You are here: silicon.com > Networks > Mobile & Wireless

Mobile & Wireless

Asia-Pacific RIM: BlackBerry goes to Japan

Will the CrackBerry get lost in translation?

Tags: blackberry, japan, rim

By Jo Best

Published: 8 June 2006 16:00 BST

RIM is to debut its trademark email device in Japan for the first time after inking a deal with the country's largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo.

NTT DoCoMo will launch the devices from this autumn, RIM said, although the handset maker is yet to provide details of which models will be available.

While users can receive messages in Japan, they will have to respond in English as the device will only sport a Qwerty keyboard.

From a hardware perspective, RIM is going to look large and clunky - it's flying in the face of handset design and it's difficult for non-Japanese vendors to do well in that market.

The Japanese BlackBerrys will run on the W-CDMA variant of 3G as well as GSM and GPRS.

While Japan is often regarded as the most advanced market for mobile technology, innovations have typically centred on the consumer segment - leaving the enterprise market still relatively open.

Nick Spencer, research analyst at Canalys, said RIM's enterprise security and management could put it in a good position with large companies but added the handset maker had some major hurdles to overcome first.

He told silicon.com: "The [country's] devices are very design-led - the Japanese love their features but they have to be done in a very consumery way. From a hardware perspective, RIM is going to look large and clunky – it's flying in the face of handset design and it's difficult for non-Japanese vendors to do well in that market."

The launch into Japan represents the second big push for RIM into the Asia-Pacific market. The company recently announced it was to launch in China with local operator China Mobile.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure
Read and write about internet access at the airports of the world at atlarge.com. Be the first to rate an airport, win champagne...


  • Jobs
Field Test Engineer Thames Valley/Europe

It is essential you understand wireless technology (GSM, GPRS, UMTS). Huxley Associates client seeks a Field Test Engineer for handset testing. You ...

C++ Windows Mobile Developer C++ Telecomms

A good understanding on GSM/GPRS/UMTS stacks will also be very beneficial Huxley Associates has a new requirement for a Windows Mobile Developer with ...

Field Trials Engineer - Bracknell (Blue-Chip Organisation)

FT *A general understanding of GCF, and the industry requirements for handset Certification. This peron is to be part of the FT team that is ...

CIO50 2008
The silicon.com CIO50 2008 profiles the most influential and innovative tech chiefs in the UK across all industries and organisation size, from the biggest FTSE100 companies to high growth dot-com start ups and the public sector. The list was voted on by the UK CIO community and a panel of experts. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: