The failure of Apple’s iPhone to mesmerise the Japanese mobile phone market may, among other things, mean that many consumers don’t want easy-to-use and intuitive machines — instead preferring the clunky and cumbersome menus they have been managing with for many moons now.
But, whereas a dizzying selection of displays may be ok for those that have grown up with such gadgetry, for older folk less familiar with a formidable amount of functions, simply sending a text can be taxing,
as well as terribly time consuming.
(click images for full-sized phone flummox)
Chirag says
Ya iPhones’ simplicity can go against it too, as it requires users from the habit of punching the keys and for old, developing a new learning curve is kind of hard work.
S in Shanghai says
Hey, my mom just learned to send emails. I got two empty ones and one with text.
Louis says
I sense somebody’s got a grudge against non-iPhone cellphones. How narrow minded.
Jason says
I have a grudge against non-iPhone mobile phones too, and I do not even own an iPhone, yet. However, the day after I arrive back in the U.S. in two weeks I’ll be a very proud iPhone owner.
It has always baffled me how business people and executives in Tokyo survive without Blackberries when it seems it would be impossible for any of their counterparts in the U.S. to do so (including Obama). Can anyone explain this to me? Do Japanese not need to get things done when out of the office or commuting?
Anyway, can’t wait to get my first smartphone and join the 21st century.
Ah, and good post topic Lee.
Neil Duckett says
I remember how much it sucked texting and emailing from my Docomo phone ….. and i’m sure my hands are a little more nimble than a few of those pictured.
Louis – i sense someone has a grudge against people that own iPhones … a little jealous are we?
Louis says
Neil… where did that come from? I don’t dislike people who own iPhones at all, it’s an excellent piece of hardware. I dislike people who think that it’s unequivocally the single greatest phone on the market, who also think that people who do not own one must have some serious mental retardation. What is best for you is not the best for everyone!
Lee says
Easy there Louis. I think Neil was simply reacting to the ‘narrow minded’ comment you made earlier. Particularly as he’s well aware that I do not have an iPhone.
Ken Y-N says
Jason, you can do most things with a Japanese phone that you can with a BlackBerry, and since the CHTML (docomo et al) standard appeared before the BB, Japanese web sites have grown around delivery in the CHTML format. For popular Japanese web sites I think the user experience on a BB, iPhone, etc is a step down from the tailor-made CHTML mobile browser versions.
As for scheduling features, I haven’t a clue why many Japanese don’t seem to use such apps on either PCs or mobile phones. Our intranet schedule software, for instance, has no RSS feeds or reminder applications, and import/export can only cope with 20 records at a time!
Louis says
Alright Lee.
Ed3 says
I must say I am a tad surprised at their being slow to adopt the iPhone. It does lack in some areas, but indeed it is one slick device!
salyavin says
Well I find input easier if I can feel the keys. I find the iphone lacks many features for the Japanese market like integrated Pasmo and it does not seem to handle Japanese online services as well. I feel the iphone offering in Japan is not so great as you imply.