NTT DoCoMo’s top ten selling phone models

GfK, a market research company, published ranks of top selling mobile phones with each operator in Japan during the last week of November. This post will cover NTT DoCoMo. As DoCoMo starts rolling 905 series phones, devices from the 904 series line-up occupied the top positions due to discounts and general popularity of one-seg phones. Fujitsu’s one-seg F904i model ranked first for the second week in a row followed with another one-seg model the 704i by Sharp (see table below for the rest).

NTT DoCoMo Top Ten
1 (1)	Fujitsu F904i
2 (3)	Sharp SH704i
3 (4)	Panasonic P904i
4 (2)	Sharp SH904i
5 (5)	Fujitsu Raku-Raku4 F883iES
6 (6)	Fujitsu Raku-Raku3 F882iES
7 (9)	NEC N704iμ
8 (8)	NEC N904i
9 (10)	Mitsubishi D904i
10 (7)	Sharp SH903iTV

Source: GfK via ITMedia

Mitsubishi D903iTV handset: Insert a 100-yen coin and enjoy your TV

What you see on the picture above is not a design flow of the Mitsubishi D903iTV - one of three one-seg mobile TV (ISDB-T) phone models recently announced by NTT DoCoMo. The Mitsubishi designers made a slot on the back of the D903iTV on purpose - a 100-yen coin fits that slot perfectly to serve as a stand for the phone when it is placed in landscape mode on a flat surface for TV viewing. Apparently this solution should work well while you are outdoor, but when back home, users have an option to use charger as a more reliable stand.

Japanese handset makers markedly contribute to global smartphone shipments

The Asia-Pacific region claimed 46% of smart mobile device shipments worldwide in Q1 2006, according to Canalys. Overall, the global shipments of smart mobile devices increased 55% from 1Q 2005. Japanese handset makers played an important role in the increased shipments of smartphones, making Symbian OS global share in smart mobile devices to reach new high of 69%.

“In addition to the shipment increases made by Nokia and RIM, Japanese vendors such as Mitsubishi and Sharp have achieved very high volumes of their new Symbian-based FOMA smart phones in Q1, catapulting them into the global top five. With increased shipments from Fujitsu, and a new device from Sony Ericsson, Symbian is enjoying not only significant Japanese market success, but also seeing record global market share,” said Canalys senior analyst and research manager Rachel Lashford.

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.