is this really the future... essays

is this really the future... essays Is This Really the Future of Transplants After a baby is conceived and has made it through the fallopian tube it becomes an outer shell of cells with an attached inner group of cells. When this has happened it has reached the blastocyst stage. In this stage the outer cells nourish and provide protection for the inner circle of cells. The fetus attaches it self to the lining of the uterus while still in the blastocyst stage. There arent any organs present in the blastocyst stage, but as the cells multiply and begin to perform specific functions they lead to creating organs. The nervous system is yet not functional and there are no brain waves present. After about 22 days things will begin to develop and the heart will start to beat. But by then the embryo has developed out of the blastocyst stage. To me, the main difference between destroying extra embryos in infertility clinics and destroying them by research is the before and after story. For the infertility clinics, the reason for destroying them is the fact that they dont have couples wanting the embryos. They are extras that might not have worked for a couple. So why would they create a life and then destroy it? But for research, they are creating a life for a specific reason, and when its destroyed, hopefully they are getting useful information out of it. When the infertility clinics create a life, it is because they believe that a couple is going to come along and want this embryo, but they create so many for one couple, and each couple only needs one. And when the couple finds the one that works for them, they get rid of the rest. To me thats crueler than killing an embryo with science. Reproductive cloning is when the genetic material in the nucleus of a human cell is transferred to an egg from which the nucleus has been removed. This egg can then be prompted to grow into an early embryo. This embryo can be placed inside a woman uterus and ev...

The Current Population of the U.S.A.

The Current Population of the U.S.A. The current U.S. population is more than  327 million people (as of early 2018). The United States has the worlds third largest population, following China and  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹India. As the worlds population is approximately 7.5  billion (2017 figures), the current U.S. population represents a mere 4  percent of the worlds population. That means that not quite one in every 25 people on the planet is a resident of the United States of America. How the Population Has Changed and Is Projected to Grow In 1790, the year of the first census of the U.S. population, there were 3,929,214 Americans. By 1900, the number had jumped to 75,994,575. In 1920 the census counted more than 100 million people (105,710,620). Another 100 million people were added to the United States in just 50 years when the 200-million barrier was reached in 1970. The 300 million mark was surpassed in 2006. The U.S. Census Bureau expects the U.S.  population to grow to reach these estimates over the next few decades, averaging about 2.1 million more people per year: 2020: 334.5 million2030:  359.4 million2040:  380.2  million2050:  398.3  million2060: 416.8  million The Population Reference Bureau succinctly summarized the state of the growing U.S. population in 2006: Each 100 million has been added more quickly than the last. It took the United States more than 100 years to reach its first 100 million in 1915. After another 52 years, it reached 200 million in 1967. Less than 40 years later, it is set to hit the 300-million mark. That report suggested that the United States would reach 400 million in 2043, but in 2015 that year was revised to be in 2051. The figure is based on a slowdown in the immigration rate and the fertility rate. Immigration Makes Up for Low Fertility The United States total fertility rate is 1.89, which means that, on average, each woman gives birth to 1.89 children throughout her life. The UN Population Division projects the rate to be relatively stable, from 1.89 to 1.91 projected to 2060, but it still  isnt population replacement.  A country would need a fertility rate of 2.1  to have a stable, no-growth population overall. Overall the U.S. population is  growing  at 0.77 percent a year as of December 2016, and  immigration plays a huge part  in that.  Immigrants to the United States are often young adults (looking for a better life for their future and their familys), and the fertility rate of that population (foreign-born mothers) is higher than for native-born women and projected to remain so. That aspect accounts for that slice of the population growing to be a larger share of the nations population overall, reaching 19 percent by 2060, as compared with 13 percent in 2014. By 2044 more than half of the people will belong to a minority group (anything other than  only  non-Hispanic white). In addition to immigration, longer life expectancy also comes into play with the growing population numbers, and the influx of young immigrants will help the United States support its aging native-born population.​ Shortly before  2050, the current No. 4 nation, Nigeria, is expected to surpass the United States to become the worlds third-largest nation, as its population is growing quickly. India is expected to be the most populous in the world, growing past China.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Research Paper - 3

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Research Paper Example The truth is there are toxic and non-toxic PAHs occurring naturally in our environment, the non-toxic ones are found in the food we consume (Glenn 1995). They are known as Phytochemicals and are available not only in vegetables but also fruits, grains and several other plants used as foods. These are essential for our health when cooked and consumed appropriately (Sommerburg 1998). This document will discuss the benefits of consuming abundant vegetables in our diet to prevent chronic diseases. Phytochemicals are the bioactive non-nutrient compound found in vegetable. Almost 5000 phytochemicals are estimated to be identified but more are still deemed to be unknown, limiting the full knowledge of the vegetable benefits to our health, suggesting that there could be more benefits. In our day to day activities, our cells are constantly exposed to a lot of oxidizing agents, some toxic and some beneficial to our life. These are the normal PAHs and are found in air, water or the food we consume, some are even being metabolically produced within the cells. Optimal physiologic conditions in our bodies require a balanced state a balanced state of oxidants and antioxidants (Block 1992). Excessive oxidants production causes imbalance which leads to oxidative stress which mostly affects the chronic bacterial, parasitic and even viral infections. This causes serious oxidative damages to the bimolecular substances mainly the proteins, lipids and DNA increasing the risk of chronic disease s like cancer and even cardiovascular disease. Consumption of sufficient antioxidants slows down or even prevents this oxidative stress in our bodies. Vegetables are the known source to have a wide variety of these antioxidant compounds, these may be phenolics or carotenoids which helps in protecting cellular systems from damage due to the oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases (Hung 2004). An evidence to show that the compounds found in

Personal Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Personal Finance - Assignment Example For example, if demand for properties has gone up lately, hence mortgage rates will increase then. With the fixed rate deal, she could avoid such a risk. However, if she plans to repay the borrowed money faster than 2 years, which means short term financing; hence other financing opportunities may involve lower costs. Such as taking bank overdrafts (i.e. 5.90% at Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct1) or trade credits; trade credits is an available option if she borrows between 30 to 90 days and it's profitable for Jane since it does not include any interest charges. However, she must have a good credit record. Additionally, since the globalisation, deregulation of financial markets as well as technological advancements, customers around the world have now easier access to obtain finance around the world; which offers Jane an opportunity to choose the lowest rate possible. A good credit history enables Jane to reach a larger amount of financing opportunities. As illustrated above, trade credit does not involve any interest rates; however the customer should keep a good credit record. To ensure a good credit history, Jane should control her payments; such as ensuring that debts are paid by their due date, etc. Jane should gain information of the level of control of the lender. ... Both Annie and Gareth acquire a 10,000 lump sum. If they each put the 10,000 into a savings account paying 6% AER gross for one year, how much net interest would each of them receive after one year (50 words)) 6% of Pound Sterling 10,000= Pound Sterling 600 Tax is 20% on interest payable So, Pound Sterling 600-20%(Pound Sterling 120) = Pound Sterling 480 Hence, the net interest rate is 4.8%. If the inflation rate had been 3.5% over the year, what would be the real value of both Annie's and Gareth's total savings after one year (60 words) Real value equals to nominal interest rates minus inflation rate: 4.8% - 3.5= 1.3% 10,000+1.3%= 10,130 10,130 x 2= 20,260 (both Annie and Gareth) Annie is considering using her 10,000 to purchase shares in a large blue-chip company instead, with the idea that she would sell the shares after one year in order to purchase a car. Briefly outline the key factors that Annie should think about before making such an equity based investment. She should research about the company first. The risk involved of investing there, such as examining the company's financial performance, such as its balance sheet, cash flow, revenue statement, etc. How long the company has been established, is there any negative publicity, etc. These points assist Jane to avoid the risk of loosing her funds. She should also identify other opportunities, such as other companies which would be more profitable to invest in, such as established companies; i.e. Apple, Sony, etc. Additionally, she could also use her 10,000 to establish her own little business or join a partnership, etc; depending which one is more profitable and involves less risk. Moreover, she should also consider the flexibility of the company. Some companies require investors

Future Life Reading Essay Example for Free

Future Life Reading Essay First, I can see a man and a woman walking into view from the bottom left of the image, diagonally across the scene to the top right. They are holding hands as they walk. She is wearing a very light and airy thin materialed flowing white dress; I cannot see her hair color. She is a thin woman. The man, as they are walking is pointing things out to the woman, things in the distance. He seems to speak a lot about the things he is pointing at. He has black hair and is wearing a shirt or a jacket that reminds me of Star Trek: TNG, or other similar sci-fi attire, goldish in color and almost sparkly; the edges a 2† (at least) thick line of slightly lighter color around the outer edges of the garment. The setting appears to be sand in color, Egypt would be the closest reference from here on earth, and the sun is shining. There are others around, but not immediately close-by to this couple. (To note: As I was writing this, at about 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time, I got a very strong smell of beer. I do not have any beer in my home.) Second, I got a close up image of a woman’s face/head. She has moderately long dark hair, and wears what appear to be thick-lensed glasses. She is sitting in some sort of layered seating such as in an auditorium, arena, or university classroom. She is holding a pen or pencil in her right hand between her fingers, constantly moving her hand around as she speaks to a person seated to her right. I believe the person she is speaking with is male, adult, but I cannot see him. All the while, she is watching and listening to what is going on in front of her. She was wearing a light colored long-sleeved thin blouse. Third, it started with an upside-down workboot. Behind this workboot, faded in the image of a garage or auto shop. The room looked large, but only seemed to have 1 garage door. The boot faded as other images came into view. In this garage, there is now a car at the far wall, directly across from the open door, which has 2 people on the other side of it. One man, which is clearly visible, is the focus of the scene. This man is older, white or very light grey hair, and he is wearing an orange t-shirt. This man is close to 6-feet tall from the look of it. The other man with him is like a shadow figure, never coming into view enough to see him, only enough to see that he is there; he is shorter than the older man. The older gentleman in the orange shirt is looking over toward another part of this room and seems to be arguing with someone. He doesn’t look happy at all. I cannot see the person he is arguing with, however, I get the feeling that he is arguing with his wife over something as he is getting ready to leave to go somewhere. Directly outside the garage door, I can see pavement and grass to the side, and there looks to be a fence next to the grass. On the grass, I see something largely red with blue, definitely a child’s toy; it looks like it may be a small wagon or dump truck, but I can’t see for sure. There is something else to the left of this object but I cannot make it out either; I’m guessing a tricycle.

