Nobi Hayashi
While attending Macworld 2010, I had a chance to meet Nobi Hayashi, a highly-respected technology journalist in Japan. Nobi was with a contingency of tech enthusiasts from Japan. I chatted briefly with the group about the next gen iPhone (due this summer?) and the new iPad. I was curious to get their take on which Japanese carrier(s) might provide 3G service for Apple’s newest products (iPhone 4G and iPad). I suggested that Softbank might hold on to their current exclusive and provide service for both the new iPhone and iPad. The group from Japan were not so certain and suggested that despite NTT Docomo’s (Japan’s largest carrier) initial standoffishness (ala Verizon in the US), they could no longer afford to ignore Japanese consumers’ enthusiastic response to iPhone. Sales of the iPhone 3GS have been strong in Japan, and have helped to substantially boost Softbank’s market-share and bottom-line profits (read > Softbank profit up 41% on mobile, iPhone business). They felt that Docomo might be vying to recapture the momentum by offering both the iPhone 4G (fourth generation) and Apple’s new iPad.
I think the group from Japan may be on to something.
Here’s an interesting and related post today from my friend Boxerconan (who follows tech in Japan very closely) via AAPLSanity (< registration required)…
On Twitter, it was posted that Docomo has so much left over HTC/Android phones … They never anticipated that they would catch up with iPhone, but they are shocked. In addition, there was research conducted to ask non-iPhone users (Docomo or Au subscriber that don’t carry iPhones): ‘If Docomo and Au started to carry iPhones, would you buy one?’ More than half of the people said “yes.” And more than half of the people who don’t have iPhones said they don’t have iPhones because their current carrier doesn’t carry them. Other reasons why they don’t have iPhones are: 1. They don’t want to change their e mail address, and 2. Softbank’s network is not quite as good. Remember, initially Japanese consumers complained about iPhones not having TV streaming and e-payment functions … these are no longer important issues.
Regardless of any possible iPhone/iPad deal with Docomo, Apple has been pleased with the support they’ve received from Softbank and it’s likely that any new deal with Docomo would not be an exclusive. That would mean there may soon be two prominent Apple carrier deals in Japan.
