世論 What Japan Thinks

With the release of the Apple iPhone 3GS on the 26th of June 2009, goo Research immediately conducted a survey into the iPhone, the results of which have been reported on japan.internet.com.

Demographics

Between the 26th and 29th of June 2009 1,036 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 16.5% in their teens, 18.1% in their twenties, 21.3% in their thirties, 16.3% in their forties, 15.7% in their fifties, and 12.0% aged sixty or older.

There was an interesting story recently on Asiajin (and other places) about how the iPhone 3GS popped up into first place in the sales rankings on release. Although there was discussion about the validity of the ranking, what was missed out was the Blackberry Bold being in 6th place, an extremely dubious positioning in my view. Looking further at the list of companies they survey for the sales figures, they do not survey the official carrier’s own shops, which in my view makes the data extremely inaccurate.

Looking at the charms of the iPhone, the big, big surprise for me is that the browser comes so low! If I were to get one, that would be the one function I would be purchasing it for.

Research results

Q1: Do you know of the new iPhone 3GS? (Sample size=1,036)

Know it well (to SQ1)	7.1%
Know a bit about it (to SQ1)	20.4%
Just heard the name (to SQ1)	42.2%
Don’t know it	30.3%

Q1SQ1: Would you want to buy an iPhone 3GS? (Sample size=722)

Already bought it (to SQ2)	0.4%
Signed a contract but not got it yet (to SQ2)	0.1%
Definitely want it (to SQ2)	6.8%
Want it (to SQ2)	23.0%
Don’t really want it	46.4%
Don’t want it at all	15.4%
Can’t say either way	7.9%

Q1SQ2: What features of the iPhone 3GS do you feel are attractive? (Sample size=219, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Touch panel functionality	131	59.8%
Faster than the iPhone 3G	128	58.4%
More memory than the iPhone 3G	97	44.3%
Lots of applications	97	44.3%
Can take, edit, and share video	77	35.2%
Music playback, music purchase	75	34.2%
Design	67	30.6%
Horizontal keyboard for email, etc	62	28.3%
Apple, iPhone brand	46	21.0%
Sound functions (voice control, playback management)	44	20.1%
Browser functions	44	20.1%
Electronic compass	36	16.4%
MMS (attaching media to SMS)	20	9.1%
Other	6	2.7%