Japan iPhone

How is this device going to fare in Japan? Japan is the nearest place to techical heaven the world has at it's disposal, so this will be a tough job for Apple, even with their previous success in the Japanese market.

Apple must have some sense of what's necessary to succeed in this market. If this is true, then this can't be the phone they intend to release in Japan. As it is currently configured, the iPhone is well behind local technology. Far from "redefining what you can do on a mobile phone," the current iPhone is designed to work on communications networks that are older and slower than what Japanese consumers and the general public are used to.

Besides, Japanese phones are equipped with plenty of features not available on this iPhone.

For instance, Japanese handsets:

- Contain IC chips that let you charge retail products to your phone and board trains with automatic ticket purchasing.
- Are equipped to read QR codes (special Japanese bar codes that allow consumers to access information like coupons and website data).
- Incorporate safety features like fingerprint scanners to prevent others from using your phone.
- Let you watch broadcast TV.
- Have much higher-resolution built-in cameras.
- Allow conference calling with up to five people.

Consequently, how well the iPhone will do in Japan depends on what the Apple HQ are planning for future versions. According to one report in a Nikkei paper, Apple doesn't intend to release the iPhone in Japan until 2008.

Presumably, this will give them enough time to catch up with, and hopefully, even surpass many of the offerings that will be available in the thriving Japanese market. Please this page regularly to see updated information.