Mobile music download articles-
Note- all downloads now on KDDI’s-AU network are via Qualcomm’s BREW
snips
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2. What is the "killer application" for 3G? Is there one at all?
If there is a "killer application" for 3G, its mobile music! Chaku-Uta downloads on KDDI-AU mobile phones have similar download numbers as iTunes in the US with a very much smaller potential user pool. One can therefore safely say, that mobile music downloads seem to be substantially more attractive for paying users than conventional fixed line internet music downloads.
Snip from article #1-
Content fee per song should average around 315 yen and transmission speed will hit a maximum of 2.4 Mbps under KDDI's 'Double Flat' fixed packet charge service.
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About $3 US. – Seems richly priced, but 1 million downloads in 1 ½ months none the less.
The articles >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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wirelesswatch.jp
Telephone Tunes: KDDI Launches Mobile Music Downloads
WWJ Viewpoint :: New Tech & Services
Posted on Friday, November 26 @ 17:00:00 JST
By Gail Nakada, 26 November 2004
As if Japanese phones weren't mobese enough, KDDI is first out of the gate with music distribution for cell phones — allowing multi-slackers to download artists' songs in their entirety right to the handset. Launching this month, users of EZ Chaku Uta Full (Chaku - download, uta - song, full - in its entirety, get it?) will have access to 10,000 songs from six web sites covering everything from pop princess Hilary Duff to indie artists. Playlist and music sites are set to expand over the coming year. The company also plans to enable downloads through their 'NOW On Air' FM radio subscription service, though a start date has not yet been set. Content fee per song should average around 315 yen and transmission speed will hit a maximum of 2.4 Mbps under KDDI's 'Double Flat' fixed packet charge service.
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wirelesswatch.jp
KDDI Music Downloads: $70mn Annual Revenue?
WWJ Viewpoint :: Carriers
Posted on Monday, December 20 @ 16:45:00 JST
By Daniel Scuka, 20 December 2004
According to a 15 December report on IT Media (Japanese), KDDI's Chaku-uta Full music download service has achieved over 360,000 downloads in the first 3 weeks — great results based on only about 200,000 supporting handsets. A keen WWJ reader has taken this data and extrapolated into the future to estimate that the 3G music service could be generating revenues of US $70 million annually after 2 years — and that's assuming very conservative terminal penetration. (WWJ subscribers login for full analysis and details).
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japancorp.net
By Dale Hug, JCNN
Jan 11, 2005 Print | Email
KDDI, Okinawa Cellular Telephone Mark One million Music Downloads in Ring Tone Service
Tokyo (JCNN) - KDDI (TSE: 7242) and Okinawa Cellular Telephone recorded January 5 one a cumulative one million music downloads in EZ Chaku-uta Full, a full music downloading service they offer for au cellphone users.
The record was achieved in 48 days since the November service launch. The service, which supports four handset models, had 410,000 users as of the end December.
Plans call for making all CDMA 1x WIN cellphones to be released compatible with the service.
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eurotechnology.com
3G (wCDMA, CDMA-2000, UMTS, FOMA) in Japan FAQ
Latest 3.5G phone for 2.4Mbps flat rate data transmission (KDDI/AU W21SA)
[read more]
i-Mode menulist displayed on the 240x320 display of a SH900i 3G/FOMA-phone
[read more]
1. What are third generation (3G) wireless communications?
Second generation (2G) cellular data networks in Japan deliver data rates up to 9.6 kbps for upload and up to 29.8 kbps for download.
PHS networks in Japan deliver data rates up to 128 kbps for terminals which are not moving at high speeds (e.g. PHS does not connect well in high-speed trains).
Third generation (3G) wireless networks in Japan deliver datarates from 64 kbps for upload and on the order of 200 kbos for downlad. Increasingly 3G networks in Japan are upgraded to deliver data connection rates on the order of 2 to 10 Mbps. These higher speeds allow the transmission of video and two-way video telephony, rapid download of movie sketches, music and JAVA applications. Other data connections, e.g. download of information or JAVA applets, are also several times faster on 3G networks then on older 2G networks.
In Japan there are three parallel, independent and competing 3G networks. Costs to the carrier are lower, so that competition drives prices down.
2. Which networks are there in Japan and how many 3G users are there?
KDDI/AU, NTT-DoCoMo and Vodafone operate 3G mobile networks in Japan. The following figure shows the user numbers as of January 2005:
2. What is the "killer application" for 3G? Is there one at all?
If there is a "killer application" for 3G, its mobile music! Chaku-Uta downloads on KDDI-AU mobile phones have similar download numbers as iTunes in the US with a very much smaller potential user pool. One can therefore safely say, that mobile music downloads seem to be substantially more attractive for paying users than conventional fixed line internet music downloads.
3. Which 3G communication networks are in operation in Japan?
Three carriers operate 3G communication networks in Japan: NTT DoCoMo, KDDI/AU and Vodafone (previously J-Phone). NTT DoCoMo's 3G network's brand name is FOMA and it uses the wCDMA technology standard. J-Phone also uses the wCDMA standard, while KDDI/AU uses different versions of the CDMA 2000-1x standard (CDMA2000-1x and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO) under the brand names: CDMA1x and CDMA1x-WIN for data download rates up to 2.4 Mbps.
