follows different patterns depending on the attitudes of the users of startups' apps and the speed at which apps' growth peaks. The results can be useful for developing startup growth strategies, making investment decisions, and formulating policies for startup growth.

PurposeGiven its growing economic potential and social impact, this study aims to understand the motivations and concerns regarding metaverse usage. It identifies user needs and risks around the metaverse grounded on uses and gratifications theory and perceived risk theory.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed user reviews and rating data from Roblox, a representative modern metaverse platform. They applied BERTopic modeling to extract topics from reviews, identifying key motivations and risk aspects related to metaverse usage. They further constructed an explanatory model to assess how those affect user satisfaction and changes in these effects over time.FindingsThis study discovered that gratifications like entertainment, escapism, social interaction and avatar-based self-expression significantly influence user satisfaction in the metaverse. It also highlighted that users find satisfaction in self-expression and self-actualization through creating virtual spaces, items and video content. However, factors such as identity theft, fraud and child safety were identified as potential detriments to satisfaction. These influences fluctuated over time, indicating the dynamic nature of user needs and risk perceptions.Research limitations/implicationsThe novelty of this study lies in its dual application of the uses and gratifications theory and perceived risk theory to the metaverse. It provides a novel perspective on user motivations and concerns, shedding light on the distinct elements driving user satisfaction within the metaverse. This study unravels the metaverse's unique capacity to assimilate features from established digital media while offering a distinctive user-generated experience. This research offers valuable insights for academics and practitioners in digital media and marketing.Originality/valueThis research pioneers the application of both uses and gratifications and perceived risk theories to understand factors influencing metaverse satisfaction. By establishing a comprehensive framework, it explores the metaverse's unique value as a user-content creation platform, while encompassing existing digital platform characteristics. This study enriches the academic literature on the metaverse and offers invaluable insights for both metaverse platforms and brand marketers.

In the uncertainty fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have emerged as key strategic responses by firms. This study explores the impact of M&As on acquirers' firm value, utilizing a firm-level panel dataset from SDC Platinum. Empirical evidence recognizes the potential negative impact of transaction value in M&As and the pandemic's effect on market volatility that may occasionally exacerbate the adverse influence on acquirers' firm value. The findings indicate that effective marketing strategies, such as enhancing consumer awareness through increasing advertising expenditures, can counterbalance these influences, particularly during uncertain times. This study accentuates the importance of adaptability and a responsive marketing approach in managing M&As during a global crisis. It provides valuable perspectives on consumer awareness in strategic decision-making, offering insights for both academic and business communities and focusing on actionable strategies for navigating the global market turmoil transformed by COVID-19.

Battery swapping services are attracting attention as an alternative method to charge electric vehicles due to their benefits in charging time. However, previous studies rarely addressed consumers’ preference of the services and how service providers can determine service prices. This study investigated consumers’ willingness to pay for the services using a contingent valuation method and showed the effects of individual characteristics on the willingness to pay. According to the results, consumers’ mean willingness to pay was KRW 107.4 thousand (USD 78.8). Potential electric vehicle consumers who felt more uncomfortable about long charging time had higher willingness to pay. Consumers’ psychological ownership and symbolic motives regarding their cars had negative and positive impacts on the willingness to pay, respectively. Moreover, service providers can encourage consumers to participate in the services and increase service revenue, applying price discrimination based on driving distance and the number of service uses.