blog.wired.com— Apple's iPhone has wowed most of the globe — but not Japan, where the handset is selling so poorly it's being offered for free.
Feb 27, 2009View in Crawl 4
Actually, the iPhone IS relatively extremely popular in Japan. Just that the mobile phone sales has slumped by about 30% because of the economic downturn. Another downside is that iPhone doesn't offer features that are not uncommon in competitors' products, such as FeliCa chip based Osaifu Keitai smart wallet, OneSeg moblie TV (although a peripheral product from SoftBank amends this), resolution beyond VGA, and lack of a very primitive feature called macro mode photography, which is needed to read QR codes. Granted, neither FeliCa nor QR are that essential.
American electronics are huge, heavy and noisy, but cheapJapanese electronics are small, light weight and quiet, but expensive.It is already finished to buy cheap & but quality in Japan.
You can thank Sprint, AT&T and Verizon for the US not having those advanced phones. Hello proprietary agreements with manufacturers! (Fact that Sprint has to Brand a HTC Diamond to be a "Sprint Touch Pro" is why we will NEVER see these advanced phones here in the US).
To read QR the code with the camera of the cellular phone in Japan, it is necessary. Even if URL of the shop is not typed, QR can be input. And, even McDonald in the airport who can use it by putting the discount card in carrying in the shop can use it. Of course, neither FeliCa nor QR are indispensable so much.
FeliCa is a function that the cellular phone can be used like the credit card instead of the purse. It is possible to take train and also to use it to buy of the ticket variously and to shop in the convenience store. Because you can not carry about small change because money is not needed, it is very convenient.
diggimatorFeb 28, 2009
Actually, the iPhone IS relatively extremely popular in Japan. Just that the mobile phone sales has slumped by about 30% because of the economic downturn. Another downside is that iPhone doesn't offer features that are not uncommon in competitors' products, such as FeliCa chip based Osaifu Keitai smart wallet, OneSeg moblie TV (although a peripheral product from SoftBank amends this), resolution beyond VGA, and lack of a very primitive feature called macro mode photography, which is needed to read QR codes. Granted, neither FeliCa nor QR are that essential.
hardeep1singhFeb 28, 2009
They buy Symbian based NTT DoCoMo phones.
Closed AccountMar 1, 2009
Japan is ahead of the curve, nuff said.
tuna2222Mar 2, 2009
American electronics are huge, heavy and noisy, but cheapJapanese electronics are small, light weight and quiet, but expensive.It is already finished to buy cheap & but quality in Japan.
phantomrogueMar 2, 2009
You can thank Sprint, AT&T and Verizon for the US not having those advanced phones. Hello proprietary agreements with manufacturers! (Fact that Sprint has to Brand a HTC Diamond to be a "Sprint Touch Pro" is why we will NEVER see these advanced phones here in the US).
tdotfunkMar 2, 2009
I hate apple. That does not mean I dream about them. I dream about girls. You can keep dreaming about apple though. Have fun.
white7Mar 13, 2009
To read QR the code with the camera of the cellular phone in Japan, it is necessary. Even if URL of the shop is not typed, QR can be input. And, even McDonald in the airport who can use it by putting the discount card in carrying in the shop can use it. Of course, neither FeliCa nor QR are indispensable so much.
white7Mar 13, 2009
FeliCa is a function that the cellular phone can be used like the credit card instead of the purse. It is possible to take train and also to use it to buy of the ticket variously and to shop in the convenience store. Because you can not carry about small change because money is not needed, it is very convenient.