Mobile Users
Mobile Users

Mobile Users

Asia's Mobile Advertising Model

Perhaps it’s news to some WSJ readers that Asian youth “are hooked on their cellphones, yet they hardly ever talk on them,” but the paper is really looking at mobile phones as an advertising platform. Just as i-mode is cited as a role model for every Western mobile data, evidently now Asian ad agencies are sharing their experiences on advertising to mobile devices, and US marketers are eating it up. While Asian marketers have a head start on their counterparts around the globe when it comes to mobile marketing, there’s the perpetual “if it’s Asian, it must be excellent” trap in to which the Western mobile industry falls.

Mobile Karaoke Rocks Russia

Launched last week by one of the leaders in the content provider market, a service called INFON offers 20 karaoke song files that can be downloaded on all mobile networks. The sing-along craze that originated in Japan moved into mobile telephony two years ago, based on Java applications that Irish technology firm Alatto developed for the European market. In 2003, Vodafone Japan launched a service that allowed subscribers to “practise” songs and, later, to plug their handset into a TV to watch the lyrics on the big screen, while singing into the phone mouthpiece.

DoCoMo Staffer Held over Leak

The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested a 41-year-old temporary employee who formerly worked for NTT DoCoMo Inc. over a leak of clients’ personal data. MPD investigators arrested Yoshitaka Takemura on suspicion of obstructing business by force, alleging that he took data containing the personal information of about 24,600 clients out of the Tokyo-based company.

Vodafone KK to Confirm ID of Prepaid Customers

Vodafone K.K. announced today that it will introduce an additional measure on 25 April 2005 to confirm the identification of all customers using prepaid handsets sold under the Vodafone Prepaid Service* to prevent the inappropriate use of prepaid handsets in Japan. A change will be implemented to confirm the identity of all prepaid customers, including existing customers that purchased prepaid handsets in the past. Those unable to provide the requested information within a certain period will have their lines suspended.

Japan Wireless Tactics Slammed

The U.S. unveiled the axis of telecommunications evil, charging China, India, Japan and others with protecting their home markets while taking advantage of international trading rights to build their global telecom businesses. The report was particularly critical of limitations on suppliers’ choice of technology in China and Korea. China, India, Japan, and Peru were cited in the report as countries “requiring particular attention.”

MIT Tokyo Tour: 17-22 April 2005

MIjThe Mobile Intelligence Japan mission PR release hit the Web yesterday, and the April 2005 trip promises to provide in-depth know-how and actionable intelligence direct from the heart of mobile Japan. MIJ will comprise six days of intensive company visits, executive presentations, application demonstrations, user sessions, and networking events, guided and analysed by WWJ Chief Editor Daniel Scuka. The agenda (contact us for a full copy) is complete and includes visits to and sessions with some of Tokyo’s hottest mobile players, including carriers, content providers, application developers and technology vendors. Access the full release here. For additional information, fees and registration, access the MIJ site here.