世論 What Japan Thinks

With Skype already available on many smartphone, and indeed with Japan’s second-largest carrier, au, now preloading it onto many phones, this survey from goo Research looks at awareness of Skype and other associated issues.

Demographics

Between the 12th and 17th of November 2010 1,070 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 16.2% in their teens, 18.3% in their twenties, 21.8% in their thirties, 16.1% in their forties, 15.4% in their fifties, and 12.2% aged sixty or older.

In Q2, I’m not sure if people were fully aware that Skype to Skype may be free (excluding packet charges), but Skype to non-Skype mobile phones requires payment. Furthermore, in Japan public wireless is rather thin on the ground, so even if the majority of mobile phones in Japan have it installed, calls are still going to have to be paid for more often than not.

Research results

Q1: Do you know Skype? (Sample size=1,070)

Yes, and have used it	28.4% (to SQ)
Yes, but haven’t used it	37.0%
No	34.6%

Q1SQ: On what kinds of devices have you used Skype? (Sample size=304, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Desktop computer	161	53.0%
Notebook computer	158	52.0%
Smartphone	34	11.2%
Netbook	14	4.6%
Other	10	3.3%

The next question was for the 412 people who knew about the availability of Skype for mobile devices.

Q2: With Skype for iPhone, Skype au, etc appearing, there are rumours that mobile phone voice calls will become free. Do you think that this will happen? (Sample size=412)

Definitely will happen	17.5%
Will happen to some degree	49.5%
Won’t really happen	26.5%
Definitely will not happen	4.4%
Can’t say	2.2%