Euro Mobile Web 5 Years Behind Japan
According to a recent research report by Forrester, when it comes to mobile services, Japan is still ahead of Europe by a whopping five years, even though operators in both regions introduced mobile Internet services at roughly the same time in the late 1990s. So it’s no wonder that Europe’s mobile operators and content and media firms wanting to enter the mobile channel look at the Japanese market to try to predict the future success — or lack thereof — of new mobile Internet services. European mobile operators should focus on the needs of mobile users on the go: their desire to communicate and access to timely and location-relevant content.
[“..focus on the needs of mobile users..” what a great concept — Eds]
Clipped from this post on the Mobile Business Magazine:
The report suggests that product managers should work closer with sales and independent retailers, not only by offering one-day training courses to educate staff, as is the norm, but to let them trial handsets, learn how they work first hand rather than via a manual. It also suggests using stores as education centres by bringing in mobile internet experts.
Forrester had also stated “But different market dynamics mean that successes in Japan are poor predictors of success in Europe.” While that would be a longer discussion, proven approaches here would suggest that it’s possible.. lets see how things shape up in Europe 5 years down the road..!!