The Role of Women in Society :: Sociology History Females Gender Essays

The Role of Women in Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The role women play in today’s society is a drastic change from the previous role. Women used to be confined to the superiority of the man. Physically, mentally, and emotionally abused, belittled, embarrassed, and silenced. These are just a few examples of the emotion from the isolated treatment of the past. A woman’s role in today’s society is more valued than ever before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women have always been essential to society. Fifty to seventy years ago, a woman was no more than a house wife, caregiver, and at their husbands beck and call. Women had no personal opinion, no voice, and no freedom. They were suppressed by the sociable beliefs of man. A woman’s respectable place was always behind the masculine frame of a man. In the past a woman’s inferiority was not voluntary but instilled by elder women, and/or force. Many, would like to know why? Why was a woman such a threat to a man? Was it just about man’s ability to control, and overpower a woman, or was there a serious threat? Well, everyone has there own opinion about the cause of the past oppression of woman, it is currently still a popular argument today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thanks to our strong, motivated, committed, dedicated, and determined women: who fought for the valued rights of woman everywhere. Without all the feminist, and woman activist women would probably still be oppress. Thank you to women like Eleanor Smeal, Bonnie Briggs, Maya Angleou, and Ms. Bensedrine, and Sadie Alexander (founder of DST).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women today have excelled to unreachable heights. Today women are out in the workforce, the professional world, the military, and there are those that are still at home, but by choose. A woman’s value has skyrocketed over these past decades. A woman today can do anything a man can and more.

Jerusalem Art Essay

Art involving Jerusalem is very controversial. One has to place into context the fact that Jerusalem is a significant city for three major religions—Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Having one city be so significant leads to both the creation of conflict and beauty. There is conflict in the sense of war and destruction, and beauty in the sense of art on the subject. The three pieces of art this writer selected were all twentieth century pieces, but all show significant scenes, buildings or represent significant Psalms in the life of Jerusalem. Because of Jerusalem’s historical significance, this writer has chosen a piece of Islamic art that depicts the old city of Jerusalem, a piece of Jewish art that represents the Psalms, and a piece of Christian art that depicts the triumphal entry and some of the significant events of Holy Week, which is the final week of Christ’s life. The first piece of art is an Arab work that shows the old city of Jerusalem. In the painting, one sees a blue-gray sky that overlooks a sandstone colored city. There is a partial wall surrounding the city, and there appears to be two large prayer towers in the background. There are also some people, men, in the picture, looking towards the city and in a couple of cases walking towards that spiritual city. The city appears to be old, but not ancient, which means this is probably dated somewhere around the Crusades. Though this is a contemporary piece, the artist has chosen to depict Jerusalem at its height in Muslim hands. This painting probably represents Jerusalem during the Crusades. This piece would be very inspiring to Muslims, as it shows the city as theirs. It also gives them an image to look to when contemplating their own religious heritage. This brings us to the point of religious iconography and the Islamic faith. Religious iconography does not play as significant a role in Muslim religious life than in other religions. This is due in part to their trepidation about displaying the human form in a religious setting. This writer feels that this piece could be taken a number of different ways depending on the perspective, whether Muslim, Christian, or Jew. For Muslims if would take them back to a time of Muslim supremacy, when they â€Å"owned† one of the most important cities in their religion. Jerusalem is a significant city for the Muslims. According to various scholars, Jerusalem is significant because it is believed it is the city from which Muhammad rose to heaven. It is also significant because some of Islam’s most significant prophets (Abraham and Jesus) preached and taught. It is also a place to which Muhammad made an historic night pilgrimage. For Christians and Jews, it would be a solemn reminder that there was a time when Christians and Jews lost their most holy city to a people they deemed â€Å"infidels†. It would bring about a profound sense of sadness and loss and might inspire a fighting spirit in Jews and Christians to reclaim their city. Over the years, the passions the Muslims have over Jerusalem have become inflamed to the point of outright violence. The attitudes have only gotten more intense and more inflexible towards the Holy City. This writer feels that the times have only served to strengthen the resolve of Muslims to reclaim the city that they perceive as theirs. Emotionally, the tensions in the region have made Muslims even more determined to control the city completely. As significant as Jerusalem is to Muslims, it also has a supreme significance to Jews. Jews actually fee as if the city belongs to them and was bequeathed to them by God thousands of years ago. It is so significant that dozens of Psalms were written about the city. One of the Psalms is 125, which says in part, â€Å"[a]s the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever (verse 2). † In this painting by Irv Davis, one sees an encapsulated city of Jerusalem surrounded by grey mountains. The city is cream, almost white, and it is implied that the city is made of marble. The sky is blue and the sun is shining, adding to the shine on the city. One can imply that the encapsulation is the spirit of God surrounding the city and protecting it from outsiders and enemies. The contrasts are very sharp, the darkness of the mountains are contrasted with the whiteness and purity of the city. This obviously represents a very young Jerusalem. This also represents a time when the Jews were extremely fervent about their faith and wished to follow the Lord and seek his will. This picture represents a Jerusalem on the rise. It is also a bit on the allegorical side, with the young city representing a young faith. The newness of the city represents the fervency of the believers. They wish to follow the Lord and, as with anything new, the new city represents a new faith. This piece of art could be taken by the three groups in different ways. For Jews, it represents a time in their history when they had a true passion for God and would write songs of praise to the Lord using their most holy city as an inspiration. For Muslims, it would be a dour reminder that a region and city of the world they felt they originally owned had been forcibly removed from their possession and would remain in control of another group for several thousand years. They would also bemoan the fact that a new faith system would be replacing the polytheism that had dominated the region in the years prior to the Jewish takeover. Jews view the city of Jerusalem with as many passions and emotions as the Muslims. They see it as one of the most significant cities of their faith, and as such, wish to reclaim it as a purely Judeo-Christian city. The emotions of the Jews towards the city have always been strong, but over time, have waxed and waned, leading to the times that we have now where the Jews are fighting as passionately for the city as their Muslim counterparts. Both groups have legitimate religious and traditional claims to the city, yet either refuses to give in and relent towards their passions for the city. They each want the city, and are willing to do just about anything to get and maintain control over it. Christians have a whole other unique perspective on the city of Jerusalem. Before we can discuss the artistic expression of the selected artwork, it bears discussing the cultural ties that bind Christians to the city of Jerusalem. Christians view the city as very important because not only did Jesus make his triumphal entry into the city during Holy Week, but also taught in the region. Additionally, the apostles taught in the region and it was from the city of Jerusalem that Christianity was established in the form of Christ’s death and resurrection. The piece of art that was selected was some hand painted tiles from Jerusalem that show scenes from the triumphal entry and major scenes from Holy Week. The tiles are well-painted and detailed. Though they are also twentieth century, the story they tell condenses the entire story of Christianity in four small tiles. They are done in yellows, blues, white, black, and red. These tiles show an older, wiser Jerusalem. There is an overall sadness to the scenes, when one places the tiles in the context of the Bible, one can find that there is indeed a sadness, but at the same time a joy in the scene being depicted. It is ironic that death represents life and birth, but that is indeed what this scene and this depiction of Jerusalem shows. For Christians, Jerusalem represents the birth of their religion and the new life that is promised from the rising from the dead of Christ. Though there may be other cities that are significant in Christendom, for Christians, the events that transpired the week of Holy Week in Jerusalem are what assured the promises made in all the other cities. This piece of art could be taken by the three religions in different ways. For Christians, obviously, there is an association with the outright birth of the religion. The death that occurred outside Jerusalem represented the birth of a whole new belief system. For Jews, while the beliefs of Christian might be unusual, would see Christians as having as legitimate a claim to the city as they do, since they feel that the two groups worship the same God. For Muslims, the scenes simply show significant scenes in the life of a major prophet of their faith. They may view the Christian’s claims towards the city as interesting, but not as significant nor as important as their own claim towards the city. Christian attitudes towards the city have always been passionate, and they actually fought seven crusades that were specifically designed to take back the city from the Muslims. While they were not successful for long in keeping the Muslims out, they were able to develop a life of â€Å"peaceful coexistence† with the Muslims. Christians traditionally have supported the Jewish claim towards the city, as evidenced in the fact that we actively support the mission of Israel today. Christian passions have always been high for the city, but they have cooled over time, and we no longer actively seek to crusade against those we perceive as infidels. Christians now instead seek peaceful coexistence with other groups, but especially the Muslims. Christians are a pragmatic people that see the realities of the situation and only seek to have the best possible outcomes for all the parties. As one can see from the above statements, Jerusalem holds a special place in the hearts of all three religions. While it has inflamed passions, it has also inspired Psalmists and believers for centuries. We should seek understanding of the situations that create the passions and instead of seeming to remain in a state of constant conflict. We should view Jerusalem as a source of inspiration and not as a source of contention. The world’s three largest religions each have legitimate claims to the city and each needs to give up something in order to get access to the one city that they all deem to be the most important in their religion. The city is a true test of negotiation and faith, and as such should remain a source of inspiration. Bibliography about. com, â€Å"Painting of Jerusalem Psalms. † Judaism. 2000. 19 Apr 2009 . (picture URL) about. com, â€Å"Painting of Jerusalem Psalms. † Judaism. 2000. 26 Apr 2009 . â€Å"Arab Art Gallery. † Arab Art Gallery. 2004. 19 Apr 2009 . â€Å"Easter Gift-Holy Easter Week. † Jerusalem Pottery. 2009. 19 Apr 2009 . â€Å"Importance of Jerusalem in Judaism and Israeli History. † 2005. zionism-israel. com. 23 Apr 2009 . â€Å"Memorandum of their Beatitudes the Patriarchs and of the Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem on the Significance of Jerusalem for Christians. † al-bushra. org. 14, Nov 1994. 23 Apr 2009 . Procon. org, â€Å"What is the Significance of Jerusalem for Muslims. † 21 May 2008. procon. org. 26 Apr 2009 .

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Ten

Jack's usual response when delivered unpleasant tidings was to smile. This was his response to pleasant news as well, of course, but anyone could grin when offered a compliment. It took talent to curve one's lips in an upward direction when ordered, say, to clean out a chamber pot or risk one's life by sneaking behind enemy lines to determine troop numbers. But he generally managed it. Excrement†¦moving defenseless among the French†¦he always reacted with a dry quip and a lazy smile. This was not something he'd had to cultivate. Indeed, the midwife who'd brought him into the world swore to her dying day that he was the only baby she'd ever seen who emerged from his mother's womb smiling. He disliked conflict. He always had, which had made his chosen professions – the military, followed by genteel crime – somewhat interesting. But firing a weapon at a nameless frog or lifting a necklace from the neck of an overfed aristocrat – this was not conflict. Conflict – to Jack – was personal. It was a lover's betrayal, a friend's insult. It was two brothers vying for their father's approval, a poor relation forced to swallow her pride. It involved a sneer, or a shrill voice, and it left a body wondering if he'd offended someone. Or disappointed another. He had found, with a near one hundred percent success rate, that a grin and a jaunty remark could defuse almost any situation. Or change any topic. Which meant that he very rarely had to discuss matters that were not of his choosing. Nonetheless, this time, when faced with the dowager and her unexpected (although, really, he should have expected it) announcement, all he could do was stare at her and say, â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"We must go to Ireland,† she said again, in that obey-me tone he expected she had been born with. â€Å"There is no way we shall get to the bottom of the matter without visiting the site of the marriage. I assume Irish churches keep records?† Good God, did she think all of them were illiterate? Jack forced down a bit of bile and said quite tightly, â€Å"Indeed.† â€Å"Good.† The dowager turned back to her breakfast, the matter good and settled in her mind. â€Å"We shall find whoever performed the ceremony and obtain the register. It is the only way.† Jack felt his fingers bending and flexing beneath the table. It felt as if his blood were going to burst through his skin. â€Å"Wouldn't you prefer to send someone in your stead?† he inquired. The dowager regarded him as she might an idiot. â€Å"Who could I possibly trust with a matter of such importance? No, it must be me. And you, of course, and Wyndham, since I expect he will want to see whatever proof we locate as well.† The usual Jack would never have let such a comment pass without his own, exceedingly ironic, One would think, but this current Jack – the one who was desperately trying to figure out how he might travel to Ireland without being seen by his aunt, uncle, or any of his cousins – actually bit his lip. â€Å"Mr. Audley?† Grace said quietly. He didn't look at her. He refused to look at her. She'd see far more in his face than the dowager ever would. â€Å"Of course,† he said briskly. â€Å"Of course we must go.† Because really, what else could he say? Terribly sorry, but I can't go to Ireland, as I killed my cousin? Jack had been out of society for a number of years, but he was fairly certain this would not be considered good breakfast table conversation. And yes, he knew that he had not pulled a trigger, and yes, he knew that he had not forced Arthur to buy a commission and enter the army along with him, and yes – and this was the worst of it – he knew that his aunt would never even dream of blaming him for Arthur's death. But he had known Arthur. And more importantly, Arthur had known him. Better than anyone. He'd known his every strength – and his every weakness – and when Jack had finally closed the door on his disastrous university career and headed off to the military, Arthur had refused to allow him to go alone. And they both knew why. â€Å"It might be somewhat ambitious to try to depart tomorrow,† Grace said. â€Å"You will have to secure passage, and – â€Å" â€Å"Bah!† was the dowager's response. â€Å"Wyndham's secretary can manage it. It's about time he earned his wages. And if not tomorrow, then the next day.† â€Å"Will you wish for me to accompany you?† Grace asked quietly. Jack was just about to interject that, damn yes, she'd be going, or else he would not, but the dowager gave her a haughty look and replied, â€Å"Of course. You do not think I would make such a journey without a companion? I cannot bring maids – the gossip, you know – and so I will need someone to help me dress.† â€Å"You know that I am not very good with hair,† Grace pointed out, and to Jack's horror, he laughed. It was just a short little burst of it, tinged with a loathsome nervous edge, but it was enough for both ladies to stop their conversation, and their meal, and turn to him. Oh. Brilliant. How was he to explain this? Don't mind me, I was simply laughing at the ludicrousness of it all. You with your hair, me with my dead cousin. â€Å"Do you find my hair amusing?† the dowager asked sharply. And Jack, because he had absolutely nothing to lose, just shrugged and said, â€Å"A bit.† The dowager let out an indignant huff, and Grace positively glared at him. â€Å"Women's hair always amuses me,† he clarified. â€Å"So much work, when all anyone really wants is to see it down.† They both seemed to relax a bit. His comment may have been risque, but it took the personal edge off the insult. The dowager tossed one last irritated look in his direction, then turned to Grace to continue their previous conversation. â€Å"You may spend the morning with Maria,† she directed. â€Å"She will show you what to do. It can't be that difficult. Pull one of the scullery maids up from the kitchen and practice upon her. She'll be grateful for the opportunity, I'm sure.† Grace looked not at all enthused, but she nodded and murmured, â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"See to it that the kitchen work does not suffer,† the dowager said, finishing the last of her stewed apples. â€Å"An elegant coiffure is compensation enough.† â€Å"For what?† Jack asked. The dowager turned to him, her nose somehow looking pointier than usual. â€Å"Compensation for what?† he restated, since he felt like being contrary. The dowager stared at him a moment longer, then must have decided he was best ignored, because she turned back to Grace. â€Å"You may commence packing my things once you are done with Maria. And after that, see to it that a suitable story is set about for our absence.† She waved her hand in the air as if it were a trifle. â€Å"A hunting cottage in Scotland will do nicely. The Borders, I should think. No one will believe it if you say I went to the Highlands.† Grace nodded silently. â€Å"Somewhere off the well-trod path, however,† the dowager continued, looking as if she were enjoying herself. â€Å"The last thing I need is for one of my friends to attempt to see me.† â€Å"Do you have many friends?† Jack asked, his tone so perfectly polite that she'd be wondering all day if she'd been insulted. â€Å"The dowager is much admired,† Grace said quickly, perfect little companion that she was. Jack decided not to comment. â€Å"Have you ever been to Ireland?† Grace asked the dowager. But Jack caught the angry look she shot him before turning to her employer. â€Å"Of course not.† The dowager's face pinched. â€Å"Why on earth would I have done so?† â€Å"It is said to have a soothing effect on one's temperament,† Jack said. â€Å"Thus far,† the dowager retorted, â€Å"I am not much impressed with its influences upon one's manners.† He smiled. â€Å"You find me impolite?† â€Å"I find you impertinent.† Jack turned to Grace with a sad sigh. â€Å"And here I thought I was meant to be the prodigal grandson, able to do no wrong.† â€Å"Everyone does wrong,† the dowager said sharply. â€Å"The question is how little wrong one does.† â€Å"I would think,† Jack said quietly, â€Å"that it is more important what one does to rectify the wrong.† â€Å"Or perhaps,† the dowager snapped angrily, â€Å"one could manage not to make the mistake in the first place.† Jack leaned forward, interested now. â€Å"What did my father do that was so very very wrong?† â€Å"He died,† she said, and her voice was so bitter and full of chill that Jack heard Grace suck in her breath from across the table. â€Å"Surely you cannot blame him for that,† Jack murmured. â€Å"A freak storm, a leaky boat†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He should never have stayed so long in Ireland,† the dowager hissed. â€Å"He should never have gone in the first place. He was needed here.† â€Å"By you,† Jack said softly. The dowager's face lost some of its usual stiffness, and for a moment he thought he saw her eyes grow moist. But whatever emotion came over her, it was swiftly tamped down, and she stabbed at her bacon and bit off, â€Å"He was needed here. By all of us.† Grace suddenly stood. â€Å"I will go find Maria now, your grace, if that is amenable.† Jack rose along with her. There was no way she was leaving him alone with the dowager. â€Å"I believe you promised me a tour of the castle,† he murmured. Grace looked from the dowager to him and back again. Finally the dowager flicked her hand in the air and said, â€Å"Oh, take him about. He should see his birthright before we leave. You may have your session with Maria later. I will remain and await Wyndham.† But as they reached the doorway, they heard her add softly, â€Å"If that is indeed still his name.† Grace was too angry to wait politely outside the doorway, and indeed, she was already halfway down the hall before Mr. Audley caught up with her. â€Å"Is this a tour or a race?† he asked, his lips forming that now familiar smile. But this time it did nothing but raise her ire. â€Å"Why did you bait her?† she burst out. â€Å"Why would you do such a thing?† â€Å"The comment about her hair, do you mean?† he asked, and he gave her one of those annoying innocent whatever-could-I-have-done-wrong looks. When of course he had to have known, perfectly well. â€Å"Everything,† she replied hotly. â€Å"We were having a perfectly lovely breakfast, and then you – â€Å" â€Å"You might have been having a perfectly lovely breakfast,† he cut in, and his voice held a newly sharp edge. â€Å"I was conversing with Medusa.† â€Å"Yes, but you didn't have to make things worse by provoking her.† â€Å"Isn't that what his holiness does?† Grace stared at him in angry confusion. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Sorry.† He shrugged. â€Å"The duke. I've not noticed that he holds his tongue in her presence. I thought to emulate.† â€Å"Mr. Aud – â€Å" â€Å"Ah, but I misspoke. He's not holy, is he? Merely perfect.† She could do nothing but stare. What had Thomas done to earn such contempt? By all rights Thomas should be the one in a blackened mood. He probably was, to be fair, but at least he'd taken himself off to be furious elsewhere. â€Å"His grace, it is, isn't it?† Mr. Audley continued, his voice losing none of his derision. â€Å"I'm not so uneducated that I don't know the correct forms of address.† â€Å"I never said you were. Neither, I might add, did the dowager.† Grace let out an irritated exhale. â€Å"She shall be difficult all day now.† â€Å"She isn't normally difficult?† Good heavens, she wanted to hit him. Of course the dowager was normally difficult. He knew that. What could he possibly have to gain by remarking upon it other than the enhancement of his oh so dry and wry persona? â€Å"She shall be worse,† she ground out. â€Å"And I shall be the one to pay for it.† â€Å"My apologies, then,† he said, and he offered a contrite bow. Grace felt suddenly uncomfortable. Not because she thought he was mocking her, but rather because she was quite sure he was not. â€Å"It was nothing,† she mumbled. â€Å"It is not your place to worry over my situation.