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Tag: au

  • Growth in Japan: the SoftBank group

    Growth in Japan: the SoftBank group

    SoftBank gaining market share in Japan

    SoftBank market cap catching up with Docomo

    Mobile subscription data released last week show, that the SoftBank group continues to gain market share while incumbent NTT-docomo continues to lose market share – an upward trend for SoftBank, and a downward trend for NTT-docomo essentially unbroken since SoftBank acquired Vodafone-Japan and succeeded with the turn-round.

    SoftBank’s market cap has also steadily increased recently and is now close to NTT-docomo’s, exceeding it on some days:

    operator || Market Cap (May 10, 2013)

    • NTT-docomo || YEN 6945 billion (US$ 68 billion)
    • SoftBank || YEN 6688 billion (US$ 66 billion)
    • KDDI || YEN 4162 billion (US$ 41 billion)
    SoftBank group exceeds 40 million mobile subscriptions
    SoftBank group exceeds 40 million mobile subscriptions

    Bringing eMobile and PHS operator Willcom under its group umbrella, and by creating the new operator Wireless City Planning (WCP), Softbank group subscription numbers now exceed 40 million, and have overtaken KDDI

    PHS operator Willcom joins the SoftBank group

    PHS operator Willcom registered for bankruptcy administration essentially because of the high investments in upgrading the legacy PHS network infrastructure, and is currently in corporate reconstruction with SoftBank as the reconstruction sponsor.

    Wireless City Planning (WCP) is a wireless operator owned partially by Advantage Partners and SoftBank and other investors, and representing the next generation network Willcom hoped – but could not afford – to develop.

    While negotiating the SPRINT acquisition, SoftBank tricks out KDDI to take control of eMobile

    While Masayoshi Son was secretly negotiating his offer for SPRINT, he discovered that KDDI was in negotiations to acquire new entrant eMobile. While continuing the SPRINT negotiations, he was a faster decision maker than KDDI, and could win the eMobile acquisition right under the eyes of KDDI.

    Since a few weeks ago, iPhones on SoftBank‘s network automatically log into both SoftBank’s and eMobile‘s LTE radio networks, greatly enhancing data transmission rates and coverage.

    More in our report on Japan’s telecommunications sector

    Softbank and Renewable Energy

    Softbank recently also entered the renewable energy business. Read more about Softbank’s renewable energy business in our Renewable energy report (our work on Japan’s energy sector is referenced in IEEE-Spectrum here).

    Learn more about SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, and his 30/300 year vision for SoftBank

    Report on “SoftBank today and 300 year vision” (approx 120 page, pdf file)

    SoftBank today and 300 year vision (20th edition)

    Copyright 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • iida – a new brand for KDDI’s design series by Yayoi Kusama

    iida – a new brand for KDDI’s design series by Yayoi Kusama

    KDDI created a new brand: “iida” for the long running best selling AU design series mobile phones. KDDI introduced some of the most recent iida design series models at the KDDI Designing Center. In addition to the earlier Yamaha musical instruments phones, KDDI introduced a spectacular phone created by Yayoi Kusama.

    Fun is the green leaved charger….

    KDDI iida charger
    KDDI iida charger
    KDDI iida design series - by Yayoi Kusama
    KDDI iida design series – by Yayoi Kusama
    KDDI iida design series - by Yayoi Kusama
    KDDI iida design series – by Yayoi Kusama
    KDDI iida design series - by Yayoi Kusama
    KDDI iida design series – by Yayoi Kusama

    Copyright (c) 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Mobile subscriptions grow by 5 million in Japan during 2006

    Mobile subscriptions grow by 5 million in Japan during 2006

    Japan’s mobile subscriber numbers grew by about 5 million in 2006. Because of the much higher ARPU, Japan’s mobile market again grew by a couple of Finlands during 2006. A growing number of people have more than one mobile phone, to take advantage of the best rates, eg for mail, voice and data. We expect growth to continue. Our analysis below shows that KDDI’s and AU’s gains are a lot larger than a superficial view of the statistics reveals – see our Figure below. Find a detailed review in the latest edition of our JCOMM-Report.

