iPhone to Shake Up Japan's Cellphone Industry?

[(L)]

From what I've read, Japanese phones are feature laden, but difficult to use.

There a few things missing in the iPhone, such as:

-- the Felica RFID chip that is used purchase things & pay train fares
-- Live TV/Radio
-- Messaging shorthand.

To add to that,

--Not just messaging shorthand, but also inter-handset emoticons/emoji/graphics
--Uhh, color choices. That's really just not that hard.
--Something as simple as a keitai strap
--Camera -- The iPhone has a lousy one, but you wouldn't believe how many weird people here rely on cameras on their phones and don't use digital cameras.
--Transferring old Softbank email addresses. I overheard this one outside an Apple store. Apparently, it is either impossible or a difficult DIY to maintain an old cell email address. (In Japan, people typically have a separate address for cell email, different from computer email, so losing the cell email can be a problem.)

In other words, some things that are deal-breakers are missing hardware/features, but some are just a matter of providing what people are used to getting (color, cell email, better camera). To put it simply, the result of all this is that the iPhone doesn't appeal to youth, nor very well to the many people that rely on cell phones for communication more so than a computer. (Some people don't have the latter.)

 

[RHDJapan]

Ive only seen one Japanese person with an iphone so far here in Tokyo. Im not too sure the phone actually possesses the basic necessities for the Japanese market.

I like the iphone myself an would get one if it wasnt softmap only but im not Japanese.

 

[moot]

Ive only seen one Japanese person with an iphone so far here in Tokyo. Im not too sure the phone actually possesses the basic necessities for the Japanese market.

That is really strange as I am now always noticing people playing with their iPhone on the trains. They tend to do it very conspicuously and seem to be taunting me that I haven't got one yet

The other day, while in yodobashi (a huge electronics retailer) in Ueno, there were loads of people inquiring about the iPhone from the Softbank booth. They had a pile of white 16gb and black 8gb. When I went back later, that pile was smaller.

I think that, whatever the differences between the Japanese mobile market and the rest of the world, the iPhone will be immensely popular.

There will always be a set of people who are not interested in it, but plenty are.

There are loads of people who have macs here, and they will be very interested in the iphone for all the syncing and great ui.

Another group of people will just get the iPhone because it is the latest and greatest.

But the Japanese cellphone makers will adapt and and then the iPhone will have to start introducing more features, or at least improving some of the hardware stuff (cameras).

 

[koala]

When I leave the house, I have to take 3 things:

1) My wallet
2) My keys
3) My iPhone

I'd like to reduce that to 1 thing (assuming all the necessary privacy/security protection will be met).

I purchased a Sena walletskin case for my iPhone, so now I'm down to 2 things. With the belt clip for the Sena case, only my keys are in my pockets now, which I'm very happy about. Got tired of the bulging pockets look.

Ok, my headset goes into a small bag in my pocket too, but I barely notice it.

 

[shigzeo]

features -- is camera

the only way I really see an upgrade tithe camera is giving it better/faster focus. most other five or even less mp cams have put out rubbish images unless they are accompanied by like a casio sensor for instance. I've been quiteimpressed by the images from that phone.

If you care much for cameras anyway or image quality you will reach for something else anyway

 

[RHDJapan]

I think mail functionality in Japanese with Emoji, camera and video camera are the most important functions for a young Japanese consumer. I havent tried the iphone for a few weeks so im not sure if there were some updates and added functionality with regards to the emoji but.. These are three places that the iphone does not compete. My phone has close 500 different emojis and icons i can choose from and i dont get a single phone email that does not have one in it.

I read a lot of UI arguments but i feel these are a little biased because most of the best perhaps all of the best phones on the market do not make all their functions and interfaces with English menus. So of coarse the English UI of the iphone versus the English UI of the Japanese phone will be better. But in Japanese there are some very good UIs out there for the Japanese phones so im not sure the UI is going to make the Japanese consumer forget the emoji, video camera and photo camera shortcomings.

