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Japan Number Portability: The Autumn of Discontent

The hottest topic roiling Tokyo’s hot street this month is MNP – mobile number portability.

Details on pricing, dates and procedures that Japan’s carriers will follow to implement the regulator-mandated programme have been posted on WWJ in several items on this topic, including here, here and here.. Analysts, pundits and assorted commentators have all more or less concluded that the net winner will be KDDI/au, while the net loser will be DoCoMo (the jury is still out on Vodafone/SoftBank Mobile). At least some are attributing this pending negative migration to mere probability – as the carrier with the largest customer base, they argue, DoCoMo naturally stand to lose the biggest number of churners – all things being equal. But this analysis is weak and WWJ thinks..

KDDI Annual Shareholders Report

KDDI has published its Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2006. In the president’s message to shareholders, President Tadashi Onodera is pleased to report that KDDI’s goals continue to expand while the company cultivates new business domains based on the watchwords “Strategy and Speed,” while KDDI, as the “Ubiquitous Solution Company,” continues to ‘Take It to the Next Level.’ Specific actions towards an enhanced structure with a view to propelling future business expansion include: the merger with the three TU-KA firms and the merger with Powdercom Inc. based on a comprehensive alliance in telecommunications services with Tokyo Electric Power Co. and an agreement on the provision of integrated FTTH services.

Applications for MNP Start 1 September

Vodafone Japan K.K. announced Thursday it would charge its customers 2,100 yen to cancel their contracts when transferring their phone numbers to different service providers. With Vodafone’s announcement, all three major cell phone firms have set their cancellation fees at 2,100 yen. Starting Friday, Softbank will accept applications for number transfers from the other two firms at Vodafone shops, by phone or on its Web site. The mobile number portability system will officially begin on 24 October.

Toyota Announces Telematics 2.0

KDDI and Toyota have announced an update to the existing G-Book telematics service. A limited release of 7,500 new TiMO handsets, Toshiba’s 3G terminal otherwise known as the W44T11, will be available from October this year. WWJ has a video interview from the Tokyo Motor Show in 2003 demonstrating the original service and it would appear at first blush their new offering is at least somwhat improved. Full specs and dedicated site links after the jump.

SoftBank Announces First Branded Handset

According to a company press-release today SoftBank mobile will release the first handsets branded with it’s corporate logo (replacing Vodafones) starting Sept. 2nd. The Sharp 705 series 3G phones will be limited to 10,000 units and feature the usual specs. with 2 mega-pix. camera, ASV display and bluetooth on-board. They have also released images of the popular 1Seg digital TV enabled 905 model, made by Sharp as well, with the SoftBank logo however no details were provided about it’s availability.

NTT DoCoMo Sets MNP Fees

DoCoMo have just announced their fees for October’s number portability launch. The company said that subscribers switching to DoCoMo from other operators will not be charged an MNP transfer fee, but like all new applicants, must pay a contract handling fee of 3,150 yen (incl sales tax). DoCoMo subscribers who move to other operators will be charged an MNP transfer fee of 2,100 yen (incl sales tax). DoCoMo will conduct an MNP Reservation Campaign, 10 Sep-23 Oct. People who apply to DoCoMo during this period and who conclude a contract between 24 Oct-31 Dec will be awarded 2,000 DoCoMo points (worth 2,000 yen), which can be applied toward the purchase of DoCoMo handsets or other products.