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3G iPhone in Japan?
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Unless you live in Japan, anyway.
Seriously, have you ever tried installing a third-party appli on a Japanese phone? I mean, there are hundreds (thousands?) of free games and other appli available out there, but not ONE of them can be installed on a Japanese keitai. The only ones you can install are the ones that are available for a fee through the carrier's portal service. And when I say 'for a fee' I'm not of course referring to the cost of data transfer, but to the Y300-500 fee charged per game, in addition to the cost of data transfer.
Japanese phones may have lots of great features that can only be used in Japan (one-seg, Felica, etc) but the iPhone absolutely SLAUGHTERS all of them when it comes to usability and design. Not to mention those things people overseas probably take for granted, like the ability to send/recieve REAL email (IMAP/POP) instead of SMS/MMS only (what I would give to be able to check my real email from my cell phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!!!!!) ... The iPhone will do well in Japan, of that I have no doubt. The only thing they'll really need to work on is the Japanese input method, and possibly offering OTA iTunes access (since a lot of Japanese don't actually have their own computers) ...
Unless you live in Japan, anyway.
Seriously, have you ever tried installing a third-party appli on a Japanese phone? I mean, there are hundreds (thousands?) of free games and other appli available out there, but not ONE of them can be installed on a Japanese keitai. The only ones you can install are the ones that are available for a fee through the carrier's portal service. And when I say 'for a fee' I'm not of course referring to the cost of data transfer, but to the Y300-500 fee charged per game, in addition to the cost of data transfer.
Japanese phones may have lots of great features that can only be used in Japan (one-seg, Felica, etc) but the iPhone absolutely SLAUGHTERS all of them when it comes to usability and design. Not to mention those things people overseas probably take for granted, like the ability to send/recieve REAL email (IMAP/POP) instead of SMS/MMS only (what I would give to be able to check my real email from my cell phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!!!!!) ... The iPhone will do well in Japan, of that I have no doubt. The only thing they'll really need to work on is the Japanese input method, and possibly offering OTA iTunes access (since a lot of Japanese don't actually have their own computers) ...
Yes, I agree the cost of the applis for keitai are expensive, but their quality tend to be better than the ones downloaded for free. They're nice feature to have nonetheless, and I appreciate them during long wait time or for a quick check of the local map with gps.
The IMAP/POP mail might be useful but do you really enjoy reading or typing long mails on the phone? I think the current combination of voice communication and short text messages are the best. And if you need to read or write long e-mails you can always fire up your keitai browser and go to your favorite e-mail site.. though the packet fees are so overpriced
To me the current iPhones are not mobile phones. It is an iPod with an ability to make calls. Sony Ericsson does it nicely in a sense that they manage to keep their device a phone and incorporate Walkman features well. I feel a little awkward making calls on an iPhone cause it would be like putting a music player against my ear. I would probably get one, I just hope I can adjust myself so I don't have to go and buy a headset just to make calls
Suica, Edy, and Nanaco are all based on FeliCa so there shouldn't be too much trouble there. The chip is pretty small and I am sure Apple will have space to fit one in an iPhone.
Okay, it may not be relevant to you fair enough, but it can't hurt Apple to include one in. It is really an essential feature of a keitai now. Besides a good share of iPhone users would be living in metropolis area.
Interesting post.
The iPhone isn't really like putting an MP3 player to your ear - mainly because I didn't have a touch first. I'd never felt or used an iPod with this functionality, so for me this is an amazing phone that replaced my iPod.
I wonder how text input will work in Japan. I currently input Japanese into my 1.1.1 firmware phone and it's not ideal. I type English faster than UK T9 input, but my Japanese is faster with the predictive Japanese input methods found in standard phones.
As for applications... the people with current iPhones cannot use different applications without jailbreaking the handset. When we get the SDK this discussion will open up further.
It's really interesting. Hopefully, by 2009 I will be in Japan anyway. Then I can get my hands on the latest SHARP mobile and be happy with my phone
Actually, I haven't sent a single email from my new iMac since I got my iPod Touch, I use it for email these days because I average about 40-50 words per minute on it (so it's nice and quick) and since I have it with me at all times I can reply to emails no matter where I am (although they aren't actually sent until I'm at home or at work) ... So to answer your question - no, I can't imagine a keitai being a good device to check email on. The iPhone, however - yeah - it's light years ahead of Japanese keitati when it comes to text entry and usability.
