Japan iphone Banter
Jul 7, 2008, 6:01 pm
#1
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Japan iphone Banter
Hopefully we can get some Japan-specific iphone info going in this thread.
I'm more interested in the Japanese language capabilities of the phone as opposed to purchase/Softbank KK info but we could kind of use this as a catch all.
Personally I like the fact that the AT&T (US) version I would get appears to have native Japanese read/write support in the OS including predictive text. A much better solution than hacking the Eng ver of WM5. I'm planning to give it a whirl to see if I can get used to the "soft" keyboard.
Anybody looking to get one?
Cheers,
Scho
I'm more interested in the Japanese language capabilities of the phone as opposed to purchase/Softbank KK info but we could kind of use this as a catch all.
Personally I like the fact that the AT&T (US) version I would get appears to have native Japanese read/write support in the OS including predictive text. A much better solution than hacking the Eng ver of WM5. I'm planning to give it a whirl to see if I can get used to the "soft" keyboard.
Anybody looking to get one?
Cheers,
Scho
Jul 7, 2008, 8:03 pm
#2
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Jul 8, 2008, 3:23 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Excerpts from Nikkei 07-07-08
I might be tempted if I can switch sim cards in the US for temporary service.
ON THE RADAR: Analysts Hold Mixed Views On Impact Of iPhone Launch In Japan
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Securities analysts have different views of the possible market impact of Friday's launch of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G handsets in Japan by Softbank Mobile Corp., the cellular phone unit of Softbank Corp. (9984).
The iPhone has already attracted a positive reaction from Japanese consumers even before the release date because it combines the capabilities of a mobile phone and the iPod digital music player, while featuring a fashionable design.
Given its favorable reputation, some analysts predict the iPhone could spark a shift in the use of mobile phones to data communications away from voice calls, but others estimate that the impact will be rather limited.
Softbank Mobile's average monthly revenue per subscriber stands at 4,310 yen for the January-March quarter, more than 1,000 yen less than at rival NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437). The Softbank group hopes the launch of iPhone 3G handsets will substantially boost its revenue from data communications services by setting a monthly fee of 5,985 yen.
According to a June survey conducted by Kakaku.com Inc. on registered users of the firm's price comparison sites, slightly more than half of the respondents said they would consider buying an iPhone 3G. While many respondents find its functions and design attractive, some people said the machine lacks some of the extra features included in most cell phones sold in Japan, such as e-money capability and the ability to receive "one-seg" terrestrial digital TV broadcast services.
Hiroshi Yamashina of Nikko Citigroup Ltd. said, "The iPhone is expected to attract people who like digital music players as well as heavy Internet users." He predicts the device will prove a big hit, with annual sales possibly reaching 1.2 million units, partly buoyed by the relatively low price of just over 23,000 yen for the less expensive of the two models.
Meanwhile, Hironori Tanaka at Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co. does not expect the iPhone to provide a dramatic boost to Softbank's earnings. He also estimates that iPhone shipments will run to only 700,000 to 800,000 units through March next year, equal to only about 4% of the subscribers to Softbank's mobile phone services.
-- Translated from an article by Nikkei staff writer Kenji Kawase
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Securities analysts have different views of the possible market impact of Friday's launch of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G handsets in Japan by Softbank Mobile Corp., the cellular phone unit of Softbank Corp. (9984).
The iPhone has already attracted a positive reaction from Japanese consumers even before the release date because it combines the capabilities of a mobile phone and the iPod digital music player, while featuring a fashionable design.
Given its favorable reputation, some analysts predict the iPhone could spark a shift in the use of mobile phones to data communications away from voice calls, but others estimate that the impact will be rather limited.
Softbank Mobile's average monthly revenue per subscriber stands at 4,310 yen for the January-March quarter, more than 1,000 yen less than at rival NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437). The Softbank group hopes the launch of iPhone 3G handsets will substantially boost its revenue from data communications services by setting a monthly fee of 5,985 yen.
According to a June survey conducted by Kakaku.com Inc. on registered users of the firm's price comparison sites, slightly more than half of the respondents said they would consider buying an iPhone 3G. While many respondents find its functions and design attractive, some people said the machine lacks some of the extra features included in most cell phones sold in Japan, such as e-money capability and the ability to receive "one-seg" terrestrial digital TV broadcast services.
Hiroshi Yamashina of Nikko Citigroup Ltd. said, "The iPhone is expected to attract people who like digital music players as well as heavy Internet users." He predicts the device will prove a big hit, with annual sales possibly reaching 1.2 million units, partly buoyed by the relatively low price of just over 23,000 yen for the less expensive of the two models.
