In Japan, Cell Phones Surpass PCs as Commerce Platform, Says Report
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In Japan, the
cellular telephone has already surpassed the personal computer as a viable
platform for digital content sales to consumers, according to a new research
report from TKAI, Inc. (http://www.tkai.com).
Digital content providers have won hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers,
and are successfully collecting fees under a secure, robust, and cost-effective
micropayment system that may well serve as a model for e-commerce throughout the
rest of Asia, the report concludes. "Toy maker Bandai, for example, has won
more than 600,000 subscribers to its cellular-based content services, and is
taking in revenues well in excess of U.S. $300,000 each month. The combination
of a satisfying online experience, especially for novice users, and a powerful
cooperative settlement scheme has created an online content sales model of
unparalleled success worldwide," according to TKAI's Kevin Schaer, lead
writer for the new report. But caution is necessary when extrapolating trends in
Japan to other markets, says Schaer. The extraordinary proliferation of
Internet-enabled cellular telephones owes much to factors peculiar to Japan,
including 1) NTT DoCoMo's dominant, "market maker" position, 2)
consumer commuting patterns, 3) the high cost of social interaction in Japan,
and 4) cultural and logistical factors that make Japanese consumers especially
receptive to a handset-based online experience. Details of the report are
available at http://www.tkai.com/.
A leading professional services firm specializing in Japan-specific e-business
work, TKAI's clients have included Amazon.com, British Telecom, Intel, Jupiter
Telecommunications, Nokia, and Nynex.
SOURCE TKAI, Inc.Web Site: http://www.tkai.com/
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