Mobile Users
Mobile Users

Mobile Users

October MNP – Early Results

Japan mobile industry watchers are awaiting the official October stats from the Telecom Carriers Assoc. (TCA) to be posted this week. Considering the figures already announced by both DoCoMo and KDDI at the end of October it would seem that mobile number portability has – as predicted – provided KDDI the most benefit so far. However, after a quick calculation based on the information already available, SoftBank Mobile may well be in the news as a result of what would appear to be rather ‘disappointing’ numbers.

MySpace to launch in Japan with Softbank

joint venture with Japanese Internet and telecoms group Softbank Corp. The 50-50 venture, to be called MySpace Japan, will first offer services for personal computers and will eventually allow users to post photos and write blogs via mobile phones. The firms are expected to announce the deal as early as this week after a meeting between News Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch and Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son. The Japanese version of MySpace is live here however there is still no official announcement from Softbank. [Update: it’s official — Eds]

New Flexibility of Cell Phones

The much-awaited portable-number service for cell phones has started in Japan, enabling users to change carriers without having to change phone numbers. This is a new convenience for customers, but for the cell-phone carriers – NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp. and Softbank Mobile Corp. – it heralds the start of a new war. The ease with which users can change carriers is expected to cause fierce competition. It is hoped that the competition will lead to lower fees, better services and more user options.

Mobile Number Portability Price War

Softbank announced it will offer new price plans – lower than DoCoMo and KDDI by at least 200 yen – on the eve of Japan’s Mobile Number Portability launch. Softbank introduced 18 new subscription plans including three packages which allow subscribers to call and message for free at certain times of the day. A recent survey by the Nikkei reported that up to 25 percent of SoftBank customers may switch carriers under the new MNP rule while 19 percent of DoCoMo’s and only 8 percent of KDDI’s users said they may change carriers after number portability.

Mobile TV Embedded e-Coupon System

Nippon Television Network (NTV) and NTT DoCoMo have jointly developed a system to distribute and store video-embedded e-coupons and e-cards to and in cellular phones capable of receiving one-seg terrestrial digital broadcasting. The system uses the one-seg data broadcasting band to automatically store broadcasting program information in a one-seg-capable handset regardless of whether or not it displays broadcast video. NTV and DoCoMo are considering distributing location-dependent coupons and coupons intended for users with target attributes.