One more point id like to make is that a large portion of the people buying the iphone (according to a news report i saw where the reporter surveyed all the people sitting in line in front of the apple store in omotesando) said they were getting the iphone as a second phone. I think this is important to note as it shows they are not committed to the iphone. The Japanese market as a whole is very fickle and subject to peer pressure so if initially those test users find the iphone difficult to use as a main phone (for example, they cant send the desired emoji, movie, or picture to a friend via email) then i think the kuchikomi will seriously limit market penetration.

This being said, i do want a good english UI and i do want an iphone. I just do not want softbank as they suck as a provider. I want my phone to have reception no matter where i go and this is something softbank cannot do. im not going to trade my ok phone with 100% reception for a cool phone with limited reception.

 

[yoyo5280]

I think mail functionality in Japanese with Emoji, camera and video camera are the most important functions for a young Japanese consumer. I havent tried the iphone for a few weeks so im not sure if there were some updates and added functionality with regards to the emoji but.. These are three places that the iphone does not compete. My phone has close 500 different emojis and icons i can choose from and i dont get a single phone email that does not have one in it.

I read a lot of UI arguments but i feel these are a little biased because most of the best perhaps all of the best phones on the market do not make all their functions and interfaces with English menus. So of coarse the English UI of the iphone versus the English UI of the Japanese phone will be better. But in Japanese there are some very good UIs out there for the Japanese phones so im not sure the UI is going to make the Japanese consumer forget the emoji, video camera and photo camera shortcomings.


This being said, i do want a good english UI and i do want an iphone. I just do not want softbank as they suck as a provider. I want my phone to have reception no matter where i go and this is something softbank cannot do.

But also many young japanese use web where the iPhone excels and use music player where the iPhone is also better. However lack of emoji is very bad because without it your messages are not always read as they are ment to. Emoji shows your emotion so you can convey it to the reader. I love my emoji.

I use my phone in Japanese and still no phone I have used has an interface the compares to iPhone. English or japanese it is beautiful, simple and really...cool!

Camera is an issue with iPhone but I am not sure that it will make a HUGE difference. People like me are willing to sacrifice 3.2MP + for iPhone.

I have had NO problems with softbank.

 

[RHDJapan]

I do like itunes better, but one thing that iphone lacks is wireless remote control with mic and earphones which is a really really cool feature that quite a few phones here have now.

 

[yoyo5280]

I do like itunes better, but one thing that iphone lacks is wireless remote control with mic and earphones which is a really really cool feature that quite a few phones here have now.

actually the iphone headphones have it built in! You just cant see

 

[sushi]

But also many young japanese use web where the iPhone excels and use music player where the iPhone is also better.

Definitely.

However lack of emoji is very bad because without it your messages are not always read as they are ment to. Emoji shows your emotion so you can convey it to the reader. I love my emoji.

I like emoji.

Don't need it to convey my message. It helps, but not required.

Maybe for the younger folks it is more popular.

I use my phone in Japanese and still no phone I have used has an interface the compares to iPhone. English or japanese it is beautiful, simple and really...cool!

That much is certain.

My daughter, bilingual (native English and Japanese) and a cell phone freak to boot, has trouble with many models going through the menus. They just aren't intuitive like the iPhones. IMHO, the Japanese like it that way.

The other day I was down in Tokyo. I have a 32GB Touch. So I had it out on the train doing some work stuff on it while listening to music. Beside me, sat individuals using their cell phones. I have very good peripheral vision, so I could see their expressions as they sneaked a glance at how easy I was doing everything. They had astonished looks on their faces. The iPhone interface really puts to shame the typical UI on a Japanese smart phone.

Granted the Japanese phones have the features, but you just can't get at them easily.

 

[gc0005]

The I phone Its a very complementary invention that not just shake up japan technology it has shake all technology around the world and i am impress because its amazing how this apple company has increase they're balance with this invention congratulations to this company .

gc0005
Delaware Drug Addiction

 

[kdarling]

Granted the Japanese phones have the features, but you just can't get at them easily.

Depends on the situation. Standing with one hand holding a subway strap, and trying to do things on the phone with the other hand, the iPhone is harder to use.

I have long fingers, but it's still a pain to try to stretch up to click the Go Back at the top of an iPhone screen, whereas most phones have a "clear/go back" button right under your thumb. (All the buttons are under your thumb, or available by moving the cursor around.)

 

[macwall]

the cell phone market in japan is a tough nut to crack