Japan's top mobile handset sellers as of the first week of March

IT Media and Gfk Japan released a rank of best selling handset models by operator in the first week of March 2005. The study is based on handset sales information obtained from 3,500 kiosks throughout the country.

According to this study the five most selling DoCoMo's handsets are as follows:

1. N900iS
2. P901i
3. N506i
4. N901iC
5. P506iC

KDDI au's most popular phones are:

1. W22SA
2. A5507SA
3. W21CA
4. W31SA
5. A5509T

Vodafone's best-sellers are:

1. V602SH
2. V603SH
3. 802SH
4. V601T
5. V402SH

Vodafone and Toshiba teamed up to market 3G handsets

The world's largest cellular operator Vadafone announced that it had agreed a strategic partnerships with Toshiba to market a range of handsets in Europe, Australia and Japan, according to The Financial Times.

Initially, they will start with the shipping of TS 921 3G handset in Europe, also known as V903T in Japan.

For Toshiba it will be an opportunity to break out of its domestic market, which accounts for 40m handset sales a year, and enter the European market, which is more than three times larger than Japan, with 148m phones sold every year.

The TS 921 is Toshiba's first 3G handset based on UMTS standard. The group currently has a 10% market share in Japan, where it is hamstrung by not having a relationship with NTT DoCoMo, the dominant mobile phone operator.

Japanese mobile handset makers are desperate to enter the global mobile phone market, because their domestic market witnesses a decline in sales. Now, with a global spread of 3G standards, they have this chance. They will learn from Toshiba's attempt how to export their products to the West as they need to address many factors, including localization of their handsets.

Vodafone will ship the V903T 3G handset in Japan in April this year. The handset features USB connectivity, Bluetooth, PC Link, IrDA, Video output, QR Code reading, etc.

Vodafone highlights the following main features of the Vodafone 903T:

• Active Turn Style design for enjoying a variety of viewing styles in different situations
• Auto focus 1.92 megapixel mobile camera
• Twin stereo speakers for greater enjoyment when listening to long version Chaku-Uta musicdownloads and ringtones
• Fully supports Vodafone 3G services
• International roaming support for seamless voice, mail, web and video call services

Vodafone's poor performance reflected on Nikkei

According to The Financial Times, Vodafone's Japanese unit worried the stock market and was one of the reasons Nikkei's eight-day winning streak ground to a halt.

Vodafone KK, the domestic listing of the world's largest mobile phone network operator, lost 2.2% to JPY273,000 after February industry data showed a second successive large monthly decline in customer subscription levels, according to the newspaper.

By contrast, NTT DoCoMo and KDDI both showed gains. NTT shares added 0.5% to JPY185,000 and KDDI was 0.7% stronger at JPY542,000.

DoCoMo enables access to PDF files from FOMA cell phones

NTT DoCoMo and Adobe Systems reached an agreement today to integrated Adobe Reader LE software into DoCoMo's 3G FOMA cell phones.

The companies didn't release the exact date when this would be available. However, DoCoMo plans to enable all future FOMA phones with this capability. According to DoCoMo, users will be able to open and read PDF files while browsing mobile websites. Adobe Systems will work together with Access, a mobile browser developer, to develop the technical solution.

While some DoCoMo's users who own Sharp's FOMA compatible SH900i and SH901i cell phones can already view PDF files on their phones, they use a special software called Document Viewer, which is stored on their cell phone's miniSD memory cards.

What's new in Japan: review of wireless data services

Among the new data services introduced in Japan this week, there are few that are worth mentioning here. They are distant learning service for realtors offered by Nippon System and Management, Inc. and e-book service for cellular users from Impress Holdings.

Keitai-de Takken: realtors get an opportunity to learn on the move
Professionals, who are planning on taking a realtor's exam in Japan, now have a wireless service that will help them to get prepared for the test. Cell phone users can choose either a beginner course or a master course for JPY3,000 to go through 700 quiz questions in each course. There is also a JPY5,000 package option that combines two courses in one. The service will be offered until October 2005, a month when the next realtor test will be held.

eBookSpot: find out about new e-books and post your comments
The service, called MY CAFE eBookSpot, aims young women and introduces new e-books and comics for cell phones on a weekly basis. Users can check the latest content offerings and exchange opinions on them. The service is free to use, but it provides an easy access to buy-links to purchase the desired content.

Vodafone keeps loosing subscribers in Japan

TCA released Japan wireless net subscriber numbers for February 2005. DoCoMo maintained 56.1% of market share followed by KDDI au with 22.2%. Vodafone (17.5%) continued loosing customers along with Tu-Ka (4.2%).