    During 2006 Japan’s mobile subscription base grew by about 5 million – KDDI gained about 4.2 million new subscriptions and is the clear winner, despite shutting down its TuKa 2G service during this period
    During 2006 Japan’s mobile subscription base grew by about 5 million – KDDI gained about 4.2 million new subscriptions and is the clear winner, despite shutting down its TuKa 2G service during this period

    KDDI‘s subscriber gains during 2006 are much bigger than a superficial analysis reveals (see figure above):

    KDDI’s AU mobile service gained about 4.2 million new subscribers during 2006 – more than twice as many than DoCoMo’s cellular service, which gained about 1.8 million new subscriptions.

    Currently, KDDI is shutting down it’s TuKa 2G service, and DoCoMo is shutting down it’s PHS service. Both services together lost more than 2 million subscribers during 2006 – this is a much larger movement than due to number portability introduced on Oct 24, 2006.

    KDDI offers both number portability and mobile email portability, and reports surprise that many former low-end TuKa users moved to top-end high-speed WIN (2.4 Mbps) data services.

    For KDDI, enticing TuKa subscribers to move to high-end/high-speed AU services was an excellent preparation for number portability, and helped KDDI win in the first stage.

    Copyright (c) 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • "au design project 2006": TRILOGY

    "au design project 2006": TRILOGY

    KDDI is unique among mobile operators in creating value from design for phones with the “au design project”. Creating value for which consumers are willing to pay premium prices is a key to success in the rapidly growing global US$ 150 Billion mobile phone business.

    au design project 2006:

    The KDDI Designing Center showed the exhibition “TRILOGY”, displaying some results of the “au design project 2006”. The three concept phones are (from left to right):

    • “kaos” by Naoki Sakai
    • “cypres” by Nao Tamura
    • “vols” by Ross McBride
    KDDI / au design project 2006
    KDDI / au design project 2006
    KDDI / au design project "kaos"
    KDDI / au design project “kaos”
    KDDI / au design project "cypress"
    KDDI / au design project “cypress”
    KDDI / au design project "vols"
    KDDI / au design project “vols”

    Copyright (c) 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • "au design project": INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto

    "au design project": INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto

    KDDI is unique among mobile operators in creating value from design for phones with the “au design project”. Read more about KDDI in our KDDI report.

    Creating value for which consumers are willing to pay premium prices is a key to success in the rapidly growing global US$ 150 Billion mobile phone business.

    INFOBAR was a big success for KDDI. Industrial designer Fukawasa Naoto recently created INFOBAR-2, and introduced it at a show at the KDDI Designing Center in Tokyo:

    "au design project": INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto
    “au design project”: INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto
    "au design project": INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto
    “au design project”: INFOBAR-2 by Fukawasa Naoto

    Copyright (c) 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Yahoo!-keitai replaces Vodafone-Live!

    Yahoo!-keitai replaces Vodafone-Live!

    SoftBank replaced Vodafone-Live! by Yahoo!-Keitai. SoftBank phones have a “Y!”-button which links to Yahoo!-keitai. Yahoo-Keitai! offers a list of official sites, new services (e.g. a new communicator service), and also access to free mobile internet sites through the YAHOO directory, as well as access to YAHOO services, such as YAHOO-auctions.

    SoftBank replaces Vodafone-Life by Yahoo!-keitai as part of the acquisition of Vodafone-Japan
    SoftBank replaces Vodafone-Life by Yahoo!-keitai as part of the acquisition of Vodafone-Japan

    YAHOO!-keitai is a fresh start to revive the mobile internet service, previously known as Vodafone-Live!, and which had been losing market share to competitors i-Mode and EZweb for about 4 years. Previous to the Vodafone-Live! period, Jsky had been successful in gaining market share both from i-Mode and EZweb.

