In Japan, iPhone over BlackBerry?

According to a recent survey, the Japanese hate the BlackBerry and love the iPhone. This Nikkei Business Publications chart reveals one possible reason: smartphones aren't generally used for business there.

No business for mobile phones in Japan

(Credit: Nikkei Electronics)

iShare, which conducted the survey, also asked respondents if they "feel that the number of people carrying two mobile terminals will increase as a result of the expansion of the smartphone market."

Roughly 30 percent of all respondents said "Yes," while more than 10 percent said, "No, it will decrease" as consumers look to use one device for all of their mobile-computing needs.

As for reasons why people would carry two mobile devices, 49.6 percent said "to separate business and private use."

[ralfthedog]

People get confused when they think Apple is an American company. Apple is a company in America. It is owned by Americans. It is as patriotic as any other company. From a design point, it is as Japanese as Honda.

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Most American companies seem to think that bigger is better. Most Japanese companies take a more minimalistic approach. I can see why Apple products would sell better in Japan.

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It seems that perfection is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry,

[Steve4522]

"People get confused when they think Apple is an American company..."

Founded in USA by Americans, basically all the employees are American. I don't see any confusion there.

Apple beat the hell out of all the Japanese companies in its line of business AND its an American company - if that makes people cry, well then thats just too bad.

[infernalman7]

They should have a study on how many "QWERTY" keyboarded phones are sold in Japan each month. I would say its less than 4 digits.

[keypox]

Well it seems apple took a few to many things out. Such as the ability to properly use dual monitors. The list is endless but not nearly as long as ****** bags/ Fan boys like you. Oh that sucks I couldnt hit end to get to the end of the previous line after editing, because that is another feature apple doesnt know how to do.

[thelemurking]

I can't take a survey about Apple vs other products seriously when conducted by a company named iShare. That just screams BIAS!

[ralfthedog]

Re: keypox

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"Well it seems apple took a few to many things out. Such as the ability to properly use dual monitors."

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What problems are you having with using more than one monitor? From my experience Apple does a far better job than Windows using as many screens as you want to toss at it. I will admit that dual monitor support is the one thing that Windows does better than Linux, however, that should change soon.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Talk about skewing statistics. This graph doesn't indicate the article's claims very well at all. While they can say that the iPhone won't be used for business, they have no data at all to support that argument. They can use the very same information to prove that Elvis prefers mayo over ketchup for his french fries. I mean, huh? All this graph shows is that 71% of Japanese cell phone uses rarely or never use their cell phone for business purposes. That has nothing to do with the iPhone or Blackberry at all. This is a very poor excuse for an article. Oh, and I believe the king preferred tartar sauce.

[ralfthedog]

VegMan, I think the data you are looking for is in the linked article.

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"Respondents who use mobile data communications "rarely" or "never" for business totaled 71.0%, reflecting the fact that mobile data communications are not generally used for business. "

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I don't think the story said that the iPhone would not be used for business, but that mobile phones in general are not used in business.

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Elvis used mustard. Mustard rocks!

[daverosenberg]

I too find it interesting that the iPhone rates so high in a country where the majority of the users are using character based messaging and playing games. It seems a little hard to believe that the iPhone will be a huge hit.