Pocket PCs/Windows CE Devices Take 49% of Japanese PDA Market in 2002

Gartner have released figures for the PDA market in Japan in 2002. Windows CE based devices including Pocket PCs take an amazing 49% share compared to 36% in 2001. The CNet article notes the interesting transfer of market share from the Sharp Zaurus in 2000 to Palm in 2001 to Windows CE based devices in 2002. The whole PDA market shrank 21% in 2002 but are estimating, given the prospect that Dell with enter the Japanese market, 6.3% growth.

CNet Japan
Gartner Press Release
WindowsCE Fan
ZDNet

Pocket PC Japan FAQ Updated - v1.0

I've updated the Pocket PC Japan FAQ (text version) and as there is now quite a bit of info in there I'm giving it a 1.0 version number. Comments, suggestions and questions are welcome.

Note: The current site template is temporary and some links are missing. The discussion group is here.

The Japan PDA Content Revolution

It seems that not much more than a few months ago there was hardly any good Japanese content for PDAs. Things look considerably different now. Three Japan-only readers for the Pocket PC (Bunko Viewer, T-Time and Xiino NewsViewer) are leading the market and the content market is exploding. In terms of news, all of Japan's major news publishers are jumping in with PDA content. Just this month Nikkei and Asahi have announced new content offerings using the Xiino NewsViewer to add to Yomiuri and Mainichi who have had offerings for some time. And these aren't just once-a-day-update, black and white, text-only headlines you might have become accustomed to - the content is colorful, contains pictures and is updated as often as once every 15 minutes in the case of Asahi. The reader software is user friendly and you can store the content on a memory card so no need to worry about filling up your RAM. The content costs only around 300 to 600 yen ($3-$6) a month and with some publishers offering free samples and opening campaigns now is a good time to be taking a look.

News is not the only category expanding, the appearance of both fiction and non-fiction books is also exploding. PDABook as its name suggests provides a wide range of books designed especially for PDAs. Airbitway is another company giving the market a great boost with a very well designed store. Not only content, their offering is an impressive line-up divided into news, magazines, comics, books, applications & utilities, games, interest & lifestyle, learning, maps & guides and characters & backgrounds. And you really know when something is taking off when Japan's largest mobile phone company NTT DoCoMo launches an impressive eBook portal - M-stage book - that has obviously taken significant investment (and has a number of good free samples to try out). Not only that, but they are also supporting the emerging format for mobile content in Japan XDMF. Later this year you can expect to be able to view this format on DoCoMo mobile phones which can only boost the overall mobile content market, and there is plenty of space for both phones and PDAs to compete as the platform of choice. Further good news, is that readers with integrated dictionaries, which are not currently available for the commercial content, are also expected within the next few months.

As a final note it is interesting to note how once again, Japan held back for so long on entering this market, but now they have done so the move is powerful and compelling. With commercial audio content already available for download to SD cards at convenience store kiosks, you can be sure it won't be long until the mobile PDA market evolves from text and graphic content to full audio and video content just a few clicks away from your mobile unit of choice.

Toshiba is holding another seminar this month. Presentations (roughly translated from Japanese) include:

Examples of practical mobile use of the Genio

Introducing 'Format designer': Mobilizing office documents without programming

Working with graphic data using 'Web-FIS' and displaying blueprints in vector mode with 'XDF View Ce'

Synchronizing Notes data to a PDA using XTNDConnect

Benefit of using mobile databases in mobile systems: How 'PointBase expands the possibilities for mobile systems

Introducing solutions for secure eBusiness environments

Exhibitors, in addition to those already presenting and Genio products, include:

MobileCamera - Handy surveillance camera system

SWANStor - Secure mobile solutions

TransForce - Still and video picture compression and delivery for mobile devices

Toshiba innovates again - new Genio

Just look at the new Genios from Toshiba. Important new features include in-built camera or full dictionary (depending on the model), 128MB RAM (of course), latest processor, great screen, bundled screen cover, side scroll button, wireless LAN VoIP application and dual function microphone/headphone jack. The only things missing that some people really want is a replacable battery and in-built Bluetooth or 802.11x. Finally they seem to have made some changes to the control pad on the front. I find the direction hard to control accurately on the e550G so will be interested to try the new one.

For a lots of opinions on the device see the Pocket PC Thoughts Forums, athough I don't think the rumors of updates to the OS hear are correct. For me one of the most important things about this device is that it really keeps Toshiba Japan head-to-head against Compaq in the battle for the highest spec and most innovative devices. If either company could work out simultaneous worldwide releases they would be on to a real winner. The other important point is that there are lots of small improvements to this device which really show that Toshiba are in touch with the market and what users really want.