Vodafone stumbles in Japan

Great story in the NY Times this morning about how the once mighty Vodafone has been stumbling in Japan. They've been losing customers like crazy because of service problems with their 2G network (lots of users have complained about not receiving messages, something which can leave you a social outcast in Japan's hyperconnected culture) combined with a botched rollout of their 3G network, but the biggest misstep of all came late last year when they tried to sell the same phones in Japan that they also sell in 12 other countries. Vodafone thought they'd save some money by buying in bulk, but they discovered that a phone that'd be hot to trot in Europe would be (rightly) perceived as being totally trailing edge in Japan; the result was a lot of pissed off subscribers who were wondering why they should buy phones that are less advanced than those offered by other carriers. The Times notes that they're trying to turn things around — they've just brought back Hiroshi Ota, aka the man who helped dream up the first cameraphone — but in the meantime they've let archrivals KDDI and DoCoMo get a serious leg up on them.

[daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

1st

[Thundercizzle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Geez man! Japan is supposed to be pretty far ahead of us in the mobile technology department, yet everyone is still focusing on camera phones? Been there, done that, can we please move along?
I don't blame Japan for complainin' about the Vodafone, but it's not like they're missin out on something.

[Apoco:Lips @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

2 years ago in Tokyo, I was emailing friends a Gps Map of the area around my apartment in order to give them directions....
looks like itll be at least another 2 years before we have anything like that in Ireland.
Irish people spend more on phonecalls etc then anyone in Europe and we get rewarded with shitty phones and ridulously expensive prices!!

[Robert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I'm on vodafone here in the UK, it's inline with most of the other carriers here. I use a prepay SIM because I don't use my phone enough to justify a contract. I bought my phone off eBay, it's an ex vodafone contract Sharp GX-30 and it's a nice phone for it's age. Vodafone are currently offering the Sharp GX-25 as one of their offerings which isn't as good as the GX-30 in some ways.

Vodafone are crazy trying to sell phones it sells here in Japan, it's like trying to sell PSP's to Japan, they've been there done that. The 3G doesn't supprise me, I don't think any carrier (at least in the UK) has done an excellent job with 3G yet, the network 'three' (3) were meant to be leading the way but people seem to have lost interest, I suppose a lot of it's about content though, who want's to pay �2.5 to watch a short video clip?

[Liam McNulty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I don't feel as though Vodafone made the wrong decision by entering the Japanese market, just that they entered it the wrong way. They vaporized the entirety of the J-Phone brand name in favor of standardization. This is another example of globalization done the wrong way; Japan as a country doesn't like to be "on par" with the rest of the world when it comes to technology.

[tuig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Well, I was in Japan about a year ago, at which moment when the 902SH pictured with the post was readily available there, and it was a big hit in any phone store I checked.

When I returned home, I wanted one, but I had to wait 3 more months before the first unit was shipped to The Netherlands, and we were among the first European Vodafone countries to get them. So they were still prioritising Japan over other countries with their handsets.

And you can also see it the other way around: Vodafone is one of the few major operators pushing some cool phones to the rest of the world (some niche I-mode operators are trying, but it seems their bargaining power can only get them remaining stock of ancient Japanese models). Relying on Samsung GSM phones or innovation from Nokia, Sony Ericsson or Motorola is a lot less fun. And of course, anyone knows it's pointless to introduce a Nokia or Motorola phone in Japan.

[KC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

It is totally not pointless to introduce a Nokia or Motorola in Japan! DoCoMo carries a version of the Motorola M1000 which was the first Moto in Japan as part of a deal Moto signed with DoCoMo to co-develop new Japanese oriented Motorola phones.

DoCoMo also offers Nokia's as rental phones to its customers traveling overseas

LG has also signed a deal with DoCoMo to develop phones for them...

Japan is starting (however slowly) to open up to non Japanese brands in the mobile world! Now its up to all of those brands to put together some handsets that are up to Japanese standards

[902SH Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

#1 (Thundercizzle), have you even RTFA? Vodafone KK's customers are missing out on a lot of things. They are not getting FeliCa enabled phones. Nor are they getting any AGPS phones. They were getting rebranded Nokia 6630 and Motorola crap phones cramped down their throat. And for those who stay on the PHS networks, they are not getting network connection. I guess even us people in the back water North America would not apprecaite that, wouldn't you agree?

Granted, the newer phones Vodafone KK is offering now are starting to catch up. I am extremely happy with my unlocked v902SH on GPRS network here. But the damages has already been done. Even DoCoMo is coming out with sexy looking UMTS phones now. And KDDI's G'zOne Type-R is all the rage in Japan now. It is going to be an uphill battle for Vodafone.

[Metus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Apoco:lips: I believe O2 will come to your rescue now that they launch i-mode, paving the way for Japanese level handsets in the upcoming year.

[hall @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I think Japan is really different from Europe

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

That's a really sad story

[stingraze @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Well. I live in Japan, and use 902T, but it is indeed true that their network and service is a little bad. (3G) I also find my phone really hard to hear because the speaker is so quiet... But I do love my phone with 1.92Megapixel camera. :) I still support Vodafone...

[Alexander @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Do you know how much this Vodafone cost? Will I receive it in Russia?

[LoudLight17 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I live in Tokyo.....Vodaphone bites here...AU and Docomo rule...Tuka used to be the most advanced but they missed the style boat here...Vodaphone tanked due to them being totally out of touch with the japanese consumer....Bloody hell...they had David Beckham hawking their phones...The minute they tried that NO ONE wanted them....they actually believed he was going to increase sales...they quietly dumped him but it's too late for them....their style and technology has been left in the dust...if they were really smart the would save their money and leave the market.

[Kris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Have to agree that their service and handsets pretty much blow here in Japan. I use each of the three major carriers for content testing and Vodafone is by far the worst performing. The handsets feel cheap compared to Docomo and style is lacking to say the least.

[Andreas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Vodafone in Sweden blows, too. Bad reception,
and crippled software in their handsets
has really made customers turn their back
on them. They should focus on
seriously improving network coverage,
services, software and pricing.
In my opinion, the global standard is still
a good idea,
but only on the condition that they
actually meet the Japanese requirements in terms of quality
and services.

[Jamar @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Hello??? OF COURSE Vodafone is starting to fail in Japan. They're trying to push the Sharp GX25 in Japan as a NEW model (T_T) and they think they will get new customers from selling THAT?! On a more positive note, I LOVE the V902SH, and would have gotten the V902T if I could, if it was unlocked. Both serve my needs far better than any other phone here in China. Really, Vodafone might be making more money off of people who buy phones for the sole purpose of selling in other countries or on eBay, judging by the shops that carry the V902SH.