    Market share in Japan's mobile internet market: Vodafone-Life was continuously losing market share before it was acquired by SoftBank, while KDDI's EZweb was winning market share over several years
    Market share in Japan’s mobile internet market: Vodafone-Life was continuously losing market share before it was acquired by SoftBank, while KDDI’s EZweb was winning market share over several years

    Understand Softbank: our report: “SoftBank today and 300 year vision”

    pdf file, approx 120 pages, 47 figures 18 photos, 7 tables

    SoftBank today and 300 year vision (20th edition)

    Copyright 2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Chaku-Uta-Full: 5 million mobile music downloads in Japan

    Chaku-Uta-Full: 5 million mobile music downloads in Japan

    KDDI pioneers full lengths mobile music song downloads via 3G

    Chaku Uta Full achieves 5 million downloads by April 3, 2005

    KDDI/AU announced that 5 Millions Chaku-Uta-Full songs have been downloaded until April 3, 2005.

    KDDI/AU chaku-uta and chaku-uta-full music downloads vs iTunes global downloads
    KDDI/AU chaku-uta and chaku-uta-full music downloads vs iTunes global downloads

    Download our 230 page analysis of KDDI/AU

    Download our “mobile music” report

    Note added: on June 15, 2005, KDDI reported 10 million Chaku-Uta-Full downloads…

    Copyright (c) 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Chaku-uta-full: 3 million mobile music downloads

    Chaku-uta-full: 3 million mobile music downloads

    Japan is the pioneer of mobile music

    Ringing tones and mobile music are pioneered in Japan

    Put until mid-2004, cumulatively KDDI (Japan’s No. 2 mobile operator) sold more “chaku-uta” mobile music song clips in Japan alone than Apple sold music via iTunes globally.

    This fact shows both the power of mobile music, and also the size of Japan’s mobile markets in terms of cash sales.

    KDDI/AU reports 3 million Chaku-uta-full (full song) downloads since it’s start on November 19, 2004:

    KDDI sells approximately as many chaku-uta music clips as iTunes sells music globally demonstrating the enormous size of Japan's mobile music market
    KDDI sells approximately as many chaku-uta music clips as iTunes sells music globally demonstrating the enormous size of Japan’s mobile music market

    More in our “Mobile Music Japan” report.

    Copyright (c) 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • PENCK (KDDI-AU Designer Series)

    PENCK (KDDI-AU Designer Series)

    KDDI/AU Designer Series Model PENCK

    designed by Makoto Saito Design Office Inc.

    Today, February 18, KDDI-AU introduced PENCK – the latest model in the Designer Series, designed by Makoto Saito Design Office Inc.:

    Designer: Makoto Saito Design Office Inc.
    Data rate = 2.4 Mbps
    Music = Chaku-Uta-Full, stereo speakers
    Camera = 1.24 Megapixel, incl QR barcode reader
    GPS = incl. Naviwalk navigation
    and more…

    When I was asked to brief the President of Germany, Horst Koehler, on Japan’s technology sector, KDDI kindly loaned me PENCK-phones, which I used in one of the demonstrations for President Koehler of Japan’s mobile phone industry.

    PENCK phone by Makoto Saito Design Office for KDDI designer series
    PENCK phone by Makoto Saito Design Office for KDDI designer series
    PENCK phone by Makoto Saito Design Office for KDDI designer series
    PENCK phone by Makoto Saito Design Office for KDDI designer series

    Japan telecommunications industry report

    Japan telecommunications industry (66th edition) – Market analysis & tutorial

    Copyright (c) 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Marc Newson designed Talby concept phone announced by KDDI

    Marc Newson designed Talby concept phone announced by KDDI

    KDDI Design Project (today branded iida)

    Marc Newson designed Talby concept phone for Japan’s mobile operator KDDI – au

    On 13 October 2004, KDDI/AU announced “talby”, the third phone in their “AU design series”. Volume sales start in December 2004. We expect that “talby” will be similarly successful as “infobar” one year ago.

