Starting in April 2007, the Japanese Government requires that all new third-generation mobile phones support position notification functionality using GPS. The latest 3G-models of the three carriers indeed all come with GPS. Time to take a look what location-based services are offered.

Misleading advertisements, a complaining CEO on television, a crashing customer registration system - it all happened within 72 hours after the mobile number portability scheme was introduced on October 24. What has been the impact so far on the mobile subscriber base of the three large carriers?

DoCoMo started selling the Blackberry 8707h in the Japanese market on September 26. The device supports the 3G-(W-CDMA), GSM- and GPRS-networks and is similar to the Blackberry 8707 sold outside Japan. DoCoMo initially targets foreign companies with this Blackberry - the key board is a QWERTY-type...

KDDI's impressive rollout of new services and handsets is sure to provoke a quick response from DoCoMo and Vodafone / Softbank.

How will the introduction of MNP affect market shares of the carriers?

The Livedoor scandal was the final fillip that sent share prices of mobile Internet providers on a downward spiral.

Vodafone announced last week it was in talks with Softbank to sell its Japan subsidiary. The price tag? USD15 to USD17 billion, according to analysts' estimates. The news was well received by the financial markets, driving up Softbank's market cap. Not much was said, however, about Softbank's motives.

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J@pan Inc presents the Wireless Watch Newsletter:

W I R E L E S S W A T C H

Commentary on Japan's Wireless World
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Wireless Watch Newsletter
Issue No. 152
Tokyo, Friday March 3, 2006

CONTENTS
++ Viewpoint: Essays on a Japanese Vade Mecum

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JIC Sponsored Interviews

In 2004, Nokia 702 phone owners were alarmed suddenly to find their batteries dead after 30 minutes on account of extensive Bluetooth activity of their phones.

NTT DoCoMo and Sony have taken the lead to create a mobile Felica-based virtual wallet, with all new phones coming with pre-installed Edy. The combination of mobile Internet and Felica enables many new applications.