Mobile phone app usage in Japan
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Almost all phones in Japan these days can download applications in one form or another, so this survey from goo Research, reported on by japan.internet.com, looked at the use of mobile applications.
Demographics
Between the 28th and 31st of October 2009 1,071 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.6% of the sample were male, 16.3% in their teens, 18.2% in their twenties, 21.7% in their thirties, 15.9% in their forties, 15.8% in their fifties, and 12.1% aged sixty or older.
The original Japanese article headlined the story with “Over half of iPhone users use applications daily”, but there was only 36 owners, or 3.7%, in the sample, so the main focus will be on the standard Japanese Java-based world.
In Q3, don’t ask me what the difference between a simulator and a simulation is!
Research results
First of all, 828 people, or 77.3%, had mobile phones that supported some form of downloadable applications. They were asked the following.
Q1: About how often do you use applications on your mobile phone? (Sample size=828)
Almost every day 19.0% Once every two or three days 14.6% Once a week 13.5% Once or twice a month 12.7% Once every two or three months 4.7% Once every six months 2.9% Once a year 1.7% Just tried some out 18.1% Never used any 12.8% Now, all bar the 12.8% who have never applications were asked the next question.
Q2: What kinds of applications have you used? (Sample size=722, multiple answer)
Votes Percentage Game 540 74.8% 292 40.4% Maps 289 40.0% Bar code, QR code reader 247 34.2% Wallpaper 195 27.0% Navigation 189 26.2% Clock 188 26.0% Electronic cash-related 180 24.9% Dictionary 170 23.5% Expenses 169 23.4% News 163 22.6% Tool 139 19.3% Remote control 89 12.3% Full browser 87 12.0% Electronic book 84 11.6% Music-related 83 11.5% Internet banking 80 11.1% Fortune telling 53 7.3% Messenger 39 5.4% Stocks, foreign exchange 37 5.1% Other 17 2.4% Next, the 981 mobile phone owners were asked what kinds of applications they would like to see more of. 284 people, or 29.0% said games, 22.6% said maps, 21.5% navigation, 20.4% dictionaries.
Finally, the same 981 were asked the following.
Q3: What kinds of game applications would you like to see more of? (Sample size=981, multiple answer)
Votes Percentage Tetris, Puyo-Puyo, etc 248 25.3% Puzzle 204 20.8% RPG 142 14.5% Quiz 136 13.9% Table game, card game 115 11.7% Simulation 103 10.5% Go, shogi, mahjongg, chess, etc 101 10.3% Online game 54 5.5% Adventure 49 5.0% Sports 45 4.6% Simulator 45 4.6% Action 43 4.4% Shooting 39 4.0% Racing 33 3.4% Typing 24 2.4% Adult 22 2.2% FPS 18 1.8% War game 16 1.6% Other 4 0.4% None in particular, don’t know 451 46.0%
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Does this include standard applications on the phone or is it only downloaded apps?
My guess is “simulator” is things like driving simulators and flight simulators. “Simulation” would be Simcity and the like.
Janne, I believe it includes also the pre-installed applications that come under the iAppli menu on docomo phones, for instance. Thanks for the explanation of simulator versus simulation – I think it makes sense!