Japan Embraces iPhones to Give Apple the Top Spot in 4Q11

By

While Apple may be struggling to break into the top three spots in China, the story in Japan is quite different. With dramatic improvement in sale of iPhone 4S in Japan, Apple has become the top smartphone seller in the country. According to Rethink Wireless, “This reflects a dramatic shift in consumer habits over the past couple of years, as consumers - accustomed to relying on advanced but proprietary devices commissioned by operators - have finally embraced open smartphones.”

Rethink-Wireless.com reporter Caroline Gabriel wrote, “Success of iPhone 4S finally ends consumers' love affair with homegrown brands and allows Apple to leapfrog Sharp and Fujitsu.”

As per this report, Apple has exploited this shift in consumer trend by forming a relationship with Japanese mobile communications company Softbank. Until last year, Softbank was exclusive distributor of the iPhone in Japan. However, according to the report, Apple has yet to ink a distribution deal with the market leader, NTT DoCoMo. With 60 million subscribers, NTT DoCoMo accounts for almost half of Japan's mobile user base. Meanwhile, the company has been granted permission to sell the iPad.

Data from research firm IDC shows that iPhone 4S accounted for nearly 26.6 percent of cell phone sales in Japan in the fourth quarter of 2011. Rethink-Wireless.com reported that this figure was well ahead of the local suppliers, which traditionally dominate the market because of their close alliances with the three main carriers, including NTT DoCoMo.

Gabriel wrote that the deals are more than normal distribution agreements. “The operators often co-design devices and co-fund R&D and marketing.”  Gabriel added, “that has left vendors like Sharp with products which are hard to sell abroad as they are tailored for Japan's unusually advanced mobile web user habits as well as its particular spectrum bands and user interfaces.”

Research firm IDC’s rankings indicate that Fujitsu is now the biggest handset supplier in Japan, overtaking long time leader Sharp. This rise is attributed to Fujitsu’s joint venture with Toshiba, which united the two electronics giants' mobile activities. However, the Rethink-Wireless.com report suggests that Toshiba is now exiting this deal and the sector. In Q411, this firm had 18.3 percent share, while Sharp had 15.7 percent.

Although, Apple took the top spot in 4Q11, the rankings for the full-year reveal a more common pattern for Japan. For the full year, Sharp leads with 20.1 percent share followed by Fujitsu-Toshiba with 18.8 percent and Apple on 14.2 percent.





Edited by Jennifer Russell
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

TechZone360 Contributor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Can Science Outsmart Deepfake Deceivers? Klick Labs Proposes an Emerging Solution

By: Alex Passett    3/25/2024

Researchers at Klick Labs were able to identify audio deepfakes from authentic audio recordings via new vocal biomarker technology (alongside AI model…

Read More

Top 5 Best Ways to Integrate Technology for Successful Project-Based Learning

By: Contributing Writer    3/19/2024

Project-based learning, also popularly known as the PBL curriculum, emphasizes using and integrating technology with classroom teaching. This approach…

Read More

How to Protect Your Website From LDAP Injection Attacks

By: Contributing Writer    3/12/2024

Prevent LDAP injection attacks with regular testing, limiting access privileges, sanitizing user input, and applying the proper encoding functions.

Read More

Azure Cost Optimization: 5 Things You Can Do to Save on Azure

By: Contributing Writer    3/7/2024

Azure cost optimization is the process of managing and reducing the overall cost of using Azure. It involves understanding the resources you're using,…

Read More

Massive Meta Apps and Services Outage Impacts Users Worldwide

By: Alex Passett    3/5/2024

Meta's suite of apps and services are experiencing major global outages on Super Tuesday 2024.

Read More