Apple's iPhone Could Be Big In Japan Despite Strange Choice of Softbank (AAPL)
Either way, selling the iPhone in Japan could be big for Apple: It's a huge mobile market where gadget quality is important, and Apple's high-quality phone should impress people. It's also a place where high-end phone buyers probably won't whine about a missing QWERTY keypad like RIM (RIMM) BlackBerry addicts do here; the iPhone's big, multi-touch screen might be better for typing in Japanese characters, anyway.
Three potential hurdles: Because of its big screen, Apple's phone is physically wider than most Japanese phones, which tend to be narrower, and have flip-down or slide-out keyboards -- convenient for holding in a smaller hand. The iPhone also might not be compatible with Japan's popular mobile TV services, or the popular Suica service that lets you use your mobile phone to pay for your subway ride, can of Coke, etc.
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Photo: Dan Frommer
Pros:
Superior UI
Large screen size
Apple customer support
Coolness factor
iTunes Media Store-One stop shopping
WiFi connection
Potential gaming platform
Cons:
Lack of FELICA chip
Missing QWERTY keyboard
No 1Seg Mobile TV
Lack of various styles/colors
Higher price
No multiple carrier support
Weak ringtone support
I haven't read anything about whether the Japanese are crazy about GPS or dual high-MP cameras. I read they do like to send recorded videos to other phones. The 3G iPhone may have those capabilities.
On a feature for feature basis, it seems like a tossup. The iPhone doesn't seem likely to be a huge hit in Japan. The thing is with the Japanese is that you never know what may catch their fancy. Maybe if a few of the top Japanese celebrities, sports or J-Pop stars start carrying them, Japan may just catch iPhone fever. Still, being such a fickle country, they could catch the fever for six months and then drop the iPhone for the next hottest phone. I just can't figure this one out.
The iPod has the most market share in Japan, beating out Sony, so there might be a possibility of the iPhone doing the same thing.
"Lack of FELICA chip"
It's just an unpowered RFID chip. Hypothetically Apple could toss one in there. Beyond that it's just software.
"No 1Seg Mobile TV"
A fairly prominent issue, but let's wait and see. There was some very minor noise earlier this year about the new iPhone supporting mediaflo, which is an alternative format. If they go that route, who knows if they come up with something that supports both formats.
Another significant issue is QR Code support, and that's just a software issue, so there are no roadblocks on that front.
You can make any ringtone you want in GarageBand.
Women won't buy it; it's too big and bulky.
"salarymen" won't carry them.
High School Kids can't afford it.
Gamers may for the large screen.
In any case three months later, they'll be looking for a new phone.
Cool is good. But not as good as cute - this is the land of Hello Kitty, afterall.
For all the features this, and other, articles attribute to Japanese phones, they haven't scratched the surface. Whey hasn't anyone mentioned that they have phones that can tell if you have bad breath for crying out loud?! But the deal killer is that THE killer app is texting, and it is all one-handed - while hanging on a subway strap, while eating lunch, while walking down the street holding an umbrella, etc,. etc. If you can't text on the iPhone one-handed, then it won't be "big in Japan."