Mobile Phone Technology in Japan

Types of Technology

There are two major types of technology used in Japanese phones: PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) and CDMA (Code Divisional Multiple Access). GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is used to a lesser degree, mostly for business travelers who need to utilize international communication. The largest mobile providers, such as KDDI and Softbank, largely use PDC and CDMA technology, although they do offer a few phones with GSM. PDC and CDMA cell phones cannot be unlocked, and must remain within the provider's network that created it.

The main limitation for PDC and CDMA users is the simple fact there aren't many places outside of Japan that utilize the technology. The limitation for GSM users lies in the fact that, although you can use the phone outside of Japan in more countries than a CDMA phone, it's considered roaming and is charged accordingly. Some of the more advanced features of the GSM phone may also not work. Softbank offers a "dual-mode" phone with both GSM and CDMA, but reception has been lukewarm since GSM isn't a popular choice for non-travelers.

Cell phones in Japan are just as capable of handling certain computer-related tasks as computers are, from reading email to playing video games. There's even a new form of reading called "keitai shousetsu", or "cell phone novels", where the chapters are broken up into short pages that can be easily read on a cell phone screen. Text messaging is also more advanced in Japan than its Western counterparts: users have the ability to insert animated "emoticons" or images into the text.

One major issue facing cellular phones in Japan is the isolated nature of the various service providers. When the mobile market grew exponentially in the early 2000s, Japanese service providers didn't see the need to expand their reach past the nation's borders. Because of this, most Japanese providers don't provide any means for their GSM-technology phones to be unlocked. More recently as Japan endures a time of recession, the shrinking domestic market has increased competition among the main providers. Takeshi Natsuno, developer of the popular mobile internet technology "I-Mode" and professor at Keio University, used the phrase "Galapagos Syndrome", claiming Japanese mobile technology evolved so far it became incompatible with and therefore isolated from the rest of the world.

The other major obstacle in the evolution of the Japanese cellular phone is the borderline-excessive hardware attached to it, making it bulky and sometimes difficult to wield. LCD screens and digital-quality cameras add to the life, but also the size and weight of a phone. Many Japanese developers are observing the success of Apple's sleek design and reliance on software applications, not hardware peripherals, as the iPhone's selling point. Mr. Natsuno was quoted by the New York Times, saying the Apple 3G iPhone was "...the kind of phone I wanted to make."