Net Additions in February:

1. DoCoMo - 246,100
2. KDDI au - 183,700
3. Tu-Ka - (9,000)
4. Vodafone - (53,200)

The companies also continued to switch their 2G subscriber bases to 3G. While KDDI au's 91% of subscriber base is already 3G, DoCoMo with 21.2% of 3G subscribers just started the shift. DoCoMo re-signed more than 600 thousand of its 2G subscribers to 3G base in February.

3G subscriber bases in February:

1. KDDI - 17.3m
2. DoCoMo - 10.2m
3. Vodafone - 0.6m

At the end of February 2005, Japan cellular operators' total subscriber bases were as follows:

1. DoCoMo - 48,098,600
2. KDDI au - 18,922,700
3. Vodafone - 15,152,300
4. Tu-Ka - 3,601,100

Chaku-Uta Full: 1 million downloads per month

The number of Chaku-Uta Full downloads is accelerating with every month. Having announced 2 million downloads just a month ago, KDDI added another million downloads in February, resulting in 3 million MP3 song downloads since the service's rollout in November 2004.

Currently, there are 10 portals offering about 13,000 records. KDDI reported 410,000 Chaku-Uta Full service compatible handsets sold by the end of 2004. There were four cell phone models for sale with Chaku-Uta Full support: W21CA, W21T, W22H, W22H. The songs are priced in a range of 200-300 Japanese Yen, which is about $1.90~$2.90.

I can imagine what will happen when they offer more songs for download and more handsets with extended memory. Japan will be the first country where iPod is beaten by cell phones. Well, if iPod in turn doesn't come up with a model with integrated voice communication feature.

Tu-ka S: that's what they call a cell phone!

Released in November 2004, Tu-Ka S cell phone impresses you with its extreme simplicity. By the way, S in its name stands for simplified, while Tu-Ka is a name of wireless carrier, a unit of KDDI group that targets non-3G users and runs on 2G PDC network.

This phone does not have any screen, address book or any other features we got used to have on modern cell phone. The only feature it has is voice communication. That's it.

Of course, there is a reason why Kyocera came up with such device. It aims senior citizens that prefer devices with simple interface and easy-to-see buttons. Believe it or not, the phone proved to be popular enough to help Tu-Ka to stop the tendency of customers fleeing from the carrier. Actually, Tu-Ka even managed to do some new net additions in recent months.

Tu-Ka S specifications:

• Weight - 87g
• Talk time - 240 minutes
• Stand-by time - 840 hours

Cabir: welcome to the club, Japan!

According to F-Secure's blogpost, mobile virus Cabir made its way to Japan. The infection happened when a traveler from Japan visited Hongkong. Having returned home, he noticed abnormalities with his Vodafone 702NK handset's battery. But it was probably too late... :)

F-secure suggests, it is likely that the infection has spread to at least some handsets before the virus was detected.

Here is the updated list of countries where Cabir was found:

1. Philippines
2. Singapore
3. UAE
4. China
5. India
6. Finland
7. Vietnam
8. Turkey
9. Russia
10. UK
11. Italy
12. USA
13. South Africa
14. Australia
15. Hongkong
16. Japan
    

KDDI au's Chaku-uta Full downloads reach 2 million

Having deployed Chaku-uta Full service in November 2004, KDDI au announced the service experienced success with total 2 million downloads by February 5th, 2005.

Chaku-uta Full service allows users to download MP3 full-length songs onto their handsets, using KDDI's high-speed CDMA EV-DO network. The service offers about 13 thousand records for download with the price ranging from JPY200 to JPY300 per song.

Chaku-uta, a 30-second song snippet and a predecessor of Chaku-uta Full, witnessed 1.6 billion downloads by the end of 2004.

Japan's KDDI au hits 19 million subscribers in February 2005

On February 13, 2005, KDDI au, the second largest Japan's wireless carrier, announced the record 19 million-subscriber base. CDMA standard-backer KDDI au competes in 3G arena with NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone that opted for UMTS standard instead.

The company was successful in shifting its subscriber base from 2G to 3G handsets, reaching 90% 3G penetration or 17 million 3G subscribers among its customer base. KDDI au was outperforming its main rival DoCoMo in 3G subscriptions 2 years in a row.

While DoCoMo managed to secure only 9.3 million 3G subscribers so far, it has plenty of room to expand, taking into account its vast 2G subscriber base of 38.7 million subscribers that will likely to shift to the company's 3G base. However, KDDI au may use its appeal such as diversified value added services, attractive handsets, and affordable rates to lure customers from DoCoMo.

Considering Japan's mobile penetration climbing to 70% soon, stealing customers from each other will be the only domestic market strategy left for Japan's mobile operators in near future.

As of January 2005, out of total 127 million Japanese 85.8 million owned a cell phone.