Comments on: Foreign mobile phones interest less than one in fifty Japanese http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/ From kimono to keitai; research Japanese facts and figures through translated opinion polls and surveys. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:32:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Japan cell phone upgrade needs » 世論 What Japan Thinks http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-32720 Japan cell phone upgrade needs » 世論 What Japan Thinks Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:42:37 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-32720 [...] In this survey there was no questions regarding Apple’s iPhone, but it is interesting to note in Q3 that only 4% spend more than 30,000 yen on a new phone, or around US$250, half the cost of iPhone in the USA, although comparing sticker prices is potentially misleading as Japanese phones tend to be subsidised by the carrier, and they recoup their losses through the monthly bills. In Q4, over a third say they want Windows Mobile, although I strongly suspect that not many of them actually know what that means, as previous surveys have shown little interest in SmartPhones. [...] […] In this survey there was no questions regarding Apple’s iPhone, but it is interesting to note in Q3 that only 4% spend more than 30,000 yen on a new phone, or around US$250, half the cost of iPhone in the USA, although comparing sticker prices is potentially misleading as Japanese phones tend to be subsidised by the carrier, and they recoup their losses through the monthly bills. In Q4, over a third say they want Windows Mobile, although I strongly suspect that not many of them actually know what that means, as previous surveys have shown little interest in SmartPhones. […]

]]> By: Ken Y-N http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6173 Ken Y-N Mon, 13 Nov 2006 13:19:39 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6173 Thanks for the extra info, Mark! Since translating that survey, I've learnt a bit more about the future market. I also realise that, yes, the WZERO is moderately popular. DoCoMo does have a rebadged Blackberry coming out next year, and they also have the M1000 from Motorola in the current line-up, but I've never seen it on the shelves. Thanks for the extra info, Mark! Since translating that survey, I’ve learnt a bit more about the future market. I also realise that, yes, the WZERO is moderately popular. DoCoMo does have a rebadged Blackberry coming out next year, and they also have the M1000 from Motorola in the current line-up, but I’ve never seen it on the shelves.

]]> By: Mark http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6169 Mark Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:51:10 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6169 I forgot to add the rebadged smartphone - HTC handsets (also Windows Mobile) being sold by Softbank. DoCoMo MAY provide more support for Blackberry in the future. I forgot to add the rebadged smartphone - HTC handsets (also Windows Mobile) being sold by Softbank.

DoCoMo MAY provide more support for Blackberry in the future.

]]> By: Mark http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6168 Mark Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:48:05 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-6168 I beg to differ. Wilcom in Japan has been marketing a range of smartphones using PDA handsets produced by Sharp ( WZERO line) . The Zaurus can be used with a PHS card and headset, but it is not a very elegant solution. Contrary to popular belief (outside Japan), early adoption of new technology is not so widely adopted if there is a learning curve or they need to read a thick user manual. This is solely the province of those who regularly frequent the electronics districts of Japan. DoCoMo and KDDI will soon follow the smartphone route, depending on market forces, manufacturer tie-ups and existing partner relations. I beg to differ. Wilcom in Japan has been marketing a range of smartphones using PDA handsets produced by Sharp ( WZERO line) . The Zaurus can be used with a PHS card and headset, but it is not a very elegant solution. Contrary to popular belief (outside Japan), early adoption of new technology is not so widely adopted if there is a learning curve or they need to read a thick user manual. This is solely the province of those who regularly frequent the electronics districts of Japan.

DoCoMo and KDDI will soon follow the smartphone route, depending on market forces, manufacturer tie-ups and existing partner relations.

]]> By: Ken Y-N http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-4947 Ken Y-N Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:45:08 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-4947 That's a very good question! In my opinion, a Smartphone is a phone plus PDA capabilities, such as either a full keyboard or pen-based input, a big screen, WiFi, etc. A couple of the 902 series do things like PDF viewers and full browsers (not the cut down effort in most phones), but you'd have to add something like a word processor, full email client and flexible input to be really called a Smartphone. It is a hard sell in Japan given that most phones come already stocked with scheduler, internet email and the like, though, and that none of the Japanese companies seem to offer one. Sharp are big in PDAs with their Zaurus, but they've never tried merging the two devices. That’s a very good question! In my opinion, a Smartphone is a phone plus PDA capabilities, such as either a full keyboard or pen-based input, a big screen, WiFi, etc. A couple of the 902 series do things like PDF viewers and full browsers (not the cut down effort in most phones), but you’d have to add something like a word processor, full email client and flexible input to be really called a Smartphone.

It is a hard sell in Japan given that most phones come already stocked with scheduler, internet email and the like, though, and that none of the Japanese companies seem to offer one. Sharp are big in PDAs with their Zaurus, but they’ve never tried merging the two devices.

]]> By: Japan Now & Then Owner http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-4931 Japan Now & Then Owner Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:25:02 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/09/01/foreign-mobile-phones-interest-less-than-one-in-fifty-japanese/#comment-4931 What is a smartphone? And, does it do anything Japanese cell phones don't already do? What is a smartphone? And, does it do anything Japanese cell phones don’t already do?

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