ROA Group projects that the Japanese Mobile Internet Device (MID) market will reach 0.6 million in 2008 and grow to 5.3 million units by 2012. The combined market of smartphone and MID will surpass 18 million by 2012, occupying around 40% of the entire handset market in Japan. The projection is based on ROA Group's latest research report titled Japan Mobile Internet Device (MID) Market Forecast 2008-2012. The concept of MID is defined in this report according to five conditions, which are Mobility, Always-On, Embedded 3G+, Display Size, and Full Browsing. ROA Group emphasizes that in order to offer mobility while being differentiated from Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), MIDs have to be embedded with 3G+ cellular chip. When mobile WiMAX is vitalized, MID products that cover voice services based on VoIP and offer mobile broadband might hit the market.
ROA Group white paper published in October, 2008 provides an overview on the latest solutions for mobile coupons and market development in Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. Mobile service usage patterns are becoming more diversified and the usage of mobile payment services is being vitalized. According to estimates on the advanced markets, at least 25% of the mobile users have used mobile payment services. Mobile coupon services offer a new business model as it provides solutions to increase revenue and reduce expenses, not only for operators but also for advertisers, retailers and broadcasters.
In the research report titled Japanese Mobile Market Forecast, 2008-2011, ROA Group has analyzed the latest developments in the Japanese mobile market. According to the study, the number of mobile users in Japan will increase to 121 million by 2011 and the penetration rate in the Japanese market will grow to 95.4% by 2011.
As the Japanese market is reaching the saturation point, competition among the three operators, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and SoftBank intensifies in terms of network, contents and devices. In this circumstance, the operators are also aiming to extend their businesses abroad.
The latest ROA Group research report, Telecommunications Market Restructuring in China and Competition over 3G Services, focuses on identifying the major issues in China’s mobile market. In the end of May, 2008, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance in China jointly announced the long-awaited telecommunications market restructuring plan named Announcement on the Reform of the Structure of the Telecommunications Sector. According to the official announcement, the six telecom companies in China will merge into three integrated companies, China Mobile,China Unicom and China Telecom. The report addresses key issues surrounding 3G services, market competition and the positioning of players in the future as well as the tasks of the Chinese government to promote 3G services.
