News
Issue #2002 - 44 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 20, 2002)

MARKET OUTLOOK & TRENDS

Wireless News from Japan

Additional Source: http://www.MobileMediajapan.com

KDDI Reaches 3 Million Users with CDMA 2000 1X/WAP 2.0 Browser
Supported by Openwave, KDDI launched its WAP 2.0 service on its 2.5G CDMA network in December 2001, and on its 3G CDMA 1XRTT network in April 2002, offering attractive new data services targeted at young, active users. By focusing on the subscriber, KDDI identified a small set of applications that would appeal to their target market, such as photo messaging, movie messaging, global positioning, and games. These new services helped attract 335,000 subscribers within the first month of availability. Just seven months later, KDDI has over 3 million new subscribers on its 3G network. 

Matsushita aims high in China 
Summary: Nov. 14, 2002. Managing Director Shinichi Okamoto of Matsushita's mobile-phone department in China told the China Daily Business Weekly his company is aiming for a 25-percent share of China's handset market by 2005 by focusing on high-end phones. He estimated high-end phones account for approximately 14 percent of handsets sold in China. Matsushita markets handsets under the Panasonic brand name. The company is targeting the handset replacement market in China with high-end, camera-equipped phones. Matsushita will also develop games for China Mobile's General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) service. (Global Wireless News) 

Japan's Mobile Phone Shipments in Sept. Down 40% over 2001 
Summary: The Japan Electronic and Information Industries Association (JEITA) on Nov. 12 announced that Japan's mobile phone shipments in September 2002 decreased 38.8 percent compared to the same month last year to 2,857,000 units. The downward trend has continued for 16 straight months. JEITA also announced that shipments in the first half of fiscal 2002 (April-September) reached 20,332,000 units, showing a 23.2 percent decrease from the same period of the previous term. The shipment of cellular phones and in-car phones declined 36.2 percent to 2,783,000 units year-on-year. The PHS shipments declined significantly by 76.1 percent to 74,000 units. (Asia Biztech/JEITA)

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Japan continues to lead the world in wireless data applications. KDDI has succeeded in getting a head start with 3G adoption. Surprisingly, DoCoMo is unable to repeat its i-mode success with a repeat performance on its FOMA network. It is the content and selective applications that are driving KDDI's success. 

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