While the rest of the world has been clamoring to get their hands on the iPhone, the Japanese seem to think otherwise. This is another classic case of cultural differences – differences in tastes and preferences. According to Forbes.com, Japanese who sign up for a 2-year contract with Softbank Mobile can avail of a free 8GB iPhone unit. And if you happen to want the higher version of the iPhone, say the 16GB unit, you only have to pay $118 with the 2-year contract. Even with the payment necessary, the price is less than half of what the iPhone is currently going for in other countries!
This is probably quite incomprehensible for one who lives in a nation such as the United States, or even the United Kingdom, where people of all ages seem to be doing most anything within their power to find a way to afford the iPhone. So why is this happening? How can a technologically advanced country not fall in love with the iPhone?
Any serious techie will give you a shake of his head as an answer. It is simple – the iPhone has not appealed to the Japanese people in general because it is not quite the technologically advanced phone that we think it is. It is true, the iPhone is cool. There is no arguing with that. But in Japan, where people change their mobile phones twice a year (this might be an exaggeration but you get the point), something like the iPhone is not that great.
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Posted March 1st, 2009 by Maki | Comments (3)
How nice. Wish I am in Japan now. Love I phone
I agree with that.. I dont think it will be that appealing to the japanese– after all Docomo phones are waaay better..
Awesome blog btw
I agree tho with the Japnase public, an Iphone’s really not all that for them..
After all DoComo phones are waaay better.