† â€Å"Does Wyndham?† Grace looked up at him, somehow captured by the directness of his gaze. â€Å"No,† she said softly. â€Å"Yes, he does, but no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No, he didn't. Thomas did look out for her, and had, on more than one occasion, interceded when he felt she was being treated unfairly, but he never held his tongue with his grandmother just to keep the peace. And Grace would never dream of asking him to. Or scold him for not doing so. He was the duke. She could not speak to him that way, no matter their friendship. But Mr. Audley was†¦ She closed her eyes for a moment, turning away so he could not see the turmoil on her face. He was just Mr. Audley for now, not so very far above her. But the dowager's voice, soft and menacing, still rang in her ears – If that is indeed still his name. She was speaking of Thomas, of course. But the counterpart was true as well. If Thomas was not Wyndham, then Mr. Audley was. And this man†¦this man who had kissed her twice and made her dream of something beyond the walls of this castle – he would be this castle. The dukedom wasn't just a few words appended to the end of one's name. It was lands, it was money, it was the very history of England placed upon one man's shoulders. And if there was one thing she had learned during her five years at Belgrave, it was that the aristocracy were different from the rest of humanity. They were mortals, true, and they bled and cried just like everyone else, but they carried within them something that set them apart. It didn't make them better. No matter the dowager's lectures on the subject, Grace would never believe that. But they were different. And they were shaped by the knowledge of their history and their roles. If Mr. Audley's birth had been legitimate, then he was the Duke of Wyndham, and she was an overreaching spinster for even dreaming of his face. Grace took a deep, restorative breath, and then, once her nerves were sufficiently calmed, turned back to him. â€Å"Which part of the castle would you like to see, Mr. Audley?† He must have recognized that this was not the time to press her, and so he answered cheerfully, â€Å"Why, all of it, of course, but I imagine that is not feasible for a single morning. Where do you suggest we begin?† â€Å"The gallery?† He had been so interested in the paintings in his room the night before. It seemed a logical place to start. â€Å"And gaze upon the friendly faces of my supposed ancestors?† His nostrils flared, and for a moment he almost looked as if he'd swallowed something distasteful. â€Å"I think not. I've had enough of my ancestors for one morning, thank you very much.† â€Å"These are dead ancestors,† Grace murmured, hardly able to believe her cheek. â€Å"Which is how I prefer them, but not this morning.† She glanced across the hall to where she could see sunlight dappling in through a window. â€Å"I could show you the gardens.† â€Å"I'm not dressed for it.† â€Å"The conservatory?† He tapped his ear. â€Å"Made of tin, I'm afraid.† She pressed her lips together, waited a moment, then said, â€Å"Do you have any location in mind?† â€Å"Many,† he answered promptly, â€Å"but they'd leave your reputation in tatters.† â€Å"Mr. Au – â€Å" â€Å"Jack,† he reminded her, and somehow there was less space between them. â€Å"You called me Jack last night.† Grace did not move, despite the fact that her heels were itching to scoot backwards. He was not close enough to kiss her, not even close enough to accidentally brush his hand against her arm. But her lungs felt suddenly devoid of air, and her heart had begun to race, beating erratically in her chest. She could feel it forming on her tongue – Jack. But she could not say it. Not in this moment, with the image of him as the duke still fresh in her mind. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she said, and although she tried for sternness, she did not quite manage it. â€Å"I am heartbroken,† he said, and he did it with the exact right note of levity to restore her equilibrium. â€Å"But I shall carry on, painful though it may be.† â€Å"Yes, you look to be in despair,† she murmured. One of his brows rose. â€Å"Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?† â€Å"Just a hint.† â€Å"Good, because I assure you† – he thumped one hand against his heart – â€Å"I am dying on the inside.† She laughed, but she tried to hold it in, so it came out more like a snort. It should have been embarrassing; with anyone else it would have been. But he had set her back at ease, and instead she felt herself smile. She wondered if he realized what a talent it was – to return any conversation to a smile. â€Å"Come with me, Mr. Audley,† she said, motioning for him to accompany her down the hall. â€Å"I shall show you my very favorite room.† â€Å"Are there cupids?† She blinked. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I was attacked by cupids this morning,† he said with a shrug, as if such a thing were a common day occurrence. â€Å"In my dressing room.† And again she smiled, this time even more broadly. â€Å"Ah. I'd forgotten. It's a bit much, isn't it?† â€Å"Unless one is partial to naked babies.† Again her laughter snorted out. â€Å"Something in your throat?† he asked innocently. She answered him with a dry look, then said, â€Å"I believe the dressing room was decorated by the present duke's great-grandmother.† â€Å"Yes, I'd assumed it wasn't the dowager,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"She doesn't seem the sort for cherubs of any stripe.† The image that brought forth was enough to make her laugh aloud. â€Å"Finally,† he said, and at her curious look, added, â€Å"I thought you were going to choke on it earlier.† â€Å"You seem to have regained your good mood as well,† she pointed out. â€Å"It requires only the removal of my presence from her presence.† â€Å"But you only just met the dowager yesterday. Surely you've had a disagreeable moment before that.† He flashed her a broad grin. â€Å"Happy since the day I was born.† â€Å"Oh, come now, Mr. Audley.† â€Å"I never admit to my black moods.† She raised her brows. â€Å"You merely experience them?† He chuckled at that. â€Å"Indeed.† They walked companionably toward the rear of the house, Mr. Audley occasionally pressing her for information of their destination. â€Å"I shan't tell you,† Grace said, trying to ignore the giddy sense of anticipation that had begun to slide through her. â€Å"It sounds like nothing special in words.† â€Å"Just another drawing room, eh?† To anyone else, perhaps, but for her it was magical. â€Å"How many are there, by the way?† he asked. She paused, trying to count. â€Å"I am not certain. The dowager is partial to only three, so we rarely use the others.† â€Å"Dusty and molding?† She smiled. â€Å"Cleaned every day.† â€Å"Of course.† He looked about him, and it occurred to her that he did not seem cowed by the grandeur of his surroundings, just†¦amused. No, not amused. It was more of a wry disbelief, as if he were still wondering if he could trade this all in and get himself kidnapped by a different dowager duchess. Perhaps one with a smaller castle. â€Å"Penny for your thoughts, Miss Eversleigh,† he said. â€Å"Although I'm sure they are worth a pound.† â€Å"More than that,† she said over her shoulder. His mood was infectious, and she felt like a coquette. It was unfamiliar. Unfamiliar and lovely. He held up his hands in surrender. â€Å"Too steep a price, I'm afraid. I am but an impoverished highwayman.† She cocked her head. â€Å"Wouldn't that make you an unsuccessful highwayman?† â€Å"Touche,† he acknowledged, â€Å"but alas, untrue. I have had a most lucrative career. The life of a thief suits my talents perfectly.† â€Å"Your talents are for pointing guns and removing necklaces off ladies' necks?† â€Å"I charm the necklaces off their necks.† He shook his head in a perfect imitation of offense. â€Å"Kindly make the distinction.† â€Å"Oh, please.† â€Å"I charmed you.† She was all indignation. â€Å"You did not.† He reached out, and before she could step away, he'd grasped her hand and raised it to his lips. â€Å"Recall the night in question, Miss Eversleigh. The moonlight, the soft wind.† â€Å"There was no wind.† â€Å"You're spoiling my memory,† he growled. â€Å"There was no wind,† she stated. â€Å"You are romanticizing the encounter.† â€Å"Can you blame me?† he returned, smiling at her wickedly. â€Å"I never know who is going to step through the carriage door. Most of the time I get a wheezy old badger.† Grace's initial inclination was to ask him if badger referred to a man or a woman, but she decided this would only encourage him. Plus, he was still holding her hand, his thumb idly stroking her palm, and she was finding that such intimacies severely restricted her talents for witty repartee. â€Å"Where are you taking me, Miss Eversleigh?† His voice was a murmur, brushing softly against her skin. He was kissing her again, and her entire arm shivered with the excitement of it. â€Å"It is just around the corner,† she whispered. Because her voice seemed to have abandoned her. It was all she could do to breathe. He straightened then, but did not release her hand. â€Å"Lead on, Miss Eversleigh.† She did, tugging him gently as she moved toward her destination. To everyone else, it was just a drawing room, decorated in shades of cream and gold, with the occasional accent of the palest, mintiest of greens. But Grace's dowager-inflicted schedule had given her cause to enter in the morning, when the eastern sun still hung low on the horizon. The air shimmered in the early morning, somehow golden with the light, and when it streamed through the windows in this far-flung, unnamed drawing room, the world somehow sparkled. By midmorning it would be just an expensively decorated room, but now, while the larks were still chirping softly outside, it was magic. If he didn't see that†¦ Well, she did not know what it would mean if he did not see that. But it would be disappointing. It was a small thing, meaningless to anyone but her, and yet†¦ She wanted him to see it. The simple magic of the morning light. The beauty and grace in the one room at Belgrave that she could almost imagine was hers. â€Å"Here we are,† she said, a little breathless with the anticipation. The door was open, and as they approached, she could see the light slanting out, landing gently on the smooth surface of the floor. There was such a golden hue to it, she could see every speck of dust that hung floating in the air. â€Å"Is there a private choir?† he teased. â€Å"A fantastical menagerie?† â€Å"Nothing so ordinary,† she replied. â€Å"But close your eyes. You should see it all at once.† He took her hands and, still facing her, placed them over his eyes. It brought her achingly close to him, her arms stretched up, the bodice of her dress just a whisper away from his finely tailored coat. It would be so easy to lean forward, to sigh into him. She could let her hands drop and close her own eyes, tilting her face toward his. He would kiss her, and she would lose her breath, her will, her very desire to, in that moment, be only herself. She wanted to melt into him. She wanted to be a part of him. And the strangest part was – right there, right then, with the golden light rippling down upon them – it seemed the most natural thing in the world. But his eyes were closed, and for him, one little piece of the magic was missing. It had to have been, because if he had felt everything that was floating around her – through her – he never would have said, his voice utterly charming – â€Å"Are we there yet?† â€Å"Almost,† she said. She should have been grateful that the moment was broken. She should have been relieved that she did not do something she was sure to regret. But she wasn't. She wanted her regrets. She wanted them desperately. She wanted to do something she knew she should not, and she wanted to lie in bed at night letting the memory keep her warm. But she was not brave enough to initiate her own downfall. Instead, she led him to the open doorway and said softly, â€Å"Here we are.†

Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector

Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector The internet-based marketing research survey was initiated with a view of understanding the various factors that affects the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The conjoint study utililized a quantitative research design and subjects were drawn from the selected banking institutions.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia: Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To ensure reliability and validity of study results, the questionnaires for the survey were duly filled by the Heads of Product Development and Marketing or their assistants of the selected banking institutions. The results were both interesting and insightful. The study was clearly able to uncover some of the challenges that continue to bedevil the sector, which is invariably at its infancy stage in many countries across the world. These challenges include socio-cultural and re ligious barriers, age and market segmentation, security fears, lack of effective communication and marketing strategies, inability to break through the zone of being related to simple transactions, and failure to offer authentic banking experience. However, the study revealed that mobile banking is ripe for takeoff, and may indeed overtake other banking channels such as branch and ATM due to its numerous tangible benefits that will serve to catapult the sector to success and dominance. Some of these benefits include accessibility, high marketing potential, high penetration levels, better performance, convenience, lower charges, among others. These benefits and challenges will direct the future of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia Introduction Background The design, development, and production of mobile handsets have revolutionalized civilizations across the world in ways that can only rival the invention of the wheel in the 19th century. Not only has the device served as an engine for growth, but it has made life easier, convenient and more comfortable. Intra and cross-boarder communications can now be done within the comfort of the living room, and business deals are sealed using the convenience of mobile telephony (Laukkanen 127). Indeed, the use of mobile telephones has penetrated every single aspect of our social lives, whereby the devices have been personalized to offer the greatest satisfaction to users while serving their communication needs. The introduction of sophisticated mobile telephony with multipurpose and multimedia functions is reminiscent of the 1950’s, when the first color television set hit the markets; everybody was mesmerized.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But while many studies have been conducted on the social impacts of mobile telephony on communities around the world, data on how the device has affected busine ss enterprises, specifically banking institutions in the Asian market, is still loosely aggregated. Within the last couple of decades, new technologies have been cropping up every so often, requiring banking institutions to take a stand on whether to incorporate them in their operations or wait until later. Currently, it is perfectly right to say that â€Å"mobile banking is that technology† (Costanzo 33). Some financial institutions have already expended considerable amount of money to evaluate innovative ways through which they can utilize the devices for banking purposes, while others are waiting with baited breadth to see how it works out. Still, many marketers and financial experts are in agreement that conducting banking transactions using mobile telephony presents a huge potential for growth. According to Stewart, the chances of mobile banking surpassing any other transaction conduits within the next few years are real (17). In many financial institutions, the commonly used delivery or transaction channels include Branch, Automated Teller Machines (ATM), and on-line banking. Even though mobile banking has the potential to surpass the named transaction channels in market growth due to high penetration levels, â€Å"only 10% of financial institutions currently offer a mobile banking service† (Stewart 17). Many of the financial institutions are not at ease with the cost implications involved in rolling out the technology coupled with an uncertain market base. However, in the 21st Century, the customers have assumed the role of requesting the mobile services from their banking institutions, inarguably forcing the management to make tough decisions on the investment (Costanzo 33). This clearly reveals that customers are opening up to the technology, having realized its value and potential benefits to the banking industry. Experts are of the opinion that many financial institutions yet to endorse mobile banking will reach their breaking point so oner than they actually anticipate due to the many opportunities for revenue generation offered by the service (Costanzo 35).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Mobile Banking in Saudi Arabia: Towards Understanding the Factors that Affects the Sector specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Not only has mobile banking achieved monumental success in offering financial transaction services, but bank operators can also use the service to generate extra revenue through charging for services such as sending SMS alerts to customers notifying them of their low bank balances. Consequently, the competitive pressure lies in the multifaceted nature of mobile banking The Study Context The swift pace of acceptance of modern mobile phones in the Middle East has generated prospects for fresh and innovative mobile services. According to Mallat et al, mobile banking services have shown some of the greatest potential for growth although they a re still marginally adopted in Asia, and indeed in the whole world (42). Indeed, within the Middle East context, the extensive penetration of mobile networks and the individualized nature of mobile telephones have increasingly made mobile solutions appropriate for a multiplicity of financial services. Mobile financial services has also gained steam due to the general stability of information and communication technologies in the region coupled with encouraging experiences received though the use of m-commerce payment services (Mallat et al 42). The era of mobile banking in the Middle East has matured. The region has surged in mobile telephony usage to become the second fastest expanding mobile phone market globally, after Africa. By 2006, penetration had already surpassed the 50% mark, and an estimated 150 million mobile handsets already in circulation (Blain para. 1). An estimated 70% of the entire connections in the Middle East have been concentrated in the Islamic Republic of Ira n, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. By 2007, the average market penetration for mobile phones in the three countries stood at 67%. This represents an enormous potential for growth for mobile banking services in the region. The market is evidently there as over two thirds of the population has access to a mobile handset. Saudi Arabia With a population of 28.6 million as at July 2009, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly the second largest mobile phone market in the Middle East, representing an estimated 15% of the entire connections (Blain para. 5). In 2008, comparative figures reveal that Saudi Arabia had an average of 114.7 mobile handsets per 100 individuals. The United Arab Emirates led in the region, with 173 handsets per 100 people, and Qatar came second, at 150.4. By 2006, 79.5% of Saudi’s population was already using mobile phones (BMI 23). This reflects a huge potential for growth in mobile financial services.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Due to the large volume of people with mobile handsets in Saudi Arabia, the device can be successfully used as a channel to offer various value-added services such as mobile advertising, banking, money transfer, commerce, and information services. Indeed, the wide range of services the device is able to offer to Saudi nationals cannot be exhausted. However, mobile banking in Saudi Arabia has been slow in penetration due to a multiplicity of factors, which includes overbearing religious undertones. Indeed, the Kingdom is still lagging behind in internet banking, the predecessor of mobile banking, with projections showing that although 73% of the financial institutions have an active website, only 25% of the websites have the capacity to offer full banking services (Jasimuddin para. 1). Problem Discussion The world has become increasingly intertwined by means of telecommunication channels and computers, giving rise to faster, cost-effective, innovative, and dynamic ways of doing busin ess. The use of m-commerce in general and mobile banking in particular has taken the world by storm in the last couple of years. The latter is increasingly finding appeal across all age categories in need of banking services, and experts in the banking industry are predicting a scenario where today’s working young adults are likely to bypass online banking and go unswervingly into the confines of mobile banking, a trend that has already been experienced in Japan (Stewart 18). However, the growth of mobile banking has neither been consistent nor linear as some nations are yet to embrace the technology despite its many tangible benefits. For instance, the growth in mobile phone banking services in the Saudi Kingdom is yet to equal the corresponding growth in the mobile phones industry. A multiplicity of factors exist, which can inexorably hinder or enhance the uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia yet no conclusive studies have been undertaken to identify these factors. It i s this gap of knowledge that the study sought to fill. Study Objectives The general objective for this particular study was to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to accomplish this objective by undertaking a critical evaluation of a cross-section of the banking institutions in the Kingdom, with a view of understanding the underlying factors as to why the technology is used or not used in the banking fraternity. The following were the specific objectives: To come up with the reasons behind the slow uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia To evaluate how mobile banking has been used to market financial institutions in the Kingdom To evaluate government, legal and institutional guidelines on mobile banking in the Kingdom Research Questions and Hypotheses The study was guided by the following research questions and propositions How has the marketing scenario changed since the introduction of mobile banking in Saudi Arabiaâ€℠¢s financial sector, specifically banking institutions? H1: Marketing and advertisement costs has gone down, enabling financial institutions that are actively engaged in mobile banking to save on costs Has religious orientation played a role in the uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia? H2: The Saudis are conservatively religious, and are hard to open up to new products and services offered in the market What are the major factors enhancing uptake of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia? H3: Convenience and personalized services are the key major factors enhancing uptake of the mobile banking technology Value of Study The value of this study cannot be underestimated. Analysts have continually projected that mobile financial services presents the next frontier for growth in the banking sector (Stewart 17). In addition to providing a convenient and personalized channel for conducting financial transactions, mobile banking offers the capacity to provide for other revenue generating avenu es for banks such as charging for reminders. In the US, where mobile banking technology has taken root, 85% of the top 20 financial institutions offer either one or several mobile banking products and services (Stewart 18). This reveals how mobiles devices can be used as engines for growth in the banking sector. The study therefore came up with a body of knowledge, espousing the various factors that can be used to market mobile banking to the Saudi nationals. This body of knowledge can be used by banking institutions in their attempt to market the product to their customers. The study also filled the information gap that existed on the role of religion in marketing particular products such as mobile banking Study Delimitations Apart from the usual difficulties of time and financial resources, challenges arose in attempting to come up with a balanced sample group via internet protocols since there was no opportunity to make physical contact. This limited the scope of the study. Some banking institutions included in the sample lacked or had inadequate background information on mobile banking since it is a relatively new concept in Saudi’s financial sector. Still, some banking institutions included in the sample were unwilling to divulge