Flat Rate Price Update for Softbank Users in Japan

In case anyone missed it, the iPhone also had a positive impact for Windows Mobile (and Nokia) smart phone users on Softbank in Japan. The flat rate plans put in place especially for the iPhone also apply to users of these devices. The diagram explains things reasonably well, but full details are here.

au's first Windows Mobile Phone made public.

More Details (in Japanese)Au (opened up) its first business Windows Mobile 6.1 keitai on September 11th. It's made from HTC, and called E30HT. It is rumored to be put on public market on 2009, but I'm sure there will be BETA testers out already this year.

OS Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional Edition
CPU Qualcomm MSM7201A 528MHz(au version unknown)

via WinCE.ne.jp (Windows Keitai .com)
Display 2.8inchVGA TFT（Touchscreen）
Communication CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev.A (CDMA 1X WIN)

Japanese Smartphone Market News & Trends

Image by laurence.thurion via Flickr This article [Japanese] by Japanese daily Fuji Sankei gives some good insights into the Japanese smartphone market.

• It was predicted Apple/Softbank would have sold 1 million iPhones here. Although the stats are not released, it is predicted that they have only sold around 200,000 and sales have drastically slowed so they may only sell 350,000 by the end of the year. The latest talk out on the streets seems to be the the iPhone is being dubbed a relative failure here.
  
• AU/KDDI plan to release smartphones by the end of the year, Japan Communications will enter the market this month and HTC will also release more devices.
• Samsung is aiming to release their Omnia Windows Mobile device here.
  
• NTT DoCoMo's strategy is to focus on business users.
• Both KDDI's UQ Communications and Willcom are considering smartphones for their next generation networks (WiMax and Willcom Core) that will be launched next year boasting speeds of 20 megabits/second

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Get 3000yen when you buy WILLCOM 3.

There is an offer at microsoft that you can get a 3,000 yen gift certificate if you buy the new WILLCOM3 from WILLCOM. The WILLCOM3 runs Windows Mobile 6.1, and has a nice new stylish design. Skydrive is also accessible from the WILLCOM3, so you can share files in business meetings.

the link is: http://www.microsoft.com/japan/windowsmobile/special/windowslive0908/default.mspx (in Japanese)