A model poses with KDDI au’s new mobile handset made by Sharp Corp for the autumn/winter season on Monday.
PHOTO BY TARO FUJIMOTO

KDDI au unveils new mobile handsets for autumn/winter season

Tuesday 28th October, 02:23 AM JST

By Taro Fujimoto

TOKYO —

Mobile carrier KDDI au on Monday unveiled seven new mobile handsets for the autumn/winter season for the Japanese market. The company said it expects the new handsets and services to revitalize the shrinking market.

“With new design and service, we will make au something original,” said Makoto Takahashi, associate senior vice president and general manager for consumer business. “While the market is shrinking, we will seek profitability in terms of quality of our contents.”

The company will provide a new application on new handsets for its Jibun Bank, so users can open bank accounts and use e-money services. It will also conduct discount campaigns for new subscribers and users who make a contract with the company through MNP (mobile number portability) service switching from another mobile carrier.

Asked about iPhone and Google’s mobile handset, Takahashi said, “I think that for the U.S. market, mobile Internet service is still new and iPhone and other smart phones are also something new (in terms of function and service). But in Japan where mobile Internet access is already widespread, we have to carefully consider the combination of new handsets and services for our users.”

The official release date for each of the new handsets will be announced shortly, the company said.

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10 Comments

rjd_jr at 07:38 AM JST - 28th October

The handset looks decent, the model looks better.
MissWorldTravel at 08:48 AM JST - 28th October

are you kidding?
MissWorldTravel at 08:49 AM JST - 28th October

look again
ultradodgy at 10:19 AM JST - 28th October

she looks like she's 12 feet tall.

the phone is actually a 50 inch plasma...
soldave at 10:57 AM JST - 28th October

She does look like she's really huge for some reason!
thepro at 01:25 PM JST - 28th October

Its her hands. My God, look at the size of them!
seggahme at 03:16 PM JST - 28th October

kids
2020hindsight at 03:18 PM JST - 28th October

"But in Japan where mobile Internet access is already widespread, we have to carefully consider the combination of new handsets and services for our users."

Yeah, right! The 'full browser' on Japanese phones are pathetic. They can't render most simple internet pages.
soldave at 08:55 AM JST - 29th October

2020hindsight - depends on your phone, obviously.

And I think you're onto something with her hands. Her head looks very big too!
nisegaijin at 01:43 PM JST - 31st October

Yeah, right! The 'full browser' on Japanese phones are pathetic. They can't render most simple internet pages.

They all have PC site viewer which will render any site you want, but it's slow as hell!!

AU is releasing a smart phone running windows next spring, but the trade off is that you will not be able to use mobile sites, Cmail, au email, and Felica services.