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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the factors that influence the acceptance and use of mobile casual games. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model is proposed based on the theory of reasonable action, the uses and gratifications theory, the network externalities (NEs) paradigm and the human–computer interaction literature. An empirical study was conducted through an online survey of mobile casual gamers in Spain, using a convenience sample. The proposed model was tested by an analysis of the collected data through a structural equation model using the partial least squares method. Findings The results indicate that human–mobile game interaction and NEs have a significant indirect impact on intention to play (IP), through utilitarian, hedonic and relational motivations. In addition, the full mediation effect of attitude was found between these constructs and IP, which is a very important determinant of actual use. Originality/value This study is among the few that focuses on users’ acceptance of mobile games apps, the features of which differ significantly from personal computer and console games. It highlights the effects of human–game interaction and NEs on the adoption of mobile casual games. Hence, the study contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of the factors that lead users to adopt an entertainment mobile application.

Purpose Due to the advances in smartphones, many companies in the tourism industry have launched mobile applications intended to reach their target audience. Design of these smartphone strategies requires identification of the profiles of individuals that use tourism services. The purpose of this paper is to explore the predictors of smartphone use for travel planning. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this goal, the authors carried out a hierarchical segmentation analysis selecting a group of different socio-demographic (gender, age, education level, marital status, occupation, and income) and behavioral (length of smartphone use and number of yearly leisure trips) variables to explain the use of these devices to search and book tourism products. The study is based on an online survey of 618 Spanish travelers. Findings Smartphone use for tourism can be primarily explained according to the users’ degree of daily experience of mobile phone internet use. That is, a spillover effect can be identified from the context of everyday mobile phone use to travel planning. Age, gender and the number of yearly vacations can also be distinguished, to a certain degree, through the use of smartphones. Specifically, there is an inverted U-shape quadratic relationship between the variable of age and the behavior of a potential tourist. Originality/value The authors conducted a segmentation study selecting a series of different socio-demographic and behavioral variables with the greatest discriminant power to explain the use of these mobile devices for travel planning. The paper concludes with compelling implications for management.