I think the current combination of voice communication and short text messages are the best. And if you need to read or write long e-mails you can always fire up your keitai browser and go to your favorite e-mail site.. though the packet fees are so overpriced
To me the current iPhones are not mobile phones. It is an iPod with an ability to make calls. Sony Ericsson does it nicely in a sense that they manage to keep their device a phone and incorporate Walkman features well. I feel a little awkward making calls on an iPhone cause it would be like putting a music player against my ear. I would probably get one, I just hope I can adjust myself so I don't have to go and buy a headset just to make calls
But Felica isn't used globally, in fact all of the cities with Felica systems are in Asia, with Japan obviously being the leader. Since Apple doesn't make market-specific products, I can't really see them including a Felica chip (or 1seg for that matter - again, Japan-only) ...
Wow. I've had 'the latest Sharp mobile' for years now (on my fourth Sharp now) and I can't WAIT for the iPhone to be launched here so I can dump this cheap POS phone. Haven't you noticed that the newest Sharp phones are still made of shiny plastic???? My phone feels so cheap compared to my iPod Touch (and I can only imagine, the iPhone) ... A plastic phone ... how tacky.Then I can get my hands on the latest SHARP mobile and be happy with my phone
One thing that I notice about cell phone users here in Japan, is most use their phones via one hand.
The iPhone seems to be a two handed phone for the most part.
I am curious for those of you who already have an iPhone, do you use it in two handed or one handed mode the majority of the time?
The iPhone seems to be a two handed phone for the most part.
I am curious for those of you who already have an iPhone, do you use it in two handed or one handed mode the majority of the time?
iPhone japanese input
I recently emailed a Japanese friend of mine about using the iPod Touch for this purpose... specifically the typing and he said he feels just as comfortable using the iPod as he does his (Japanese) cell phone.
So it would seem to me from several comments here that the 'difficulty' is assumed and nothing more.
I recently emailed a Japanese friend of mine about using the iPod Touch for this purpose... specifically the typing and he said he feels just as comfortable using the iPod as he does his (Japanese) cell phone.
ME: I was just wondering what your experience has been with typing in Japanese on your iPod Touch. Is it more difficult than typing in English ?
My Friend: No, it's easy to type in Japanese with iPod Touch. I feel the same thing when I type Japanese with my cellphone. (It means easy for me.)
My Friend: No, it's easy to type in Japanese with iPod Touch. I feel the same thing when I type Japanese with my cellphone. (It means easy for me.)
So it would seem to me from several comments here that the 'difficulty' is assumed and nothing more.
Wirelessly posted (iTouch 1.1.2 (JB'd): Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)
That's interesting. Two of my Japanese friends have told me that they find it relatively difficult to type in Japanese on the Touch, mainly because the conversion choices displayed are so tiny. Also, the Touch is kind of slow pulling up the conversions (try typing "tachikawa" and watch the Touch choke when it pulls up the kana and kanji after the first and second character) ...
I hope the speed of Japanese text entry doesn't put too many locals off, I'd really like to see the iPhone do well here (if only to guarantee that we get future models quickly!)
That's interesting. Two of my Japanese friends have told me that they find it relatively difficult to type in Japanese on the Touch, mainly because the conversion choices displayed are so tiny. Also, the Touch is kind of slow pulling up the conversions (try typing "tachikawa" and watch the Touch choke when it pulls up the kana and kanji after the first and second character) ...
I hope the speed of Japanese text entry doesn't put too many locals off, I'd really like to see the iPhone do well here (if only to guarantee that we get future models quickly!)
I don't think difficulty is assumed, it's just subjective.. I know more than a few people who are not happy with the current input when it comes to Japanese on the iPod touch.
Personally, it's not terrible but I don't think it's enough to replace the current cellphone keypad. The QWERTY keyboard was just not designed for such a small device and I find my finger has to move more frequently with this method. And ro-maji might be fine for full keyboards, but it doesn't really work with handheld devices with all the unneccessary moves.
But the thing that needs to be most improved is conversion to kanji. It might be okay for common ones but for others like some peoples names it's not too fun. I hope they add good custom conversion dictionary soon.
A dual-band 2100MHz/850MHz HSDPA handset with quad band EDGE will operate in all countries that Apple has a presence in worldwide. Only a single handset model is required from Apple.
In fact it will operate at 3.5G speeds in all of those countries too (as all of those countries have HSDPA networks deployed too) with EDGE fallback for some rural areas and international roaming.
