The iPhone's monthly plan starts at about $60, which is too high compared to competitors, Kuittinen added.Īnd then there's the matter of compartmentalization. Japan's carrier environment is very competitive, which equates to relatively low monthly rates for handsets. What else bugs the Japanese about the iPhone? The pricing plans, Kuittinen said.
And a highlight feature many in Japan enjoy on their handset is a TV tuner, according to Kuittinen. For example, Japanese handset users are extremely into video and photos - and the iPhone has neither a video camera nor multimedia text messaging. The country is famous for being ahead of its time when it comes to technology, and the iPhone just doesn't cut it. Japan has been historically hostile toward western brands - including Nokia and Motorola, whose attempts to grab Japanese customers were futile.īesides cultural opposition, Japanese citizens possess high, complex standards when it comes to cellphones. However, even before the iPhone 3G's July launch in Japan, analysts were predicting the handset would fail to crack the Japanese market. "I think they are in the process of adjusting to local conditions."Īpple's iPhone is inarguably popular elsewhere: CEO Steve Jobs announced in October that the handset drove Apple to becoming the third-largest mobile supplier in the world, after selling 10 million units in 2008. "The pricing has been completely out of whack with market reality," said Global Crown Research analyst Tero Kuittinen in regard to Apple's iPhone prices internationally.
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