http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/ Engadget Comments for Plucky little iPhone 3GS confounds expectations, tops Japanese sales for July 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/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
/sarcasm ]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Featured but ugly phones that are sold there.

Here is the second most popular phone in Japan.

10mp camera looks uglier than a brick from the 90's
http://static.mobime.ru/blogs/2009/05/20/9089_3.jpg]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
I don't know what will replace iPhone as the BEST SMARTPHONE IN THE WORLD, but, I hope either Microsoft or Apple makes it.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
I need more sleep.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
That assumption is based heavily on statistics showing that most foreigners are choosing SoftBank (the carrier with iPhone exclusivity) over DoCoMo, while most natives prefer DoCoMo (or niche carriers like au/KDDI, e-Mobile, or Willcomm).]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 9:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 9:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 9:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 10:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Although I cannot find any English-language references to the type of survey conducted by GfK Japan, the article on the end of the read link says that "the flagship model iPhone headed the list of phone contracts made during July" which suggests that GfK were surveying actual numbers from the telcos, or perhaps retailer's results, but not people in the street.]]>Aug 17th 2009 11:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
iPhone wasbest selling phone, for a week, not for a whole month. It is second best selling phone in july 2009:

http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0010_month.html

Last ranking for iphone for the week 10-16/8/2009 places the iphone at sixth place

http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0010.html

Untranslated, as googles translate doesnt work with the placements frame. Do translate to get the text and use original to see placements.]]>Aug 18th 2009 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Japan's top 10 cell phones (with carrier) for July, 2009:

1. Sharp SH-06A (Docomo)
2. Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB (Softbank)
3. Panasonic 830P (Softbank)
4. Sharp SH-05A (Docomo)
5. NEC N-08A (Docomo)
6. Sharp SH001 (au)
7. Sony-Ericsson Premier3 (au)
8. Casio W63CA (au)
9. Fujitsu F-09A (Docomo)
10. Apple iPhone 3GS 16 GB (Softbank)
]]>Aug 18th 2009 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
who wouldn't get a iPhone for $5 monthly plans? DUH!]]>Aug 18th 2009 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Now look to the right. Look at that! Zune HD, HTC Hero, T-Mobile something or other.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
So apple posts are only at 20% of all posts today, which is pretty low compared to other reputable news blogs like macrumors.com appleinsider.com and apple.com/hotnews]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 11:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/OTHERSCANGODIE!!!






.]]>Aug 18th 2009 12:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Seriously, who cares? If this sort of thing bugs you then a) feel free to find another web site to read and, b) get a grip. You apparently aren't the brightest bulb in the shop otherwise you would know what most everyone else knows and that is that Engadget posts lots of Apple-related stories, or drops Apple product names into other stories, in order to generate page hits. For example, despite the fact that you apparently don't like Apple you seem to have taken the time to visit the site in order to vent your spleen. Effectively you are contributing towards the next Apple story on the site, much like people who visit the cinema to watch a crappy Hollywood sequel are contributing towards the inevitable next sequel (yes, Transformers, I'm looking at you...).

If you aren't interested in the story then don't read it and definitely don't comment on it. An empty comments page speaks more than someone whining that there aren't enough Microsoft stories.]]>Aug 18th 2009 3:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
This #1 position for the iPhone is nice, but it's only a temporary spot, although it does show that there are people in Japan buying iPhones. It shows the iPhone is not a complete failure in Japan. I'm sure sales numbers aren't as high as in other countries, but the Japan market is a tough nut to crack. The Japanese do not "hate" the iPhone. The iPhone had helped Softbank to grab a higher percentage of new subscribers than the other two much larger carriers.

However, those cellphones that most of you think are so great would not appeal to people in the U.S. even if they could afford to buy them unlocked. There's no eWallet infrastructure or 1Seg broadcasting in the U.S. OLED displays are just starting to get here and they hadn't been cheap before the Zune HD. As far as those high megapixel cameras go, Nokia can easily surpass the Japanese models. The user interfaces are not all that good.

So hate or not, it really doesn't matter. The iPhone is doing OK in Japan and that's about as much to be hoped for considering all the obstacles in such a closed country where people still wear warazoni, geta and use wooden masu to drink sake from. There's just something unusual about the Japanese culture that they're unable to leave the past behind.]]>Aug 17th 2009 9:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 9:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/07/04/survey-the-iphone-is-no-1-in-japan/]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Oh well, I guess it hasn't stopped people from declaring it everywhere else.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/---
Pre-orders?]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
http://asiajin.com/blog/2009/07/05/if-iphone-were-no1-in-japan-sony-would-be-no1-music-player/
http://asiajin.com/blog/2009/07/07/iphone-3gs-keeps-no1-in-japan-on-its-2nd-week/]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
]]>Aug 17th 2009 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Your link:

"Which is why there was some interest this week in a survey of 2,300 Japanese retail stores conducted by the market research company BCN"

Engadget link:

"Apple's third iPhone generation has ousted Japan's own phone manufacturers for the top sales spot in the country, according to market data from Gfk Japan."

Also, in the BCN results you posted, the iPhone 3GS 16gb came in 2nd. The Gfk Japan data has the iPhone 3GS 16gb in 9th place, further showing that they're two completely different sets of data.]]>Aug 17th 2009 10:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 10:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 18th 2009 11:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Then fine! Be that way number one and number 9th cellphone in july.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
"A HA A HA"]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
Is somebody compensating for the ZuneHD post earlier?]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/It's just very sensitive!!!"]]>Aug 18th 2009 12:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 18th 2009 12:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/
seriously, the phones in korea and japan are some of the best phones.]]>Aug 17th 2009 8:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/plucky-little-iphone-3gs-counfounds-expectations-tops-japanese/Aug 17th 2009 8:55PM