Japan Market
Japan Market

Japan Market

CIAJ Releases Mobile Usage Survey

Since 1998 the CIAJ has conducted an annual study of mobile phone use in Japan and has released this year’s survey results. This report strives to capture the most recent user trends and has added topics which might forcast growth demand in the domestic market, including: handset replacement cycle trends after the implementation of the new purchasing plans, ownership of multiple devices and consumer interest in new services and functions, such as video use. The full report is available Here.

Suica Comes Pre-Installed on KDDI

KDDI and Japan Rail have announced their new campaign to help encourage AU customers with the adoption of Suica. The summer handset series includes six models which have the RFID application pre-installed in an effort to enable users to start using their handsets a the preferred payment device at Suica enabled locations. We’d say that’s a full swing opposite from early days when JR required folks to have a View credit-card in order to get Suica onto their phones!

Wireless Japan 2008 at Tokyo Bigsite

The 14th annual Wireless Japan conference and exhibition is set to kick-off at Tokyo Bigsite for 3 full days next week (wOOt!) focused on current and future mobile industry challenges and opportunities. EXPO COMM WIRELESS JAPAN 2008 will cover the fundamental technology that maintains the wireless broadband network and explore recent trends in standardization, hot applications and solutions for wireless network technology. Of course WWJ will be there as we have been in years past.

Japan Telecom Equipment Figures FY2007

The final figures published by CIAJ for the Japanese telecom sector in the last full fiscal year (April 2007 through March 2008) show Wireless network equipment posted sales of 236.8 million yen, a positive growth of 11.3% over the previous year. However, mobile terminal equipment earned 1.662 trillion yen down 4.2% YoY, of which cellular phones accounted for 1.546 trillion yen or negative growth of 5.3% over the previous year. Full details Here.

Japan Cellphone Upgrade Survey

Seron over at What Japan Thinks posted this translated version of a survey conducted by Goo Research looking into the domestic demand of users considering a handset upgrade this summer. While the results show that perhaps 7% seem likely to buy a new model, one rather interesting result found there is the strong demand for 1Seg digital tv as a required function. Another, albeit less surprising but certainly meaningful, question relating to services confirmed that over 40% consider an unlimited data plan to be important. A few other recent notes of interest about mobile tv coming up after the jump.