- Title: JAPAN: Anxious Japanese queue up days ahead of the new iPhone launch in Japan
- Date: 13th July 2008
- Summary: (L!2) TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 09, 2008) (REUTERS) MOBILE PHONE CARRIER SOFTBANK STORE IN TOKYO JAPAN AND PEOPLE LINING UP IN FRONT OF THE STORE FOR THE IPHONE RELEASE POLE SAYING "THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE" SIGN SAYING "WE LOVE IPHONE" PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HIROYUKI SANO, 24 YEAR-OLD GRAD SCHOOL STUDENT, SAYING: "I arrived at 6 a.m. yesterday, stayed in line till 10 a.m. Left the line when it rained heavily, but came back right after." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TETSUYA UEDA, 21 YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT, SAYING: "I can look at Youtube and Safari with the mobile browser, that's the most attractive feature. It comes with an i-pod so I don't have to carry much, that's also very attractive." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KOICHI FUNYU, 25 YEAR-OLD ACTOR, SAYING: "I'll probably read and enjoy drinks to kill time for the next few days." MAN USING AN APPLE LAPTOP AND WAITING IN LINE MAN LAYING DOWN AND WAITING IN LINE PEOPLE IN LINE AND SOFTBANK STORE MAN USING CELL PHONE AND PEOPLE IN LINE WOMAN USING CELL PHONE MAN USING CELL PHONE AND PEOPLE IN LINE SOFTBANK SALESCLERK ADVERTISING SOFTBANK CELL PHONE SALESCLERK AND PEOPLE IN LINE
- Embargoed: 28th July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Industry,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVAA0U0L9HTXSH2BE3BFB6JGVPX8
- Story Text: Over a dozen Japanese queued up anxiously in front of the Apple store in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday (July 9) ahead of the Japan launch of Apple's new iPhone on Friday (July 11).
A grad student from Nagoya, 269 kilometers (168 miles) West of Tokyo, rushed out of his house on Tuesday (July 8) to secure the No.1 spot in the long queue.
"I arrived at 6 a.m. yesterday, stayed in line till 10 a.m. Left the line when it rained heavily, but came back right after," 24 year-old grad school student Hiroyuki Sano told Reuters.
Many in line were concerned about the weather as the early birds brought rain gear in preparation for unexpected thunderstorms. Others were just enjoying the moment.
"I'll probably read and enjoy drinks to kill time for the next few days," said 25 year-old Koichi Funyu upon arriving at the queue.
For many tech-savvy young Japanese, the new generation of iPhone is something they cannot miss.
"I can look at Youtube and Safari with the mobile browser, that's the most attractive feature," said 21 year-old Tetsuya Ueda, who arrived before midnight on Tuesday (July 8) to purchase the latest gadget. "It comes with an i-pod so I don't have to carry much, that's also very attractive," he added.
By releasing its popular iPhone in Japan, Apple Inc. will enter one of the world's most advanced mobile phone markets by teaming up with Softbank Corp, the country's aggressive No.3 operator.
The deal, announced by Softbank, is another push forward by the company that has been growing its share with quirky marketing and price cutting since it bought Vodafone Group's troubled Japan unit in 2006, although it still lags well behind market leaders NTT DoCoMo Inc. and KDDI Corp.
New generation of iPhone has faster Internet access that runs on so-called 3G or third-generation wireless networks. Apple also cut the price of an entry-level model in half to 199 U.S. dollar, a move certain to increase sales of the high-end phone.
Japan already has 3G networks, and improved capabilities in a new model of iPhone are seen by analysts as crucial for its success with customers who are already very heavy users of mobile email and Web browsing.
DoCoMo, which controls just under half Japan's mobile market, has also sought Apple's much-anticipated gadget for its customers and it was not immediately clear if Softbank would have exclusive sales rights.
Apple's iPod music player is widely used in Japan but some analysts doubt the iPhone will be as popular, given the advanced state of the mobile market.
The device allows Internet access and plays music, but most mobile phones in Japan have those functions and more -- such as TV viewing and video downloads. The iPhone would be a hard-sell especially if the price is high, they say.
Japan came as one of the last Asian markets where Apple signed deals.
In May, the U.S. company announced it would bring the iPhone to Singapore, India, Australia and the Philippines this year.
It is also reported to have picked Hutchison Telecommunications to market its phone in Hong Kong.
For Softbank, which has been trying to boost brand awareness using Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz in TV commercials as well as a talking dog, the iPhone was seen as a product it was itching to have.
In June, Softbank announced new handsets for the summer, most of them targeting female users with glittery exterior, smaller size and waterproofing so that they can browse the Internet or email friends from the bathtub.
New high-end models offer features like large LCD screens for smooth TV-viewing and 5-plus megapixel cameras as well as functions such as a quick connection to Yahoo Japan's mobile site. Yahoo Japan is a Softbank subsidiary. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None