(keitai-l) Re: smartphones in Japan (was: Fukuoka Kyushu 3G Vodafone coverage)

From: Gerhard Fasol <fasol_at_eurotechnology.com>
Date: 05/17/05
Message-ID: <42894285.3060501@eurotechnology.com>
 > ...the fact the market is so closed...

Nick,

Japan's telecom market is not "so closed" at all.
It is probably one of the most open telecom
markets in the world.

Look: Vodafone and Carlyle could acquire some of
the most important phone companies in Japan,
Nokia, and soon Motorola sell handsets etc.

Nokia sells carrier branded and non-branded phones.

That most carriers in Japan sell phones strategically
tied to their brands is a business decision which
seems to fly well with consumers, who love to buy
"Infobar" or "PENCK" or SHARP handsets.

The choice is definitely there, Japanese consumers
have the choice to buy non-carrier branded NOKIA
phones or PENCK for example.

You have to ask Japanese consumers why they prefer
locked-down Infobar or locked-down PENCK to
non-locked NOKIA's.

There is nothing preventing you to sell un-branded
phones in Japan as long as you go through the
technical/safety approval process.

Gerhard

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Gerhard Fasol, PhD                         Eurotechnology Japan K. K.
fasol_at_eurotechnology.com               http://www.eurotechnology.com/
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Received on Tue May 17 04:02:36 2005