First wave of 3G wireless network development in Japan
(for more details see: 3G report)
NTT DoCoMo KDDI / AU Vodafone
before Oct 2003: J-Phone
network standard wCDMA CDMA 2000-1x
from 28 Nov 2003: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
brand: CDMA 1X WIN wCDMA
start date tests: May 2001
commercial: Oct 2001 CDMA2000: April 1, 2002
CDMA-WIN: December 2003 Trial service: June 2002
commercial: Dec 20, 2002
data rates
(uplink, max) 64kbps cdmaOne area: 14.4kbps
CDMA 2000 1X area: 64kbps
CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO area: 144kbps 64kbps
data rates
(downlink, max) 384kbps cdmaOne area: 64kbps
CDMA 2000 1X area: 144kbps
CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO area: 2.4Mbps 384kbps
Services voice, data, i-mode, JAVA, video telephony, i-shot, music and video downloads, wallet-phones voice, data, EZweb, JAVA, BREW, GPS, music and video downloads voice, data, Vodafone-Live!, JAVA, video telephony, music and video downloads
Outbound International roaming
(transfer SIM chips between handsets) yes, with GSM countries no yes, with GSM countries
Outbound International roaming
(full handset based roaming) Yes, e.g. N900iG (FOMA + GSM + GRPS) yes, for special "Global Passport" handset with CDMA countries (USA, Australia, not Europe) yes, for 3G dual GSM/wCDMA handset with GSM countries (Europe, but not for USA)
Inbound International roaming
(Can I use my European/US handset in Japan?) not your GSM or 3G handset, but you can rent a DoCoMo handset and insert your SIM-card from cooperating carriers. no, not at this moment. Yes for Vodafone UMTS handsets in Japan (not GSM-only handsets)
4. How many 3G subscribers are there in Japan?
About 27 million as of January 2005 as shown in the following figure and table. KDDI/AU has moved almost all subscribers from 2G to 3G networks, we expect DoCoMos conversion to 3G/FOMA to be essentially complete during 2005/2006, while Vodafone still has a very small number of 3G subscribers (less than 2% of Japans 3G market) at this stage.
3G subscribers in Japan (31 January 2005)
(for more details see: 3G report)
system subscribers Conversion to 3G:
3G subscribers
as % of total market share of
3G market
KDDI/AU CDMA 2000-1x (144kbps) &
CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (2.4Mbps) 17,115,000 90.44% 63.5%
NTT-DoCoMo wCDMA (384kbps) 9,316,600 19.37% 34.6%
Vodafone wCDMA (384kbps) 527,300 3.48% 2.0%
Total ... 26,958,900 31.4% 100.0%
5. Which services are available on 3G networks in Japan?
3G networks provide typical download rates around 200 kbps (in the process of upgrade to the 2 to 10 Mbps range) and data upload rates of 64 kbps and higher. Under typical real-live operating conditions, actual data rates are lower.
Services offered are voice, data services, i-mode, J-Sky, EZweb data and information services and transactions, movie downloads, email services with picture and video sketch attachments, video telephony, remote control and remote video observation services, and location based services. Other new services are under exploration, and new types of services are constantly under experimentation or in introduction. Not all carriers offer all these services to all customers.
6. What will data rates for 3G communications be in the future in Japan?
At present 2G data download rates are up to 27.8 kbit/sec for DoCoMo/i-Mode, but usually slower. PHS allows data rates of 128 kbps in Japan.
Today KDDI/AU offers data download rates of 2.4 Mbps on CDMA-1x-WIN service, while DoCoMo and Vodafone offer 3G download rates of 256 kbps. Upgrades into the 12 Mbps are in preparation. Actual data rates in real-life service are lower than the theoretical maximum.
7. Where in Japan is 3G service available?
3G network services cover most of the inhabited areas of Japan. You can obtain detailed maps from the carriers directly. At this point all carriers cover around 95% or more of the population. 3G services gradually reach the same degree of coverage as 2G services. Recently, in June 2004 all Tokyo subway stations were connected to FOMA 3G services, and coverage of office buildings, an underground public areas is steadily improving.
8. What do 3G services cost?
Both 3G voice and 3G data rates are considerably lower than 2G data rates, however the actual rates subscribers pay depend much on the plan selected, on the quantity of data consumed, length of contract, and various discounts.
Recently both KDDI/AU and DoCoMo introduced flat data fee plans for specific data services. We expect that competition will further bring down fees and charges continuously
9. Which handsets are used for 3G services?
3G handsets used in Japan generally have one or two built-in digital cameras for still photographs and movies, and one or two color screens. The main display typically is full-color with 240 x 320 pixel size. Weight is typically a little over 100 grams, and the standby battery life is typically several weeks. Initially, 3G handsets were much inferior to 2G handsets. This has changed with DoCoMos 900i series, which was introduced in spring 2004, and led to a rapid increase of FOMA subscriptions. |
