japan's mobiles reach 100M

[difenbaker]

Japan mobile phones top 100m mark
Thursday, 8 February 2007, 12:35 GMT

Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in Japan. The number of mobile phone subscriptions in Japan topped 100 million for the first time in January, according to a telecoms association.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42549000/jpg/_42549125_japphones203b_ap.jpg

The 100.22 million subscriptions at the end of the month was 0.4% higher than the 99.83 million on 31 December 2006.

Data from the Telecommunications Carriers Association combines mobile phone contract holders and those using a personal handyphone system (PHS).

Some of the most modern phones in Japan are used as electronic wallets.

Others are capable of streaming live digital television, as well as functions common in other developed nations, such as listening to music, downloading videos and sending e-mails.

The population of Japan is about 127 million, suggesting that about 78% of those living there have a mobile.

However, the association said that some individuals might have multiple phone contracts.

link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6342001.stm

cheers!

[666joe]

Wow, with a those figures things really are nearing saturation point.

No wonder with the decent offerings and tasty devices...

[stephanie]

I keep wondering why the Japanese are like more advanced than the rest of world when it comes to cellphones. Im sure that whatever technology their using can be used in other countries too. Maybe their government is not so strict?

[jayesh]

its something ive often wondered myself... why are the japs and koreans so ahead of the rest of the curve...

my guess in japan's case .... is that since they have lost their status as a global military super-power ( well comparatively from 60 years ago) they have tried to compensate by becoming an economic and tech powerhouse.... ( and thats putting it mildly)