This will come but it will take time.
FeliCa is a trademark for what has become a standard known as NFC.
Many of us will already be using NFC compliant cards for public transport and security passes in buildings.
The first step is Bluetooth 2.1 introducing touch-to-pair. This requires an NFC reader. However it's only an optional part of the spec and Apple hasn't adopted any of Bluetooth 2.1 yet.
FeliCa is a proprietary product developed by Sony --- a company that is well known to go their own way. It is not a standard accepted by any international means.
http://www.sony.net/Products/felica/abt/index.html
Absolutely agreed with this point. I think we often forget that as a 'prototype' to test the market, Apple has done a very fine job indeed with the iPhone.
I am confident that many of the short commings in the iPhone will be addressed imminently given that that mobile phone models have a life span of only 6 to 9 months these days. So a new model (with dual mode GSM 3G, Blackberry client, SIM applicaton took kit, BT 2.1, OTA upgrade, etc) must be only just round the corner. Cannot wait....
It would be interesting to see how DOCOMO and Apple will work together for an iPhone for Japan. Right now DOCOMO controls the user interface for all MOAP phones, right down to the menu tree/options/configuration. All manufacturers making MOAP phones must comply exactly to the standards. Unless DOCOMO is willing to change their business model to allow manufacturers to deviate from their own MOAP standards, or Apples conforms to the MOAP standards like everyone else, I cannot see how the iPhone deal with DOCOMO will work? How will DOCOMO change their business model without pissing off their long established partners like NEC, Panasonic, etc without 'losing face' would be very interesting for me.
My guess is that it will be (E)GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS (=W-CDMA) 850/2100 (including the +.5G speed-ups EDGE and HSDPA, of course), too.
Such a beast would not only work anywhere in the world using GSM and UMTS but would also be compatible with most 3G networks currently deployed: Most countries use UMTS 2100 for 3G, with 850 (and 1900) used in North and South America. So there would be at least one 3G network available in any country, except Chile, El Salvador and Honduras. Furthermore, there are already phones on the market that support exactly this, e.g. the Nokia 6120c.
I don't think Apple wants to make special models for individual markets, which rules out anything CDMA-based as well as PDC.
It also explains why Apple is talking to NTT and Softbank: These two operate UMTS 2100 networks in Japan, with NTT having a much better coverage.
Wirelessly posted (iTouch 1.1.2 (JB'd): Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)
That's interesting. Two of my Japanese friends have told me that they find it relatively difficult to type in Japanese on the Touch, mainly because the conversion choices displayed are so tiny. Also, the Touch is kind of slow pulling up the conversions (try typing "tachikawa" and watch the Touch choke when it pulls up the kana and kanji after the first and second character) ...
I hope the speed of Japanese text entry doesn't put too many locals off, I'd really like to see the iPhone do well here (if only to guarantee that we get future models quickly!)
Question...
How you type blindly on a iTouch? Is it even possible?
Often, I just tap my messages without looking at the keitai's keypad. あ,か,さ is fairly easy and the predictive text works wonders. you know what i mean? right?
The amount of compatible devices that consumers can readily buy for CDMA networks is 0. There's no point for Verizon to make that claim until they move onto 4G as they're part of the LTE camp, which means SIM cards, which means an open network will have relevenace and only then will it have relevance.
Just wondering if there has been any other info about this recently ... ? Don't know how much longer I can wait for a decent phone to be sold here ...
I'm thinking June
I haven't heard much recently, but I'm thinking in June we'll hear something. The version 2.0 update will come then and I figure so will some hardware updates. (And the hardware updates are what we'll need to get the thing flying in Japan.
I'm just hoping that whoever Apple goes with here has an affordable plan.... otherwise my wife'll shoot it down. I've been saving since the thing was announced and I'll be MIGHTY upset if I can't afford the service !
Scott
Just wondering if there has been any other info about this recently ... ? Don't know how much longer I can wait for a decent phone to be sold here ...
I haven't heard much recently, but I'm thinking in June we'll hear something. The version 2.0 update will come then and I figure so will some hardware updates. (And the hardware updates are what we'll need to get the thing flying in Japan.
I'm just hoping that whoever Apple goes with here has an affordable plan.... otherwise my wife'll shoot it down. I've been saving since the thing was announced and I'll be MIGHTY upset if I can't afford the service !
Scott