Smartphones—those that allow their users to add applications and services of their choosing—have been relegated to the enterprise segment where a few businesses have adopted and developed their own applications. However, pressures to reduce high handset subsidies and extend the life of existing handsets may result in Japan being friendlier to smartphones.

 

　　Symbian and Linux enjoy the highest penetration in the Japanese smartphone market and appear to be the beneficiaries in any expansion of smartphone use there.

 

　　This research also includes findings from a survey of 1,000 Japanese mobile subscribers about their use and interest in multimedia handsets and services. Three quarters of respondents have multimedia-capable phones, but most do not use those functions. Only 10% would be willing to pay for the multimedia capabilities in their next phones.

 

　　This research will be valuable for companies that provide smartphones, multimedia phones, and mobile handset applications or any of the components and semiconductors used in high-end handsets for the Japan market.

•     Executive Summary

•     Introduction

o     Defining Smartphones

o     Smartphones in Japan

   Opportunities for Smartphones

•     Removing Handset Subsidies in Japan

o     Impact on the Market

o     Impact on Consumers

o     Impact on Network Operators

o     Impact on Japanese Handset Manufacturers

•     Japan Multimedia Handset Features Research

o     Multimedia Handset Ownership and Features Use

o     Reasons for Not Wanting Multimedia Handset Features

o     Media Files and Mobile Handsets

   Multimedia File Downloading

   Multimedia Purchase Preference

   Most Multimedia Files Are Lega

o     Multimedia Phone Pricing

   Monthly Mobile Phone Services Expenditures

•     Conclusions and Forecast

o     Handset Features and Subsidies in Japan

o     Smartphones in Japan

o     Forecasts

•     Demographics

•     Methodology

•     Related In-Stat Reports

 

List of Tables

•     Table 1. Detail of Respondent Mobile Phone Cost

•     Table 2. Detail of Respondent Monthly Mobile Phone Service Expenditures

•     Table 3. Forecast Defined Operating Phone Shipments—Japan 2007–2012 (Thousands)

•     Table 4. Demographics

 

List of Figures

•     Figure 1. Use of Mobile Handset Playback Features (Base: Handset Equipped with Feature)

•     Figure 2. Handset Ownership by Capability

•     Figure 3. Intent to Purchase Handset with Multimedia Capability by Type of Handset Now Owned

•     Figure 4. Ownership of Other Playback Devices

•     Figure 5. Multimedia Functionality on Japanese Handsets, By Owner’s Residence

•     Figure 6. Use of Handset Media Player Capability

•     Figure 7. Use of Mobile Handset Playback Features (Base: Phone Equipped With Feature)

•     Figure 8. Reasons for Not Using a Multimedia Handset

•     Figure 9. Memory Available for Media Files (Base: Own Mobile Phone Having Music or Video Playback Capability)

•     Figure 10. Loading Multimedia to Handset Base: Active Users of Multimedia Function On Handset

•     Figure 11. Preference for Purchasing Multimedia Base: Own Mobile Phone with Ability to Play Media

•     Figure 12. Media File Status

•     Figure 13. Paid for Current Handset

•     Figure 14. Pay Extra For Multimedia

•     Figure 15. Monthly Mobile Phone Services Expenditures