The payment of goods and services has evolved over time from the physical exchange of coins and notes, cheque writing to online payment by transferring card details using devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistant (PDA). Currently, the payment can now be made through mobile devices which is referred to as mobile payment. Growth in technology and emergence of e-commerce has progressively digitalized the mobile payment. This new technology of mobile payment has brought many benefits to buyers and sellers, service providers and many other platforms where payment transactions are required.

This paper seeks to research on the mobile payment system (Ramezani, 2008). The technology has digitalized many aspects of life. Today, the globalization has affected many spheres of life ranging from learning, socializing, trading, and business among others. The physical movement of people has also reduced as a result of technology, one can access whatever service from a comfort of their niche. Due to this technological development, the e-commerce and online marketing has elevated the mobile banking system. The mobile payment technology comes handy to reduce physical robbery of money since payment is made online with less physical movement. Thus the shift from physical payment to virtual payment has brought much security to merchants. However, it also gives mobile service providers and operators more responsibility to provide security and interoperability. Besides mentioning the security in mobile payment and easy accessibility to services, mobile payment is also faster than physical payment. The digitalized life has made the aspects of life faster than before. Gone are the days to waste time on long queues to issue physical payments. The mobile payment is faster and easy. Kuwait is a commercialized nation with many businesses. The businesses agencies have adopted mobile payment system to provide security, ease and faster mode of payment to the customers.

Rational for the research

Kuwaitis are well known to embrace new innovations in the current faster-growing technology. Today, the exciting innovation is known as Tap and Pay is modern mobile payment system where boubyan subscribers can pay for services and goods effortlessly. About 80 percent population of Kuwaitis are accessible to a mobile phone and have the literate know how to operate a mobile phone and other devices.

Contribution to the research and findings

Having analyzed the research findings from 40 questionnaires given to Kuwait citizens, it can be confirmed that all three hypotheses formulated in the research proposal can be accepted. For hypothesis 1: Mobile usability has affected mobile payment system positively. Data from research shows that 100% of respondents own mobile phones and 67% knows how to use the mobile phones thus they can easily use mobile payment system. Furthermore, hypothesis 2: Many Kuwaitis are not aware of the mobile payment system was a negative hypothesis. The research findings show that 92% of respondents are aware of the mobile payment system in Kuwait. Lastly, Hypothesis 3: Security is a threat to the mobile payment system can be confirmed. The data shows that majority of the respondents own mobile phones and are aware of the mobile payment system but only 10% use the mobile payment daily. This shows that there is fear to use the mobile payment. The research on security shows that 53% of the respondents agree that the system is not secure as some have lost money. The findings of this research thus give a true picture and state of the mobile payment system in Kuwait.

Limitations of the research

This research study had some limitations. First, the sample size used was small to represent the state of Kuwait population, at least 100 sample population can give a true representation of peoples' views and opinions on the mobile payment system. Secondly, since the topic of research is of great interest, time allocated was limited to exhaust the survey. Time for issuing questionnaires and collecting was not enough. Lastly, much information was required to fully exploit the study. For instance, interview with mobile operators and network providers about the security of mobile payment system

By Ahmad Al-Hajri