BusinessWeek’s Ian Rowley is drooling over Japanese handsets Here – and who could blame him? However, his reasoning as to why these pocket rockets “seldom make it overseas” is just a bit off. “Most of the world won’t get the chance to buy these handsets. Japan’s superphones seldom make it overseas. One reason: Many phone users would be unwilling to pay as much as Japanese do for their monthly bills – $60 on average. Before long, though, much of the new technology, if not the same handsets, will likely find its way out of Japan.”

A more obvious challenge than ARPU would be carry support for pricing, of not only the handset but also the data plans, to their customers. It does not seem too difficult to imagine that users outside Japan will pay $60 per month for their phones – provided they get real value to match the cost.

There are already many examples of Japanese handsets making their way into global markets, and no doubt some of these will as well.

Related posts:

1. Japan’s Phones Are Coolest
2. The Mobile Phone Number Portability Fairy Cometh
3. Vodafone’s Shift to 3G Phones
4. NEC Electronics Announces World’s First Implementation of Mobile CMADS
5. English Spam Floods Jpn Mobile Phones

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!