information on mobile banking experiences, arguing that the technology was in their strategic plan for 2010, and therefore could not disclose information. This presented difficulties for the researcher Review of Related Literature Introduction This study sought to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia, either positively or negatively. The increasing ownership and use of programmable information and communication devices such as the mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and others, have been credited for the immense expansion of mobile commerce and mobile banking technologies. These hand-held â€Å"devices are effective for authorizing and managing payment and banking transac tions, offering security and convenience advantages compared to online payment via PCs† (Herzberg 53). In the US, about 85% of the top 20 financial institutions are known to offer their customers either one or more products via mobile banking (Stewart 18). By definition, Mobile banking, also acknowledged as SMS Banking or M-Banking, basically entails the provision and performance of banking and financial transactions with the assistance of modern mobile telecommunication appliances such as mobile phones or PDAs by means of Short Message Service (SMS), Mobile Browser, or Client downloads (Laukkanen 125). Through the use of these tools, an individual holding an account with a bank offering mobile banking is able to access such services as account enquiries, account transactions, stock market transactions, bill payments, and accessing customized information, including advertisements. Trends in Mobile Banking The arrival of the Internet brought new and exiting ways of transacting business globally. However, mobile banking is a relatively new experience, but with the required potential to be the market leader in transaction channels in a few years to come. In 2007, TowerGroup Consultancy, located in Boston, estimated that the US had just over 1 million clients of mobile banking products (Walford para.1). However, due to its convenience, personalized services, and enhancement of client experience, the number of individuals using the technology has drastically shot up in recent times. According to experts, SMS technology offers the most unproblematic alternative since it has the capacity to reach large numbers of customers, and does not necessarily need web access. Consequently, the use of the messaging service is undoubtedly the bread and butter of mobile financial transactions. In Japan, Mobile banking has found a huge following among young adults, fresh from college, to a point where it has surpassed online banking (Stewart 18). Currently, mobile banking pen etration level in the US stands at 6.5%, but drastically going up (White 58). In the Middle East in general and Saudi Arabia in particular, the mobile banking trend is slowly gaining steam after huge spasms of minimal activity and inactivity. Indeed, most financial institutions that had implemented mobile banking once it rolled out did so with a long-term view since the rate of adoption was expected to be low (White 26). In a 2009 worldwide survey to extract the views and attitudes on mobile banking in all the continents, 60 % of respondents in the Middle East said their financial institutions offered mobile banking services against 71% in Latin America and 31% in North America (Cocheo para. 2). This clearly reveals the phenomenon is gaining speed in the Middle East. In the study, 27% of Saudis admitted to using mobile handsets to make banking transactions and payments against a meager 3% in North America. Indeed, a massive 66% of North Americans argued they were not at ease with us ing mobile devices to make banking transactions. This notwithstanding, â€Å"a projected 30% of US households will bank using their mobile phones in 2010† (Mobile Marketing Association1) These statistics are useful indicators that mobile banking is increasingly asserting its influence in banking institutions globally (Cocheo para. 6). Selected attributes on Mobile Banking Mobile Banking and Marketing/Advertising Potential According to Mobile Marketing Association, some mobile banking functions such as SMS offers massive marketing potential for many products and services retailed by financial institutions (2). SMS has the capacity to penetrate the market segment, and reach millions of customers within a split second. As such, financial institutions can effectively use mobile banking to market their own products and services on offer such as interest rates alerts, types and nature of accounts, the kind of services offered, and physical location, among others. Indeed SMS technol ogy offers the most unproblematic alternative for marketing products since it has the capacity to reach large volumes of people who may not be necessarily connected to the internet. Consequently, it can be effectively used to reach out to the rural illiterate and semi-illiterate masses. Indeed, there exists a multiplicity of practices and activities that banking institutions can engage with their customers through a mobile handset to further their competitive advantage and market their products and services to a large volume of customers using the least costs. A normal SMS is relatively affordable, easily understandable, less ambiguous, and has the capacity to reach a large audience (Mobile Marketing Association 2). These are major selling points for any product or service. Through horizontal telecommunication convergence, mobile banking can take advantage of these attributes to generate more revenue through acting as advertisement agents for other organizations wishing to market th eir products and services using the platform (Stewart 21). In essence, â€Å"efficient mobile payment solutions facilitate the sales of mobile content and generate more traffic for mobile networks† (Mallat et al 45). Convenience Mobile banking is convenient in nature since it can be used anywhere at any hour of the day or night provided the user has access to a mobile device. According to Herzberg, these devices have revolutionalized banking transactions by presenting customers the convenience and security desirous of their banking experience (53). The author argues that â€Å"convenience [of mobile handsets] can result from using their communication capabilities when paying for goods and services, whether on foot or in cars, planes, or trains, and authorizing transactions at remote servers of banks, brokerages, and merchants† (54). In mobile banking, customers can also view bank balances, transaction histories, and retrieve payment receipts at their own convenience, a nd without having to waste time visiting the banking halls. According to Mallat et al, mobile financial services are deemed significant by users due to their inbuilt time and place independence (42). Security Herzberg alludes to the fact that the security features contained in mobile banking are revolutionary, and are major sources of motivations for millions of people who depend on the mobile device for banking purposes (54). The author stresses the fact that most conventional channels of electronic authorizations such as ATM and credit or debit card transactions are subject to failure by being compromised. Online banking can also be easily compromised by hackers due to minimal security systems. Also, using a smart card hooked up to a computer can not in any way guarantee security since the computer may probably be infected by a virus, activating it to send wrong information to the smart card. All the above scenarios are enough precedents for fraud and corruption. More importantly, security has been proposed as one of the fundamental drivers for the growth of m-commerce and mobile banking. However, the next generation mobile devices, usually with sophisticated features such as built-in color display and key board, have functional capabilities and technical solutions for curtailing hacking, and hence stopping fraud. However, a significant number of customers are not comfortable with the idea of conducting financial transactions using a mobile device. In case the device is stolen, all what is needed is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the thief to gain entry into your finances. Reasonable Costs and better performance By far, mobile banking is the cheapest type of conducting financial transactions in recent times. In the US, an average SMS supporting 160 characters is charged $0.03 (Costanzo 34). Not only does mobile banking appeal in terms of costs, but it has an easy-to-use interface that is best suited for uncomplicated requests such as account bala nce enquiries and requests for personal banking information (Talbot 48). In Mobile banking, individuals are not subjected to the rigorous procedures of opening a bank account as they would when dealing with branch channel. Indeed, all what is needed is to open a fully functional account on a mobile handset. Unlike in branch banking whereby customers have to meander through queues and intense heat to be served, requests are processed within seconds after the signal is received in mobile banking. The location of the customer does not matter either as long as there is network receptivity and the customer has the required type of mobile device for particular applications (Mallat et al 44). Generally, all phones support the SMS application – the most used in mobile banking. It is therefore safe to argue that mobile banking has the obvious advantage of superior performance as customers spend minimal time performing financial transactions. Level of Penetration/ Coverage Worldwide fi gures suggest the rate of mobile devices uptake has more than quadrupled in the last couple of years. According to a new UN report, an estimated 60% of the world’s population has access to a mobile phone. This is equivalent to 4.1 billion people (Bhatti para. 1). Such a high penetration rate can not only assist nations to further their economic agenda, but it can also be harnessed by private institutions such as banks to expand their customer base by reaching out to the millions of subscribers using this telecommunication technology. This is the essence of mobile banking – the capacity to reach millions of people in diverse locations around the world due to high penetration level of mobile devices. An estimated 70% of the entire connections in the Middle East have been concentrated in Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. By 2007, the average market penetration for mobile phones in the three countries stood at 67 % (Blain para. 1). According to the revelations above, it is sa fe to assume that the backbone on which mobile banking is founded has already been secured. Adoption of Mobile Banking Despite the many advantages presented by mobile banking in the modern era, the rate of adoption in many parts of the world has remained predominantly low. For instance, although most leading banking institutions in Europe offers the services, only 5% of individuals with SMS and internet enabled phones use them at present (Ensor et al para. 1). The clientele of mobile banking services in many parts of the world, including the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa tend to be homogenous – â€Å"young, technology-savvy males with above-average incomes who already bank online† (Ensor et al para 1). Generally, customers use their mobile devices to perform simple transactions lack balance checks, account withdrawal and deposit histories, and SMS alerts. Non-users argue that Mobile banking has no quantifiable benefits, while others are t aken aback that such a service exists. This reveals the weaknesses of the strategies used to market mobile banking to potential customers. A significant number of people cite security concerns. In this perspective, according to Ensor, the solution is for banking institutions offering the service to undertake aggressive campaigns and widen awareness for simple, cost-effective, and timely mobile banking applications among young, enterprising, and technology-savvy adults. The figure below reveals how Mobile banking is limited in scope. Figure 1: Reasons for Using Mobile Banking Source: Forrester Research, Inc (2007) The Saudi Arabia Experience It is difficult to come up with comparative figures on mobile banking in the Middle East in general and Saudi Arabia in particular. This is one of the factors that shaped the objectives of this research – to come up with insightful data that can be used by industry-wide experts in directing mobile phone activities in the country. What is known for now is that mobile phone usage in Saudi Arabia have drastically increased over the last couple of years, with 79.5% of Saudis already using mobile telephony by 2006 (BMI 23). That notwithstanding, the rate of technology uptake in the provisions of financial services has not been that promising. Undeniably, the Kingdom is still lagging behind in internet banking, the predecessor of mobile banking, with projections showing that although 73% of the financial institutions have an active website, only 25% of the websites