Opinions divided over iPhone's success in Japan

By Mai Iida

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8 Comments

noborito at 07:15 AM JST - 12th July

Softbank Mobile has a terrible connection. Everytime I talk with someone who has a Softbank phone, I feel they are talking to me in a bathroom. I don't believe the iPhone has "A camera, TV Tuner, or sd card" kind of need that here. So, looser company selling looser products again.
efftta at 08:21 AM JST - 12th July

So, looser company selling looser products again. >

That's stooping a bit low isn't it, even for JT terms? Just a correction to your rant - the iPhone does have a camera, albeit not as flash as some you can get on cellphones these days, I believe it's still a 2 megapixel one. Regarding the TV Tuner, seriously, I travel a LOT on trains daily, and it's pretty rare to see Japanese using their TV tuner mobiles to watch anything. The guys that are watching things are using their PSPs and portable DVD players, or even laptops, to watch programs - most people skip using their cellphones, because the screen is too small. I can only agree with you on the SD card part - it's a sight shame the iPhone doesn't come with a slot for a removable card - but then again, when you'll be able to purchase a 32 gig iPhone soon, how much difference is a 2 gig SD card REALLY going to make.....?
wilbur at 09:55 AM JST - 12th July

gee, after one entire day, they're qualified to make a judgement ?
noborito at 10:05 AM JST - 12th July

Let's see, my phone has the following features.

-Bilingual -5.0M Camera/with movie -TV Tuner (digital quality) -TV Recorder -Internet (full page view & ezweb view) -Walk Navigation -Car Navigation -Infrared -Bar code reader and maker -MP3 Player -Money Manger (FeliCa) -Built in Suica. and much more.

Why again would Japanese people want iPhone with the lowest quality provider in Japan?
badmigraine at 10:48 AM JST - 12th July

Good question. Why don't you ask the hundreds of people who camped overnight in the street to get it. If that's not possible, then why don't we buy one and examine it to see if we can figure out why Japanese people would want this device. I read that the entire Kanto stock of iPhones sold out before the end of the first day, so we might have to wait awhile before finding the answer to this puzzling question of yours. Nevertheless, I can't shake the feeling that you are onto something here. The signs so far certainly support the idea that Japanese people won't want the iPhone.
Bovinus at 08:38 PM JST - 13th July

Oh, who cares? In a year there will be a new model (again) which is twice as powerful for half the price. Gigantic yawn. Another product for fashion victims (people interested in fashion).
realist at 02:05 PM JST - 15th July

iPhone is just a passing fad . . . I pity the poor folks who queued for days to buy something that really isnt much good, compared to your typical Japanese cellphone. Softbank are already ripping me off . . so I am thinking seriously of changing to Docomo. Its one good feature seems to be that it is "cool." But in this heat - it will soon melt.
helloklitty at 04:24 PM JST - 15th July

Now, the merely annoying can be the super annoying. I can see it now, "See, according to my i-hon you wrong again hairy white man. Ha ha ha. You didn't know?! Ha ha ha."

I'm not sure if I'll get one. I usually let Oprah decide for me.