http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/ Engadget Comments for Japanese phones suffer from 'Galapagos Syndrome' -- are too complex to survive abroad http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/we're a bit behind the curve in the mobile space here in the great US of A]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/they are actually really really expensive and the consumer pays about two thirds of the cost overall. if you want to unlock one you will realise - they make you pay back the extra costs. this is why they have no prominence in the rest of the world.
that, and carrier-exclusive handsets.]]>Jul 21st 2009 2:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/For example, when you place the phone away from your face,
the proximity sensor will know and
silent the mic.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
I lived in Shinjuku-Ku for a while and back when America's best cellphones were Motorola''s with a "color screen" and a detachable camera, Japanese phones were thin, had brilliant color screens, integrated cameras and even mobile Television over the J-Phone network.

fortunately, we've got iPhone. We don't need their stuff unless you just want smaller, thinner phones.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
I'll second that. I was stationed in Yokosuka back when I was in the military and had a really nice phone. Five years later I was assigned to Hawaii and was stunned to hear them trumpeting "the latest innovation in cell phone technology" as something I'd had half a decade prior. And I do like some of the Japanese phone designs both then and now.

Ultimately, it's not a matter of Japanese phones being too advanced as our cell systems being too primitive. We're well behind the curve compared to the rest of the world and the sooner we catch up the sooner we can stop sighing wistfully at all the nice toys they get only overseas.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
Sounds like the iPhone...]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
There are also less Cellphone companies in japan, making phone sales more of a big deal (here most people will just take the free one with the better service contract). Cellphone companies don't make money off the phones, they make money off the service contracts, so why worry about caring more expensive phones (which cost the company more if they don't sell them) when people are more concerned about who has the best plan.

For awhile people were happy with there phones as long as they could stick enough rhinestones on it.

I think the iPhone is starting to change that mentality (which most people on this website would say as a good thing) and Techy phones are finally saturating the US market.

Personally I would prefer to see a push for more advancement in the infrastructure though, before we continue to strain the crap we currently have by tacking on more and more data hungry features. ]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
Whenever I've used my in-laws' phones in Japan, or even the cheap NTT DoCoMo rental phones that are usually 4 year old off-brand castoffs, it has been like talking on a land line. No dropouts whatsoever, no echo, no digital delay. These are all problems I have had on every network I've tried in the US.

The Japanese don't make a big deal about their call quality anymore because it's just assumed that it will be good. It would be like JR running ads that say something like "Ride JR! Our trains run on time!" It's Japan, of course they do. Nobody needs to be told that there.

The problem with American consumers is that we are accustomed to mediocrity in everything we buy. Not just phones, but certainly phones are one symptom of the problem. The iPhone is actually falling further behind there, despite the recent upgrade. We need somebody to really push things forward here, not just give us these incremental improvements that are the bare minimum needed to keep people buying.

I'd personally give my left nut just for the *opportunity* to buy some of the more advanced phones - I don't see how it's this foregone conclusion that they wouldn't sell here when none of us have even had the *chance* to buy them. ]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
In terms of specs, yes they are. But in terms of usuability and OS, we dominate. Have you seen how bad those phones UI are compared to Android phones? And I have longly yearned the day Motorola would make an Android dual-hinge clamshell like that phone only shorter/slimmer with full QWERTY....back to the drawing board.]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
that's not true people buy the iPhone BECAUSE it's so simple, in a 30 second commercial anyone watching learned how to copy and paste! At least 10% of people in the USA want simplicity with power over complication and lag (Mac's market share)]]>Jul 20th 2009 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
In this respect Japan is like almost every other country on the planet.]]>Jul 20th 2009 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
Actually the Western and Japanese market bases are completely different, so there's no way to make a fair comparison. Specifically, in America almost everyone has their own personal computer, with which their cellphone is a compliment. Since they can already "do everything" on their computer, it's more important that a cellphone be easy and enjoyable to use.

In Japan, the reason why "more than twice as many people use smartphones" is because a lot of people -don't- have their own computers -- more often than not, there's simply one or two family computers. Therefore far more people use their cellphone as their primary communication (internet) device, and are much more willing to use a phone that has a poor UI that lets them do everything they want, than one with a good UI that imposes arbitrary limitations. The fact that SoftBank is giving away iPhones free with 2 year contracts ought to illustrate the lesser demand of the device compared to America.

Don't forget, even though Japanese phone UIs are a real mess, they're virtually all the same across every single phone. Meaning if you've put the extra 45 minutes into learning how to use one phone, you pretty much know how to use every other Japanese phone out there. There's almost no learning curve associated with upgrading/switching phones.]]>Jul 20th 2009 8:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
A good point. This is also true of Nokia phones - the interface is clunky but it's essentially the same one we've been using in Europe and Asia for the last 10 years or so. Once you're familiar with it - as the majority of mobile phone users are - it ceases to be an issue.]]>Jul 21st 2009 2:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Sharp or Hitachi phone.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/but the use? I don't see any.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 6:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Japanese sync from phone to phone,
they do not rely on computer as Americans.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
However, "d" makes a good point that there are MUCH more robust infrastructures designed around cellphones in Japan. You can use them for a lot more than calls - and perhaps that's their downfall. Not to mention that I've yet to see a user interface come out of Japan that didn't look like the living quarters there - every last millimeter "efficiently used" (crammed with stuff) and laid our haphazardly.]]>Jul 20th 2009 10:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
When did he say anything about voice quality?]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
"might as well carry our laptops and use them as a cellphone."

I don't even know what that means....i wish my laptop had a touch screen.]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
You have to be the most mis-informed numbskull on this site, please do do a favor and stop talking. PLEASE]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
While the Iphone did sell out in Japan initially, it hasn’t sold that well in Japan. There are several reason for this related specifically to the Japanese cell phone market such as lack of TV over phone( I forget the service name at the moment) , lack of Japanese specific apps, and more important than anything else, the iphone sucks for text messaging in Japanese. No it really does. It might be a step up for English, but in Japan, they have had predictive text for a very long time. More over a telephone pad works really well with the Japanese alphabet. Texting on my iphone in Japanese is really slow and cumbersome because you often hit incorrect letters where as with a regular phone I can ride my bike and text without looking at the phone. For all the things the Japanese cellphone does, the most important has always and will always be text messaging. (phone calls just cost too damn much. (10-80 cents a minute depending on plan). Comparing cellphone usage in japan with the US is really like comparing apples to oranges because the use model in Japan is vastly different. ]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 24th 2009 7:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
I'm worthless.]]>Jul 20th 2009 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
In terms of syncing, the Japanese like to change their gear, and as long as photos and contacts are transferable, syncing's not a big deal. Believe it or not, many people here use paper diaries!

Complexity is also a non-issue. Again, most of what they do with their phones is based online. The phones may be hard to use, but they don't really need to use them, as it were. They work out how to use whatever feature they need, if and when they need it. Simple!]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
In truth, I would say that most Americans don't need most of the features their phones already have. When you need GPS, you have it in your car in a dedicated unit. You have an iPod or other device for music. You have a laptop with a cellular network card for full internet browsing. You have a camera for when you want to take pictures. And you can carry all these around with you because you drive almost everywhere you go. You also spend a lot more time at home in front of the computer, a computer that you use for both work and leisure.]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 20th 2009 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/Jul 21st 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
cuz that would be quite a step back. if americans (or anyone else) cant use them, dont buy them, theres a reason why simple dirt cheap phones are still produced]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/japanese-phones-suffer-from-galapagos-syndrome-are-too-comp/
Personally, i use my cellphone for phone calls and occasionally for pictures and email.

]]>Jul 20th 2009 11:28AM