Japan's wireless market week wrap-up

Vodafone Japan intros first 3G handset with VGA display
In a spotlight is the launch of Vodafone 904SH by Sharp, the first mobile handset to feature a VGA (Video Graphics Array) liquid crystal display. Besides, the handset supports Bluetooth communication, applications for newly-developedMotion Control Sensor, and Vodafone K.K.’s first Face Recognition application.

Mitsubishi to scale back mobile phone business in China
Mitsubishi joins Panasonic and Toshiba among the big-name companies that have withdrawn from the booming Chinese wireless market.

Vodafone K.K. upbeat on prospects
Vodafone K.K. President Bill Morrow said parent company Vodafone Group's announcement of an impairment charge totaling at least $40 billion would not affect the Japanese unit. Although Vodafone KK has struggled, Morrow said things are improving, both in terms of subscriber churn and 3G subscriber growth.

Vodafone to sell its Japan unit to Vodafone?
Despite Vodafone K.K. president Bill Morrow's early comments that Vodafone's Japanese operations would not affected by the impairment charge, Vodafone confirmed it was in talks to sell a controlling stake in its Japanese subsidiary, Vodafone KK, to Japanese Internet firm Softbank.