have the capacity to offer full banking services (Jasimuddin para. 1). An attention-grabbing aspect of Saudi banking, and indeed the Middle Eastern banking is Islamic banking. According to the teachings of Islam, no Muslim is allowed to receive interest accruing from bank deposits. According to Islamic banking principles, such funds are centralized within a financial institution and then the resources are used to fund a community project or any other form of in vestment (Saudi Arabia para. 3). The returns accrued from the investment are then shared out according to input. Such a system may have considerable ramifications on the growth of mobile banking in the country. According to this document, a considerable number of banks â€Å"†¦provide mobile banking facilities for outlying villages and remote areas† (para. 5). Methodology Introduction The objective of this particular study was to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. To meet the stated objective, comprehensive methodologies grounded on the basic tenets of a marketing research were formulated for purposes of collecting the requisite data that could be sufficiently used to answer the study’s basic research questions while assuring unsurpassed reliability and validity. According to McQuarrie, a marketing research can be described as the methodical collection, recording, and analysis of information or data about issues or phenom ena relating to marketing of goods or services (26). This chapter describes the design for the market research survey, the theoretical framework, and the analysis of the study population and sample size. The techniques used to collect data, and issues of validity and reliability are also mentioned in this chapter. Research Design The marketing research employed a quantitative research design to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. In most occasions, the aim of a quantitative research design is to evaluate the association between an independent variable and a dependent variable, and is therefore either descriptive or experimental (Hopkins para. 1). This study made use of a quantitative research design since the subjects – banking institutions operating in Saudi Arabia – were measured once through conjoint analysis. According to McQuarrie, a conjoint analysis is a tool used in market research to evaluate how individuals value and perceive different characteristics that make up a distinct product or service, in this case mobile banking (102). Its main objective is to evaluate the limited number of characteristics that are most significant on an individual’s choice of a product or service. It is noteworthy to state that this study utilized internet survey technique to gather the required data needed for purposes of answering key research questions. According to Sekaran, a survey has the capacity to gather requisite information needed to assess association between various variables by way of self-report since the study subjects can respond to the questions posed using technology protocols such as the internet, VOIP, or email (76). Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework, according to Sekaran, â€Å"is a conceptual model of how one theorizes and makes logical sense of the relationship among the several factors that have been identified as important to the problem† (p. 87). It must map out and connect the various interrelationships that exist between different sets of variables or phenomena perceived to outline an indispensable constituent to the situational dynamics under study. Based on the objectives of this particular study, the mobile banking sector in Saudi Arabia became the dependent variable, while a multiplicity of factors such as security, convenience, reasonable costs, better performance, level of penetration, and marketing potential formed the independent variables. Consequently, a conceptual model aimed at guiding the study was structured. It is depicted by the figure below. The Target Population and Sample The target population for this market research was limited to financial institutions offering banking services in Saudi Arabia. It is imperative to note that the survey did not limit itself to any particular region of the Kingdom since it was internet-based. Sekaran posits that a target population is inclusive of all components – subjects, article s, objects, and animals – that meet the set criteria for inclusion in a research study (85). In this perspective, the researcher employed the services of Google online to come up with a list of 80 banking and financial institutions operating in the Kingdom. Using the rule of the thumb, 50 banking institutions were sampled from the list, and requests sent via email to their respective heads of customer care enquiring their interest to take part in the survey. 10 banks declined, but the others gave a positive response. Before the invitation letters were dispatched via email, the researcher had developed a rubric for use in selecting a sample that will exhibit a good understanding of the issues at hand. To be selected for the study, all subjects, in this case banking institutions, must have operated in Saudi Arabia for a period not less than 5 years. No limitation was put on the types of products and services offered by the banks. But to meet the standards for selection, the ban ks were expected to be open to all age categories, not to particular segments or age-groups. Lastly, the banks were expected to give a guarantee that the online questionnaires were to be duly filled by the heads of product development or their assistants in the respective banks Data Collection Tools Primary data for the internet survey was done through administration of online questionnaires while secondary data was collected through a critical review of related literature. According to Sekaran, a questionnaire is basically a printed self-report exclusively employed to generate information or data obtained through written responses (102). Questionnaires are best suited to collect data in studies revolving around descriptive quantitative research designs as they are exhaustive in response and easily understandable. Questionnaires are also able to attain high response rate, take minimal time to complete, guarantees anonymity to the identity of respondents, and present an insignificant chance for prejudice since they are offered in a consistent manner. Consequently, the data or information obtainable through the administration of the questionnaire to subjects is more or less comparable in nature and scope to that acquired by a key informant interview (Sekaran 104). Secondary data for the study was gathered through a critical review of related literature. The review of literature was necessarily imperative since the research was interested in evaluating a relatively new concept in the market – mobile banking. According to May, the practice of reviewing relevant literature forms a good source of data as it â€Å"†¦represents a reflection of reality† (182). Reliability and Validity Reliability can be defined as the rate of consistency or uniformity with which the tools used to collect data are able to measure the variables or phenomena that they are intended to measure (May 108). The questionnaire developed for the purposes of collecting data thro ugh online protocols exposed outstanding consistencies in the way the respondents understood and responded to the questions. Ample guidance on how to fill the questionnaire had been dispatched beforehand to the subjects to curtail chances of data collector’s error. This ensured reliability of data collected. The bank representatives in the internet survey were also reassured on their own privacy online, enabling them to offer full-length information. Validity describes the rate or degree to which a particular data collection tool is able to measure or assess the phenomenon or variable that it had been set to measure (May 110). Accordingly, the questions included in the data gathering instrument had been thoroughly researched to ensure their capacity to measure the intended objectives in the most effective and consistent manner. The questions were set based on the review of related literature to ensure validity. Also, the questionnaire was set using simple language to ensure t he questions were understandable to the subjects. This ensured clarity in response, and hence boosted validity. Subsequently, the results arising from this study can be generalized to the study population. Data Analysis After the questionnaire were sent back from the field via email, quantitative data was cleaned, coded and entered into SPSS, a statistical software package. The data were then analyzed through descriptive statistics such as frequencies and cross-tabulations to enhance effective interpretation of results. The techniques of choice modelling were used to direct the process of harnessing the data into meaningful interpretations. According to McQuarrie, choice modelling endeavours to mould the decision-making procedures of a person or a segment of a population in a particular context (154). Afterwards, the resulting frequencies and percentages were harnessed, interpreted and presented in various forms, including text and figures developed using Microsoft’s Ms Excel . Qualitative data generated by the unstructured questions were coded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to assist in quantifying emerging features, trends, and concepts. Sekaran explains qualitative content analysis as a statistical procedure utilized to methodically code and analyze answers that were given in either verbal or written communication to facilitate the quantitative measurement of variables. Results Introduction This particular study was interested in evaluating the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. The results were both insightful and interesting, and provided significant information and data that can be used by service providers, marketers, and mobile device manufacturers in a concerted effort to penetrate different market segments of the society. Mobile banking had experienced a low adoption rate, not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in other countries such as the US, Britain, Canada, Italy and France (Ensor et al 2). Howeve r, by the turn of the new decade, the market had started to warm up to this new banking channel, with the affluent working, technology-savvy young adults forming the largest proportion of the consumers of the new technology. Of the 50 banking institutions selected for the study, 10 turned down the request citing administrative and business concerns. It is therefore essential to note that this market research study attained 80% response rate. The statement of results from the field data will be presented in this section, followed by a broad discussion of the results based on the study objectives and propositions. Statement of Results 72% of all the banks included in the study offered some form of mobile banking product, while 40% of those who didn’t said they were piloting the service, anticipating rolling it out in the near future. Only 25% of those who didn’t offer the services felt that it offered no tangible benefits to Saudis, with another 20% of the banks lacking mobile banking arguing that it was quite difficult to sell the concept in the Kingdom due to religious connotations. The statistics reveals a multifaceted interplay between socio-cultural values and the channels of marketing, discussed comprehensively in the analysis section. Generally, over two-thirds (67.8%) banks have been transacting business in the Kingdom for the last 30 years. Uptake of the technology was however an issue of concern for many banking institutions, with only a partly 12% of them reporting that over 30% of their customers depended on mobile banking. Many heads of product development taking part in this particular study could not really understand the situational and marketing dynamics behind the slow uptake of mobile banking in the Kingdom as over half (54%) said they had conducted intensive campaigns to market the product through print and electronic media yet the rate of adoption remained relatively low. Majority of the banking institutions were in agreement t hat less than 10% of their clients depended on the new technology. The rest of the distribution is revealed in the figure below. Figure 3: Percentage Number of Customers Depending on Mobile Banking In the conjoint analysis, a clear relationship existed between the age factor and mobile banking. When requested to accurately indicate the ages of customers with mobile banking accounts through documentation, it was revealed that over 80% of mobile account holders were below the age of 30. Only 5% of the customers with mobile accounts were above 40 years of age. This again points to the need for marketers to consider the age factor while marketing their products and services so that they do not expend limited organizational resources marketing products and services to the wrong segment of the market. The statistics appeals more to the dynamics of market