    “talby” is a fully featured 3G phone with camera (640×480 pixel), QVGA display, EZappli/BREW, Chaku-uta, email, EZweb, PIM, GPS/EZnaviwalk,…

    Marc Newson - KDDI-AU design series: talby by Marc Newson
    KDDI-AU design series: talby by Marc Newson

    Japan telecommunications industry report

    Japan telecommunications industry (66th edition) – Market analysis & tutorial

    Copyright (c) 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • KDDI/AU has 80% of users on 3G

    80% of KDDI/AU users are now converted to 3G, and KDDI/AU does not sell any 2G phones any more: only 3G and 3.5G (2.4Mbps data download).

    Conversion to 3G in Japan: AU leads, DoCoMo and Vodafone follow. Vodafone's 3G conversion has stalled because of lack or attractive handsets in Japan and too low investment in 3G base stations
    Conversion to 3G in Japan: AU leads, DoCoMo and Vodafone follow. Vodafone’s 3G conversion has stalled because of lack or attractive handsets in Japan and too low investment in 3G base stations

    Here is KDDI/AU‘s newest 3.5G phone – the W21SA, for 2.4Mbps data download:

    KDDI 3G mobile handset W21SA
    KDDI 3G mobile handset W21SA

    More about Japan’s mobile telecom sector:Eurotechnology Japan report on Japan’s telecom industry

    Copyright·©1997-2013 ·Eurotechnology Japan KK·All Rights Reserved·

  • Wireless Japan 2004 exhibition (Tokyo, July 21-23, 2004)

    Wireless Japan 2004 exhibition (Tokyo, July 21-23, 2004)

    FeliCa mobile payment wallet phones at the centre of attention

    by Gerhard Fasol

    Wireless, mobile phone industry trends years before they reach outside Japan

    Every year the Wireless Japan sets global trends in wireless communications and mobile phones. Mobile phone industry professionals cannot afford to miss this trend setting show. It is here that Japanese carriers and handset makers introduce their latest products and show design studies and concept phones which set industry trends for the next months and years.

    There were some surprises: In recent Wireless-Japan shows usually the KDDI/AU-design project prototypes were at the center of attention – this year I could not find any. For example, at Wireless-Japan-2002, KDDI/AU showed “Infobar” prototypes a full 16 months before market introduction. Did KDDI/AU decide to keep future design-project releases secret until they hit the market? Could well be so, given Japan’s increasingly ferocious mobile phone competition. Another surprise was Vodafone’s absence – Vodafone in recent years used to have the biggest show.

    On the other hand this time most handset makers showed impressive concept phones, Matsushita/Panasonic under the heading “Beyond 3G”. The image shows NEC’s concept design study of a flexible multimedia phone: this phone has two screens which can be bent together, and used jointly as a larger screen.

    Wireless Japan 2004 Highlights: “Beyond 3G”

    Beyond 3G: SANYO 3.5G phone for 2.4Mbps data download (for KDDI/AU):

    KDDI/AU 3G phone W21SA
    KDDI/AU 3G phone W21SA
    SANYO show at Wireless Japan 2004
    SANYO show at Wireless Japan 2004

    Wireless Japan 2004: NEC “tag” wrapping multimedia design concept phone:

    Concept model phone by NEC at WirelessJapan-2004 exhibition
    Concept model phone by NEC at WirelessJapan-2004 exhibition

    “Wireless Japan 2004” – much was expected: for example, it wasn’t surprising for anyone that DoCoMo’s i-Mode-FeliCa wallet-phones were center stage of the DoCoMo exhibit with lots of partners demoing wallet-phone applications.

