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KDDI Set To Launch Digital Radio Service

For the last four years now, KDDI/au has been setting the pace in Japan for mobile music services, launching the first mastertone service in 2002 and the first full-song download service two years later. The company has recorded a total of over 38 billion mastertone downloads and 78 million full-song over-the-air downloads. They have also achieved impressive handset sales, with more than 22.8 million mastertone-capable and 10.4 million full-song-capable KDDI mobile phones sold in Japan.

At a recent press conference in Tokyo, the wireless operator raised the bar yet again – unveiling plans for its upcoming digital radio launch and introducing the latest incarnation of its LISMO! music service.

TCA – November Results Announced

The Telecom Carriers Association has released the official Japan mobile subscriber stats for November (current figures updated on our left navigation bar), with several stunning results. While not surprising – after the first full month of number portability – KDDI posted an impressive gain with a net +325,000 customers. In contrast, this might well be the first time that market leader NTT DoCoMo has ever announced a net client loss: -17,500. Perhaps even more shocking was the fact that their prized i-mode service also shed 56,200 subscribers! The SoftBank Mobile customer count – which is ‘confusing’ – indicated a net gain of +68,700 contracts, however they somehow managed to lose 3,600 subscribers to the company’s Yahoo! mobile web portal.. hmm? Finally, we saw the total number of 3G subscribers in Japan cross the 60M mark as the migration continued, showing gains of well over 1 mn upgrades per month.

Panasonic Develops New Mobile LSI

Panasonic announced that it has developed a new system LSI for mobile phones by applying its second-generation Integrated Platform for Digital Appliances. The new LSI MN2CS0035 model can greatly improve the playing time of SD audio and the graphic processing performance on mobile handsets. The use of LSI technology enables the existence of multiple functioning on a single chip in cellular phones such as long time music and movie playback, high-performance 3D graphics, and mobile DTV (ISDB-T) viewing. The company will commence shipping product samples in December 2006.

Japan Mobile Music 3Q Results

The Record Industry Association of Japan just announced their Q3 numbers, reporting period 1 July – 30 September 2006, with mobile music sales showing strong year-on-year growth. Considering the wider range of enabled handsets, and agressive marketing by all three carriers in this space, it should come as no surprise to industry watchers that full-track downloads posted a sales value increase of 201% when compared to the same period last year. Full details after the jump.

Sony Ericsson at GITEX 2006

Sony Ericsson’s latest phones will be displayed at the GITEX 2006 from 18 to 22 November 2006 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The booth will highlight Sony Ericsson’s newest Walkman music mobile phones the stylish Z series lifestyle phones and the new business phone, the P990i.

KDDI Announces Digital Radio Services

KDDI announced it will add digital radio to its mobile-phone service as the company builds on attracting subscribers with its music download features. The service starts in early December, according to a release given at a press conference today. Users can listen to Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.’s bilingual station live through their handsets, the statement said.