Comments on: Apple’s Japanese puzzle as iPhone sales slow http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/ Word-miner, watching iChange since '99. Wed, 23 May 2012 21:46:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Free iPhones for all - in Japan | Free iPhone http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/comment-page-1/#comment-2523 Free iPhones for all - in Japan | Free iPhone Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:24:23 +0000 http://distorted-loop.com/?p=2707#comment-2523 [...] a problem market for the firm because of hostility to non-domestic brands. Apple reportedly sold 200,000 devices in Japan in the first two months since launch, but then hit a [...] [...] a problem market for the firm because of hostility to non-domestic brands. Apple reportedly sold 200,000 devices in Japan in the first two months since launch, but then hit a [...]

]]> By: Al http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/comment-page-1/#comment-2259 Al Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:50:12 +0000 http://distorted-loop.com/?p=2707#comment-2259 Yep. It's pretty simple Softbank and Apple: you've priced your product too high in Japan. Japan Softbank: 16GB will cost you 8,720 yen per month (£63.36) for 24 months and this doesn't include the cost of calls to other networks. Phone is included in this price, but amounts to 80,640 yen (£585.81)! UK O2: 16GB will only cost you £37.43 ( 5,152 yen) per month for 24 months including 300mins (basic business package). The cost of phone is included in this price, but the phone cost is only £156.59 (21,568 yen)! The exchange rate is pretty unfavourable right now, but even so.... Yep. It’s pretty simple Softbank and Apple: you’ve priced your product too high in Japan.

Japan Softbank: 16GB will cost you 8,720 yen per month (£63.36) for 24 months and this doesn’t include the cost of calls to other networks. Phone is included in this price, but amounts to 80,640 yen (£585.81)!

UK O2: 16GB will only cost you £37.43 (
5,152 yen) per month for 24 months including 300mins (basic business package). The cost of phone is included in this price, but the phone cost is only £156.59 (21,568 yen)!

The exchange rate is pretty unfavourable right now, but even so….

]]> By: Richard http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/comment-page-1/#comment-1961 Richard Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:30:55 +0000 http://distorted-loop.com/?p=2707#comment-1961 I think our problem is that we do not listen very well. Japanese people like Chris in Tokyo are telling us the story, but we (exemplified by mark) are not listening. The problem might be simpler than we think... We just have to adapt the iPhone to allow Japan's culture to express itself in it, not try to convince Japanese people to do things our way. I think our problem is that we do not listen very well. Japanese people like Chris in Tokyo are telling us the story, but we (exemplified by mark) are not listening.

The problem might be simpler than we think… We just have to adapt the iPhone to allow Japan’s culture to express itself in it, not try to convince Japanese people to do things our way.

]]> By: mark http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/comment-page-1/#comment-1944 mark Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:54:11 +0000 http://distorted-loop.com/?p=2707#comment-1944 how is that any different than what it is in the US? prices are expensive as hell everywhere, but look at what you're getting. how is that any different than what it is in the US? prices are expensive as hell everywhere, but look at what you’re getting.

]]> By: Chris in Tokyo http://distorted-loop.com/2008/11/19/apples-japanese-puzzle-as-iphone-sales-slow/comment-page-1/#comment-1817 Chris in Tokyo Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:46:06 +0000 http://distorted-loop.com/?p=2707#comment-1817 Yes, I like a lot of other people bought the iphone when it came out here in Japan. Basically, the monthly price is one big reason why its not so called selling well - at the start it was around 8,000 yen or $80 American for a monthly unlimited download plan. That is quite expensive for the 18 to 30 year old consumer base which is driving the market here. The iphone itself was not expensive as you need to buy your phone outright with Softbank. Japan is a hard market to crack. Ive been surprised by some of the disinformation that has been spread surrounding some products. Apple has done quite well here but it really needed to put some extra features in the grab the market here. those are emocons (like in MSN) are very very popular in Japan. that Would have been a start !!! Yes, I like a lot of other people bought the iphone when it came out here in Japan. Basically, the monthly price is one big reason why its not so called selling well – at the start it was around 8,000 yen or $80 American for a monthly unlimited download plan. That is quite expensive for the 18 to 30 year old consumer base which is driving the market here. The iphone itself was not expensive as you need to buy your phone outright with Softbank.

Japan is a hard market to crack. Ive been surprised by some of the disinformation that has been spread surrounding some products. Apple has done quite well here but it really needed to put some extra features in the grab the market here.

those are emocons (like in MSN) are very very popular in Japan. that Would have been a start !!!

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