Meanwhile, Hironori Tanaka at Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co. does not expect the iPhone to provide a dramatic boost to Softbank's earnings. He also estimates that iPhone shipments will run to only 700,000 to 800,000 units through March next year, equal to only about 4% of the subscribers to Softbank's mobile phone services.
-- Translated from an article by Nikkei staff writer Kenji Kawase
Jul 8, 2008, 10:52 am
#4
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Seems as on topic as a Toto Washlet
-Scho
Jul 8, 2008, 11:06 am
#5
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Jul 8, 2008, 3:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC (Formerly Tokyo)
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For what it's worth, I can see the iPhone not being a huge success in Japan. Now that I'm back in the US, I have an iPhone which I love and am going to upgrade to the new, 3G version as soon as the lines die down. But, many of the iPhone's features were also available on the 904SH I had when I was in Japan, and that's already a couple generations old now.
The iPhone has a much smoother interface, far better email and internet browsing, but it's not head and shoulders above my 904SH which had a better camera and could also record video. The iPhone's WiFi is great here, but I feel like because of HSDPA and PHS cards, there's a lot less WiFi in Japan than there is in the US. I could be wrong, but that's just my impression.
I think the iPhone's biggest problem is going to be that it's very hard to type on while moving, and in particular while riding on the subway. I found it much easier to type on my Blackberry which has fixed keys, and very hard to get the precise letter when the train is bouncing around.
Will be interesting to see what happens though. One of my Japanese friends has been dying to get one since they were released in the US. With 3hr+ lines for donuts, I'm afraid to think what the queuing might look like for iPhones...
Alex
The iPhone has a much smoother interface, far better email and internet browsing, but it's not head and shoulders above my 904SH which had a better camera and could also record video. The iPhone's WiFi is great here, but I feel like because of HSDPA and PHS cards, there's a lot less WiFi in Japan than there is in the US. I could be wrong, but that's just my impression.
I think the iPhone's biggest problem is going to be that it's very hard to type on while moving, and in particular while riding on the subway. I found it much easier to type on my Blackberry which has fixed keys, and very hard to get the precise letter when the train is bouncing around.
Will be interesting to see what happens though. One of my Japanese friends has been dying to get one since they were released in the US. With 3hr+ lines for donuts, I'm afraid to think what the queuing might look like for iPhones...
Alex
Jul 8, 2008, 10:26 pm
#11
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Won't work: wrong frequencies
Doesn't seem possible to edit the title now, but what I meant was that 3G phones for the US market (as the OP seemed to be intending to get) won't work elsewhere. Obviously, a model intended for the Japanese market will work there.
3G on ATT in the USA uses 850 and 1900 (T-Mo uses 1700). The rest of the world uses 2100.
3G on ATT in the USA uses 850 and 1900 (T-Mo uses 1700). The rest of the world uses 2100.
Last edited by someotherguy; Jul 8, 2008 at 10:32 pm Reason: Confusion
Jul 8, 2008, 10:46 pm
#12
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Hmmmm.....
My ATT Tilt works very well on DoCoMo's network here in Tokyo (albeit darned expensive). Is the Apple iPhone differently set up from the Tilt with regard to what frequencies it can handle?
Mike
My ATT Tilt works very well on DoCoMo's network here in Tokyo (albeit darned expensive). Is the Apple iPhone differently set up from the Tilt with regard to what frequencies it can handle?
Mike
Doesn't seem possible to edit the title now, but what I meant was that 3G phones for the US market (as the OP seemed to be intending to get) won't work elsewhere. Obviously, a model intended for the Japanese market will work there.
3G on ATT in the USA uses 850 and 1900 (T-Mo uses 1700). The rest of the world uses 2100.
3G on ATT in the USA uses 850 and 1900 (T-Mo uses 1700). The rest of the world uses 2100.
Jul 8, 2008, 11:13 pm
#13
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My European 3G phone works fine in Japan with a US T-Mobile SIM but doesn't detect any signal at all in the US (it uses 2100 for 3G and falls back to GSM on the 900/1800 frequencies, none of which are used in the US).
Jul 8, 2008, 11:24 pm
#14
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I must admit that has me flummoxed. 3G phones fall back to GSM but that won't do any good in Japan. Let's see if anyone can clear up the mystery.
My European 3G phone works fine in Japan with a US T-Mobile SIM but doesn't detect any signal at all in the US (it uses 2100 for 3G and falls back to GSM on the 900/1800 frequencies, none of which are used in the US).
My European 3G phone works fine in Japan with a US T-Mobile SIM but doesn't detect any signal at all in the US (it uses 2100 for 3G and falls back to GSM on the 900/1800 frequencies, none of which are used in the US).
This is why it works...
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
Cheers,
Scho
Jul 8, 2008, 11:25 pm
#15
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