segmentation. Security issues topped the reasons why these new technology had failed to break the ice in Saudi Arabia as it was cited b y an overwhelming 72% of the banking professionals who took part in the internet survey. According to the review of related literature, security concerns topped the list of concerns as to why the market had failed to respond positively to mobile banking technology despite its many benefits. Lack of effective communication channels between the banks and the customers was also an issue of major concern to 44% of the professionals taking part in the survey since they felt that banking institutions were not working overboard to market the technology despite the usual production of pamphlets, which customers never cared to read even after picking them. Lack of effective and aggressive marketing strategies to boost the product in the local market scene was selected by 36% of the banking professionals as the major reason why the adoption level for mobile banking had been slow. These two revelations points to the need for banking institutions to have effective marketing and communication st rategies. Religious indoctrination and failure to offer authentic banking experience were selected by 32% and 26% of the subjects respectively. The rest of the distribution is captured in the figure below. Figure 4: Reasons for Slow Adoption Levels for Mobile Banking An overwhelming 88% of the banking professionals whose banks had already initiated mobile banking services felt that the technology had more potential of marketing the products offered by their respective banks than any other financial transaction channel on offer so far. 68% of the respondents whose banks did not offer mobile banking services agreed with their counterparts that mobile banking has the most capability of marketing other products offered by banking institutions judging by the high penetration of mobile handsets in Saudi Arabia. Only 8 % of the entire sample felt that customers never cared to read advertisements messages sent directly into their phones by banking institutions. However, the general underst anding was that mobile handsets were becoming important mediums for advertisement, and as such, they could be effectively used by financial institutions to market their range of products and services to their customers According to the study findings, mobile banking in Saudi Arabia is used to perform uncomplicated financial transactions such as requests for bank balances (64%), requests for transaction histories (46%), airtime loading (38%), alerts on large payments or bank deficits (36%), and paying bills (24%). This coincides with the scenario depicted in the review of related literature that mobile banking has not mutated into a serious channel of banking although all indicators suggest that it is headed to become the preferred mode of banking in the future. On aggregate, 78% of customers with mobile accounts use Short Messaging Service (SMS) for their financial transactions while the rest use mobile internet or downloadable programs. Two-thirds of the respondents were satisfied that the Saudi kingdom was doing enough to stimulate growth in the industry through offering incentives for growth such as tax breaks. 76% of the banking professionals said they were happy with the Saudi kingdom for allowing the business environment to be guided by the principles of free market economy rather than government interference as it is the case in many Islamic nations. This, according to the banking professionals, had spurred considerable growth in the banking fraternity in general and in mobile banking in particular. Lastly, majority of the subjects felt that that mobile banking had an immense potential for growth, and it was indeed headed in the right direction. Indeed, 52% of the subjects were positive that mobile banking will overtake other banking channels such as branch, ATM and online services by 2015 due to its capacity to penetrate the most remote areas of the country. Other factors that will play a significant role in the technology’s projected growth inc lude accessibility and ease of use, affordability, high coverage, convenience and security. The distribution is best captured in the figure below. Figure 5: Major Growth Influences in Mobile Banking Analysis and Discussion This study had been commenced to evaluate the factors that affect usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Several issues stood out from the study findings that confounded the argument that Saudi Arabia’s mobile banking sector was ready for take off, but was still been faced by a multiplicity of challenges. This is expected since mobile banking is a relatively new concept. The researcher had formulated 3 research questions and a similar number of hypotheses to guide the study process. The analysis of the results based on the key study questions is presented below. According to Allen, the decision of an organization to enter into a new business area is always a challenging one to make due to the multifaceted factors implicated â€Å"and the uncertainties o f predicting future events† (22). Before entry into a particular market segment, many organizations undertake a critical evaluation of the financial gains expected, and when the economic gains will finally be attained. In the same vein, only few organizations are willing to invest massive financial resources for long-term benefits. In many countries, including Saudi Arabia, mobile banking is viewed as a long-term investment, expected to churn out profits and assert itself in the market some 5-10 years to come. This is the major reason why many Saudi banks, according to the study results, developed cold feet on rolling out the technology – financial returns were not expected anytime soon. Influence of social-cultural and religious values in marketing of the mobile banking product; age factor and the dynamics of market segmentation; and security fears have actively played a role in hindering the adoption of mobile banking in the country. Many financial institutions adhere to the principles of Islamic banking, a form of banking that curtails receiving of interests accruing from bank deposits (Saudi Arabia para. 3). The socio-economic and religious values shape personal values, which in turn affects customer attitudes and behaviour towards a particular product or service (Vinson 44). Consequently, adoption levels for mobile banking in Saudi Arabia will remain low if socio-cultural and religious values practiced imply that the product goes against their own fabric. According to industry trends, mobile banking is mostly embraced by the affluent, technology-savvy working young adults with incomes that are on the higher end (Ensor et al 2). According to the study results, this was not factored in when conducting advertisement campaigns in Saudi Arabia, and hence the slow take off. Experts are of the opinion that no single organization can actively be able to satisfy the needs and requirements of all customers since the requirements changes with age (†Å"Learn Marketing† para. 1). In this perspective, a more market-focussed approach may be needed to increase adoption levels. Security-wise, customers are cautious about the prospects of hackers gaining access to confidential financial information. In case of theft, all what the thief needs is a PIN to gain access to the customer’s finances (Herzberg 54). According to the study results, lack of effective communication and marketing channels between the bank and customers, failure to offer authentic banking experience, and failure to grow past simple financial transactions has also negatively affected the growth of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Effective communication and strategic marketing goes hand-in-hand if any product or service is to penetrate a particular segment of the market (Schultz et al 19). During their marketing campaigns, the financial institutions failed to instil the concept that mobile banking is still a form of banking. As such, many customers want t o see the inside of the banking halls to believe that they are indeed transacting business activities. The noise that mobile banking has been unable to break loose from performing small and often insignificant transactions has been reverberated across the world, not only in Saudi Arabia. From the study, it is clearly evident that mobile banking deals with small transactions such as checking account balances, Receiving accounts alerts, reviewing recent transactions, transferring money between individual accounts, and paying bills. A study conducted in Europe to evaluate the impact of mobile banking in 7 European countries – Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Spain, UK, and Germany – also came up with similar reasons (Ensor et al 6). On the brighter side, Saudi Arabia’s mobile banking sector has real prospects for growth in the coming years. According to experts, mobile banking is destined to become the preferred marketing channel by 2015 (Stewart 16). In a 2009 worldwide survey to generate the views and attitudes on mobile banking in all the continents, 60 % of respondents in the Middle East said their financial institutions offered mobile banking services against 71% in Latin America and 31% in North America (Cocheo para. 2). By 2006, an estimated 79.5% of Saudi residents had access to a mobile device, the primary medium used in mobile banking. These statistics reveals a sector of the market economy that can achieve monumental growth if the right mix of ideas and stimulants for growth are all incorporated in the right proportions. According to the study, some of the positive factors that may affect the usage and uptake of mobile banking in the Kingdom include: accessibility; immense marketing potential; high penetration level; superior performance; low charges; convenience; enhanced security; and market-friendly incentives and regulations by the Saudi kingdom. Indeed, Herzberg posits that the mobile handsets have revolutionalized banking transactions by presenting customers the convenience and security desirous of their banking experience (53). From the above discussion, it is safe to ague that all the study hypotheses have been proved right. Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions This study had been commissioned to evaluate the factors that affect the usage of mobile banking in Saudi Arabia. Towards this objective, an internet based market research survey was conducted, using heads of product development of selected financial institutions as the study subjects. The study revealed that although Saudi Arabia had a huge potential for growth in mobile banking, various forces and challenges kept holding the process back. Some of the most pertinent issues revealed after the initial data analysis and interpretation include: social-cultural values and religion; age factor and the dynamics of market segmentation; security issues; lack of effective communication channels among the banking staff and their customers; inad equate marketing strategies; and failure by banking institutions to offer authentic banking experience to customers According to the study results, the banking industry in Saudi Arabia is however bound to change drastically in the coming years due to mobile banking. The service has many benefits that can be transferred to customers, which includes accessibility, security functions, convenience, affordability, high penetration rate, and huge potential in marketing. These are value-added benefits that customers will be able to enjoy in the future if the mobile banking trend moves in the right direction. So far, mobile banking is overwhelmingly used by young affluent adults. It is just a matter of time before the full effects of the technology are felt across the world Recommendations Many recommendations can be suggested due to the fact that mobile banking is still in its infancy stage. However, the most important recommendation right now is for the financial institutions to segment t he market according to needs and requirements approach. Advertisements for products and services are a costly agenda for organizations across the world; but they become even costlier if they do not target the right audience since financial resources ends up been virtually wasted. Second, Banks that are already offering the service must step up their campaigns to ensure that all their customers know about the product. As it stands now, a huge proportion of individuals with bank accounts have no knowledge that mobile banking exists. Third, the Saudi Kingdom should be encouraged to offer more incentives to emerging technologies such as mobile banking and e-commerce, especially when such technologies can be effectively used to spur economic growth and enhance the welfare of mankind. Future Research Areas Further research is needed to come up with the reasons as to why customers prefer to perform simple transactions in mobile banking unlike in other traditional banking channels such as b ranch and ATM. 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