As WWJ predicted last month, the latest Telecommunication Carriers Association numbers confirm that DoCoMo has indeed gone on to ‘Grab [the] 3G Lead from KDDI.’ OK — so the news isn’t startling given that the trend for the past several months has been growing in DoCoMo’s favor. The news that has been below almost everyone’s radar screens, however, is the exceptional performance of upstart PHS carrier Willcom and its success in attracting new customers compared to third-place 3G carrier Vodafone. The folks over at Willcom posted a net subscriber gain of 80,200 in January compared to Vodafone’s paltry 17,600 (WWJ subscribers log in for more details).

It would be fair to say — as we have been doing so for some time now — that Willcom’s new-found mobile consumer drawing power is a result of a few tidy perks, including a highly attractive flat-rate pricing model.

In addition, another point of attraction could well be Willcom’s new Sharp Smartphone, a cool unit that is indistinguishable from competing W-CDMA 3G models in terms of network functionality.

It goes to show that a reasonable data billing plan packaged together with nice hardware can go a long way to getting new customers lined up to buy your product.

– WWJ Editors

Related posts:

1. Willcom Sees Strong Initial Sales
2. Mobile Flat-Rate Voice Planned
3. Yes, KDDI 3G Really Does Rock
4. DoCoMo’s Paradigm: Flat Rate Forces Shift
5. DoCoMo’s 3G Flat Rate Lower than KDDI

Some sage advise when entering new turf; Stop, Look and Listen.. it’s also good to secure a local guide. Japan is the cradle of mobile civilization – we have been dedicated to this space since 2001 – trust our archives here offer some useful material.

Domestic activities continue to set the pace, and sharp players are looking at global markets. We have hard-earned industry expertise and trusted network of contacts with access to advanced intell. and potential deal flow. Need a lift.. Ok, buckle-up!