Year: <span>2006</span>
Year: 2006

Year: 2006

Number Portability Spooks Investors

The next several months could be very bumpy for Japan’s Big 3 cellular service providers. First, KDDI Corp. just reported record Q1 earnings but failed to see a further rise in its share price since it also warned of uncertainty in the 3rd and 4th quarters, which is when number portability becomes available. Strong earnings were priced in given recent strength in retaining subscribers. KDDI understandably left its full year forecast in place projecting a lower y-o-y net profit on higher revenue. However, that does allow it to raise its forecast this autumn if number portability is not as severe as anticipated. Its shares lost 2.15% on the day.

eMobile Taps Huawei Network

Chinese top telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies clinched a deal with Japanese mobile operator eMobile to deploy an all Internet Protocol (IP)-based radio-access network. Initially, Huawei will help eMobile deploy the network around the cities of Sendai, Sapporo and Hiroshima. The deal with eMobile is the first for Huawei in Japan.

KDDI Posts Strong Quarterly Results

Japanese telco KDDI has reported net income of JPY75.7 billion (USD652.2 million) for the three months to the end of June, up 44% compared with the corresponding period last year. The mobile division continues to comfortably outperform the fixed line business, with net income from wireless services up 35% to JPY77.8 billion compared with a net loss from the wireline division of JPY4.1 billion. Overall sales were up 12% to JPY798.4 billion. For the full year to March 2007 KDDI expects sales to come in at JPY735 billion (up 19% year-on-year) and net income to drop 2.4% to JPY186 billion.

OhMyNews Gears Up in Japan

South Korean citizen-media website OhMyNews began recruiting on Friday for its new Japanese-language site, which is due to launch next month. The site started in South Korea in 2000 under the banner “every citizen is a reporter” and immediately began challenging the mainstream media with its news site written by readers. It currently utilizes around 40,000 citizen reporters, each of whom get paid about US$20 for a newsworthy submission. The JV with SoftBank for Japan was announced on 22 Feb.

Japan Mobile Users Click Ads

Mobile Research with goo, a project run by goo research and Japan.internet.com, announced the results of their Mobile Search study. 1083 mobile users in Japan participated in the poll, 43.4% male and 56.6% female. 78% answered that they browse web site using mobile phone, and 44% answered that they have clicked the ads on mobile search sites.

Welcome to Japan's Wireless Frontier

Welcome to Japan's Wireless FrontierCurrently in it’s 11th year, Wireless Japan is evolving from Japan’s largest wireless & Mobile network technologies and services trade show into one of the largest in Asia. This event has become the hub of wireless dedicated gatherings in Asia with over 150 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees expected. Running July 19 – 21 at the space-age Tokyo BigSite exhibition center the annual event is attended, and endorsed, by most of the major players in mobile.

WWJ was on the scene, as usual, we have video interviews with Qualcomm about their new MediaFlo digital tv efforts and a hands-on demo with HTC’s new smartphone coming soon from DoCoMo. We also attended the Mobile Entertainment Forum session this afternoon and will have some of the presentations from that coming online as well. Meanwhile here’s a quick peek at some of the sights and sounds from the show floor today and links to our coverage from the event in years past.

DoCoMo Announces 9 Search Partners

DoCoMo just announced that their users will be able to do keyword searches from the top page of the Japanese i-mode menu for easier access to official i-mode sites. In addition, the search results page will provide links to nine search engines so users can view non-official i-mode sites and other websites with the same keyword. The new service will be offered from October. No special set-up is required, and the search box will be automatically displayed from the service launch according to the statement.

GeoVector to Demo. 3D Search

GeoVector has announced the release of a new 3D search technology which will allow users to obtain information by selecting objects on a map displayed in 3D on the screen of their mobile phone. This 3D map, generated via GPS technology and a built-in compass, is said to create an intuitive means for the user to interact with the world around them. GeoVector’s 3D Search Technology will be presented at the NEC booth at Wireless Japan 2006, to be held July 19-21 in Tokyo.

HTC to Open Japan Branch Office

It seems that Taiwan’s High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) will soon set up a branch office in Japan, paving the way for the company to support their debut on DoCoMo announced earlier this year. The Japan office location would be HTC’s newest overseas foothold; the company has already set up branches in Europe, the U.S., and Hong Kong. HTC is the world’s largest manufacturer of cell phones that run on Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Guppy Games Signs with Kotobuki

Guppy Games has selected Kotobuki Solution Co., Ltd. (KEMCO Japan) as their distribution partner for releasing mobile game contents in Japan. The first title for distribution will be Jump Girls with an expected launch by fall 2006. Jump Girls is a strategy puzzle game jointly developed by ZIO Interactive which has been very popular on South Korean carriers. KEMCO Japan will be the distribution partner for launching Jump Girls with the four major Japanese carriers: NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, Vodafone, and Willcom.