" CNN reported！iPhone（アイフォーン） 3G launched in Tokyo - 9 reasons why the iPhone sucks in Japan"
Tokyo —July 11, 2008—iPhone 3G is now available throughout Japan! Japan's third-largest mobile phone operator, Softbank, an exclusive iPhone carrier in Japan, launched iPhone. (The iPhone is アイフォーン in Japanese.) The biggest mobile phone companies in Japan are NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, and Softbank (formerly Vodafone, and before that J-phone). Docomo is the most popular company with about 50 million subscribers. Au is next with about 30 million subscribers, while Softbank has about 15 million subscribers.
Here is the YouTube video, reported by CNN. iPhone line forms in Japan at Softbank flagship store in “Tokyo’s Fifth Avenue”, Omotesandou street. ↓
As you might know, Japan is a leadeing country in cell phone technology and Japanese one supports various features such as internet browsers, games, cameras, televisions, electronic wallets/train passes, gps/navigation and music players. Despite its popularity, iPhone has negative points in its features compared to Japanese cell phones,
" 9 reasons
why the iPhone sucks in Japan"
to sum it up;
1.Denshi-money (electric money or smart cards) is not supported
I've never seen such a feature in the US, but Cell phone can be your wallet, credit card, ID card or a key to your home in Japan.
2.Wansegu (AKA, OneSeg or1seg) is not supported
can't watch TV but can watch YouTube.
3.Forced into iPhone contracts and not so cheap
starting from 7,280yen(approx. $70)...never cheap. - Purchase of iPhone 3G 8GB model at approximately ¥23,000($215), ¥960($9)/month, and unlimited packet usage at ¥5,985($56) -
4.camera is not useful
'tebure hosei'(image stabilizing system) is not supported. 2mega pixcel is low quality. Japanese one is 10 megapixcel!
5.The handset is expensive! 2,300yen($215)
still cheaper than the first generation...
6.the carrier is Softbank
the telecommunications infrastructure is poorer than NTT Docomo(No.1), au by KDDI(No.2)
7.telecommunication is unreliable
'transmission equipment will get busy when many take advantage of ‘Packet Flat-rate Full’' - enabling customers full access to web browsing, video and map services regardless of the communication charges.
8.Apple's the first product is always risky
It's the second generation though...
9.The battery is inside of the body and unremovable
You need to go by Apple store to change the battery and it takes a week...
PS I still remember that my host-mother was proudly carrying a cell phone that was as big as codeless handset, whereas I had been using a much smaller cell phone in Japan in 2001. But, yeah, cell phones were rare in those days in the US. Actually, if I remember correctly, I've started to have my own cell phone 2 years later than that. I didn't feel any inconveniences, even though I didn't have a cell phone at that days. If not so many people had a cell phone, cell phone wouldn't be so useful. So I was using 'pay phone'(ko-shu denwa, 公衆電話) at that days.
