eurotechnology.japan.blog

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....

Labels: au, au design project, design series, iida, KDDI, mobile phone, yayoi kusama

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.




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.

Labels: au, docomo, Japan, KDDI, mnp, mobile, mobile number portability, subscriber numbers, subscriptions, wireless

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

Labels: au, au design project, concept phones, cypres, design value, kaos, KDDI, nao tamura, naoki sakai, ross mcbride, vols

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.

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:

Labels: au, au design project, concept phones, infobar, KDDI, kddi designing studio

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.

Highlights: "Beyond 3G"

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






NEC "tag" wrapping multimedia design concept phone:






Matsushita/Panasonic "Beyond 3G" design concepts:



DoCoMo UbiButton and UbiChip:



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



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

Labels: 3g, au, concept phones, docomo, foma, KDDI, softbank, vodafone, wireless japan 2004

Concept Phones

AU/KDDI Design Series Concept Phones "talby" design by Marc Newson, commercial introduction: December 2004












The following image shows the "talby" series introduced in December 2004. The commercially introduced models are almost the same as the concept models shown at Wireless Japan 2003, with a few small modifications (e.g. three navigation buttons were added to the design.)



SANYO presented a series of 3G phones and concept phones. Later (2007/2008), after a failed Sanoy-Nokia joint venture had been dissolved, SANYO sold the mobile phone division to Kyocera and ended mobile phone production.






JM-NET IP cell phone concept model















KDDI terrestrial digital TV concept model and demonstration:



SANYO 3G concept cell phones







DoCoMo 3G and FOMA









DoCoMo FOMA 3G cell phone F2102









DoCoMo FOMA 3G cell phone P2102 by Panasonic






DoCoMo FOMA 3G cell phone N2102 by NEC



DoCoMo/NEC lovely pink cell phone



DoCoMo airview: remote video control via FOMA 3G



Drinks machine with e-cash payment system and DoPa wireless network connection



GEOFREE waterproof cell phone



GEOFREE waterproof cell phone



DoCoMo "Jailor" remote operation of door locks via FOMA 3G



DoCoMo remote video via FOMA 3G



Linking VISA payment solutions to DoCoMo phones



DoCoMo FOMA 3G phones






DoCoMo network camera solution



DoCoMo Wristomo (combined wrist watch and PHS mobile phone)















Robots and mobile phones

Power shovel remote controlled via FOMA 3G cell phone












SONY Aibo robot dog remote controlled via FOMA 3G cell phone









Camera phones

FUJI imaging for mobile computing and mobile camera phones



Printing images taken by camera phones















Vodafone

In 2003 Vodafone participated in the Wireless Japan 2003 exhibition. Later Vodafone's business situation in Japan deteriorated considerably, and Vodafone did not participate in Japanese trade shows any longer, before selling operations to SoftBank in 2006.

Labels: 3g, au, concept phones, docomo, infobar, KDDI, vodafone live, wireless japan 2003