A systematic literature review and analysis on mobile apps in m-commerce: Implications for future research

•A critical and systematic review was conducted on studies of mobile apps published between 2009–2018 in the business journals listed in the Journal Citation Reports.•The studies of mobile apps were analyzed in terms of streams of research, contexts, and key findings.•Mobile apps were conceptualized in terms of values, functions and business models.•Literature gaps and managerial insights were highlighted for further scholarly works and practical reference. The use of mobile applications (apps) continues to grow. The literature on mobile apps is accumulating along with this growth, but the streams of research are still highly inconsistent and fragmented. A comprehensive and succinct review is needed that would help scholars and practitioners understand (a) the adoption of current mobile apps and (b) consumers’ motivations, attitudes and behavior towards mobile apps. This study aims to organize and classify literature on mobile apps in m-commerce and assess the state of the art in order to facilitate future research. Content categorization was conducted on studies of mobile apps published between 2009 and 2018 in the business journals listed in the Journal Citation Reports. They were then analyzed in accordance with a systematic review approach involving interpretation-based assessment of the research methodology and key findings of these studies. Future research directions are also suggested for managerial and academic implications.