    NEC concept phone
    NEC concept phone
    NEC concept phone
    NEC concept phone

    Matsushita/Panasonic “Beyond 3G” design concepts:

    Panasonic concept phone
    Panasonic concept phone

    DoCoMo UbiButton and UbiChip:

    DoCoMo's UbiButton and UbiChip
    DoCoMo’s UbiButton and UbiChip

    DoCoMo i-Mode-FeliCa wallet phones – for electronic cash:

    the world's first commercial wallet phone: P506iC - by DoCoMo and Panasonic
    the world’s first commercial wallet phone: P506iC – by DoCoMo and Panasonic

    DoCoMo i-Mode-FeliCa wallet phones – as an electronic door key:

    Mobile phone as a RFID key to lock and unlock doors
    Mobile phone as a RFID key to lock and unlock doors

    We have substantial documentation about the Wireless Japan 2004 exhibition, and most other year’s Wireless Japan exhibitions. If you need information or documentation for prior art or other investigations, please contact us.

    Learn more: report on Japan’s telecom sector (269 pages, pdf file):

    Japan telecommunications industry (66th edition) – Market analysis & tutorial

    Copyright 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Wireless Japan 2003 exhibition (Tokyo, July 16-18, 2003)

    Wireless Japan 2003 exhibition (Tokyo, July 16-18, 2003)

    Japan shows advanced applications of 3G wireless communications

    3G concept phones, 3G video, mobile payment, doorlooking via 3G

    by Gerhard Fasol

    Learn more: report on Japan’s telecom sector (269 pages, pdf file):

    Japan telecommunications industry (66th edition) – Market analysis & tutorial

    Copyright 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved

  • Wireless Japan 2002 exhibition (July 17-19, 2002) in Tokyo

    Wireless Japan 2002 exhibition (July 17-19, 2002) in Tokyo

    Global mobile trends start in Japan

    by Gerhard Fasol

    Docomo’s first 3G phones, KDDI brings design to mobile phones

    The annual Wireless-Japan exhibition highlights the trends of mobile communications in Japan. At Wireless-Japan 2002 KDDI started setting the trend of concept phones.

    KDDI/AU “Design Project:” Design study for the bestselling “INFOBAR”.

    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype
    KDDI/AU design series prototype

    The KDDI/AU design study above became the origin of the bestselling “INFOBAR”-3G phone.

    And here are two images of the bestselling “INFOBAR”-phone in the version sold by KDDI.

    KDDI/AU design series - Infobar
    KDDI/AU design series – Infobar

    Design study by AU/KDDI for future mobile handsets. This design study was the basis for the PENCK model sold by KDDI/AU at a later date.

    KDDI/AU design series prototype: PENCK
    KDDI/AU design series prototype: PENCK

    Big Blue Vending machine for mobile internet usage by IBM

    IBM vending machines for mobile payment
    IBM vending machines for mobile payment

    Combined mobile phone and television receiver by DoCoMo:

    starting a trend to mobile TV…

    DoCoMo prototype phone for mobile TV
    DoCoMo prototype phone for mobile TV

    Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) linked to mobile phones by DoCoMo
    gradually DoCoMo is introducing payment applications to mobile phones. In 2004, two years later, DoCoMo introduces the walletphone.

    IY Bank (later renamed 7-Bank) ATM protoype
    IY Bank (later renamed 7-Bank) ATM protoype

    Karaoke Machine linked to mobile phones by DoCoMo

    Linking Karaoke to mobile phones
    Linking Karaoke to mobile phones

    FOMA video telephone and MOPPET fixed line video telephony terminal, allows video conversation between FOMA mobile phone and fixed line telephone.

    More information about 3G in Japan and FOMA: www.eurotechnology.com/3G/.

    NTT Moppet
    NTT Moppet

    SH2101V handheld PC and video camera for FOMA (3G) use, including video camera

    DoCoMo 3G prototype multi-media phone SH2101V
    DoCoMo 3G prototype multi-media phone SH2101V

    We have substantial documentation about the Wireless Japan 2002 exhibition, and most other year’s Wireless Japan exhibitions. If you need information or documentation for prior art or other investigations, please contact us.

    Learn more: report on Japan’s telecom sector (269 pages, pdf file):

    Japan telecommunications industry (66th edition) – Market analysis & tutorial

    Copyright 1997-2013 Eurotechnology Japan KK All Rights Reserved