“According to a survey by iSHARE, 91.0% of Japanese mobile phone users are not planning to purchase Apple Inc’s ‘iPhone’ mobile phone,” Yukiko Kanoh reports for Tech-On.
“This research was conducted in the wake of the announcement by SoftBank Mobile Corp that it will release the iPhone in Japan,” Kanoh reports. “Targeting Internet users aged primarily 20 to 49, iSHARE asked questions about their intention to purchase an iPhone, as well as other questions and received 402 responses over the Internet.”
Kanoh reports, “The survey had been conducted from June 5 to 6, 2008, before pricing [and features] for an iPhone handset was announced.”
MacDailyNews Take: Oh, so the survey is virtually useless. Thanks.
Kanoh continues, “Asked if they have a plan to purchase an iPhone, 36 respondents (8.9%) said “I am planning to purchase one.” Nearly half of these 36 respondents were SoftBank Mobile users, iSHARE said.”
MacDailyNews Take: Japan’s population is 127.3 million. Let’s take a wild guess that, oh, 30% of Japan’s population is between the ages of 20-49. That would be 38.19 million. 8.9% of that is 3.4 million iPhones sold to Japanese buyers who had no idea of the feature-set or pricing. In other words: 34% of Apple’s total iPhone unit sales goal for 2008 (10 million). Sight unseen. Fun with statistics. This bodes very well for Apple when you break it down, doesn’t it?
There’s more in the full article, in which we find that many Japanese people really, really, really love replaceable batteries, here.
MacDailyNews Note: We really couldn’t find out much information about what iSHARE even is, much less what their methodology was for the survey. If anyone has more info let us know.
For another viewpoint, WhatJapanThinks.com reports, “On the 13th of June 2008 330 mobile phone-using members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor panel employed in private industry completed a members-only internet-based questionnaire.”
For the question, “SoftBank customers: will you upgrade your current phone to an iPhone?” (Sample size=56, SoftBank customers), 25% said they would or maybe would upgrade to iPhone.
More questions and answers here.
[UPDATE: 8:27pm EDT: Added WhatJapanThinks.com article snippet and link.]
Japan’s population:
127,288,419 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.7% (male 8,926,439/female 8,460,629)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 41,513,061/female 40,894,057)
65 years and over: 21.6% (male 11,643,845/female 15,850,388) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 43.8 years
male: 42.1 years
female: 45.7 years (2008 est.)
(source: CIA factbook)
shoudn’t these Treo users look for a better device that doesn’t require resetting or needing its battery to be popped out every so often, instead of expecting the iPhone to give them the same crappy experience with their Treos?
It might be a bit of a surprise but, Apple is gaining Market share in Japan. And the cell phone charging stations in Japan also include the ability to charge iPods so, the iPhone is all set their. The iPod is after all the #1 selling portable media player in Japan. The big thing in Japan is Mobile TV on the cell phone and a number of Mobile TV companies are working to add their Mobile TV Apps to the iPhone. Expect Japan to be a huge market for the iPhone and Apple in late 2008 and exploding in 2009.
@American in Japan
<<Any time something new comes out here, there are lines around the block.>> Ain’t that true ! And they’ll pay a premium and be proud to do so ! (And yet complain continously about it… たかいですね？！そうですよう！)
As for the statistics…
I’m 100% not unlikely to want an iPhone
… or is it 0% likely to not want an iPhone?
Oh.. also, about the battery thing in Japan. Aren’t we constantly hearing that one reason the Japanese market won’t buy an EXPENSIVE iPhone is due to their frequently updating their phones ? Well, if that is true…Why in the hell would a replaceable be a factor. I’ve had my current phone for over 2 yrs and the battery still works just fine. Any time I have power problems it is due to forgetting to charge the thing over night !
And we all know how unpopular Apple is in Japan.
Hope I didn’t come off as an Anti-Numerite.
Of course binary and hexidecimal numbers are included.
Gosh, even multi-decimals — like 10.5.3 or 10.4.11
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to say 91% of Japanese SURVEYED don’t want the iPhone? There could have been ten people surveyed for that, for all we know. Statistics are the most useless invention since the Big Ass Table.
who care really? I don’t care even I live in US. because a lot of Japanese phones give people more function than iphone. of course, UI, using the phone are little difficult. but there are a lot more nicer in Japan. don’t push us to use iphone, blame because this is mac apple whatever site.
Amen! According to the study Apple will sell 8 million iPhones in Japan next year. That is a huge number. I can’t believe the negative spin!!!
GAC
One word…..China
Ok three….
No wait, eight.
Yea, what edward said….
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What edward might of meant…
Someone worries really? I don’ Worried I of t have lived in the United States. Because many Japanese telephone iphone gives many functions to the people at times. Naturally, using the telephone, UI a little is difficult. But it is more splendid than the large quantity in Japan, but it is. don’ Because t what kind of place this is the apple of the raincoat, we are pushed in order to use iphone and responsibility.
And when it catches on, no one likes to feel left out. I’ve no doubt they’ll come around when they see the gorgeous anti-aliased kanji.
ー えええ!? iPhone かっちゃったの？
ー うん、三時間ならんでったよ！
402 responses??? what a crappy publication that must be.
And who creates stats for 120 million people based on 400 responses?
50% of all statistics are made up 90% of the time.
61% of all statistics are made up on the spot (i.e. pulled out of someones ass).
There’s still Japs around? Didn’t we fry up those bastards?
You couldn’t fry an ant if you tried, pussy-boy.
> 4 out of 3 people have problems with fractions.
I thought it was 3 out of 4 people..
I bet 99.99% of the ppl bashing statistics would be of diff opinion had the survey been positive to iPhone
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A clamshell iPhone in Japan would go down a treat
@Ampar
I got it.
@Ampar
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