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According to Forbes, who got their info from Reuters, Mobile phone shipments in Japan dropped 58% (!) in October to what is the lowest monthly total on record. Now for us Mobile-centric bods, that IS worrying news – because Japan is often considered a barometer for the rest of the world, albeit usually ahead of the curve.
However all may not quite be as it seems, since although the economy is a main suggested cause, it’s also important to bear in mind the introduction of new business models whereby Operators charge for devices in return for lower calling charges.
Either way, if the sales are dropping away, then that will, over time affect the R&D of companies selling handsets there – and as we know, Japan is famous for technologically-advanced handsets….
[Via: Forbes / Image via: japan-guide.com]
About The Author
Ben Robinson
Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.
