News
BusinessWeek: ‘iPod mania alive and well’ in Japan
BusinessWeek’s Ian Rowley writes that “iPod mania is alive and well in Japan—one of the most competitive consumer-electronics markets on the planet.” Apple’s ad campaigns, the launch of the Japanese iTunes Music Store, the opening of a brick-and-mortar store in Shibuya, and the iPod nano are all credited with the increased popularity in the country.
“Despite an array of well-entrenched Japanese rivals, such as Sony and Matsushita, the iPod had cornered 51.3% of the digital-music player market as of the end of 2005, up from about 32% in 2004, according to research firm BCN. Sony was a distant second with 16.2%, while Panasonic grabbed just 8.2% of the market,” Rowley reports. “For now, though, the iPod absolutely rules Japan’s digital-music player market—pretty amazing when you consider that Japan is home to some of the toughest competitors imaginable in the global consumer-electronics game.”
In addition to the BusinessWeek article, iLounge’s pictoral report from Tokyo, Japan is also available.
Related Stories
- Key iPhone, iPod executive left Apple last year
- Apple seeds iOS 5.1 beta 3 to developers
- Corning details Gorilla Glass 2: 20% thinner
- Code found in iOS 5.1 points to quad-core chips
- GameStop sees ‘strong’ interest in iOS trade program
- Kindle app adds magazines, PDF document support
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iLounge Weekly coming early Monday, giveaway reminder
- iBackFlip launches Somersault case for iPad
- Motorola loses third patent case against Apple in Germany
- Apple rushing to pick demo apps for next iPad launch
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Periscope Audio Lab releases SpaceSampler
- Evernote Hello improves contact entry features
- eMailGanizer Pro adds Universal Inbox, Smart Folders
- Scosche rolls out bassDock for iPad
- German court rejects Apple bid to ban Galaxy 10.1N
Recent Reviews
- Cygnett Apollo for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! ID for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! With Stand for iPhone 4/4S
- Solid Line Products RightShift 2 Removable Keyboard Case for iPad 2
- Spigen SGP Kuel F60Q Battery Pack
- Just Mobile Highway + Highway Pro for iPod, iPhone + iPad
- Speck CandyShell and CandyShell Satin for iPhone 4/4S
- Jensen JiPS-310i Docking Speaker for iPod, iPhone & iPad
- FrappeDesign Smart Sleeve for iPad 2
Recent Articles
- iOS Gems: Adventures of Tintin, Reckless Racing 2 + Scramble With Friends
- Ask iLounge 2-3-12
- Making The Case For - And Against - An Apple iTV Television
- Instant Expert: iTunes U for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iBooks 2.0
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: Honorable Mentions
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: iPod, iPhone, iPad + Mac
- iOS Gems: Bug Princess, Dora Hops Into Phonics, It’s A Small World, Sleepy Jack + X Is For X-Ray
- The Complete Guide to Managing iTunes Videos
- Editorial: As CES Grows, Will Microsoft’s Loss Be Apple’s Gain?
1
iPod + iTunes + iTMS = big trouble and headaches for everyone else. Amazing, the dominance…even on Sony’s home turf.
MSFT can only wonder if they’d had such a formula for the 360 what could’ve been in Japan, especially in light of all the gloom and doom predictions of more delays for the PS3.
Posted by flatline response on February 24, 2006 at 1:37 PM (PDT)
2
I only see the PS3 delay as a positive thing. why rush when they have nothing to worry about the 360?
Posted by EM on February 24, 2006 at 2:52 PM (PDT)
3
I only see the PS3 delay as a positive thing.
Only if MSFT isn’t able to crack the whip and ramp up production and get the publishing houses to push titles out faster to take advantage of the situation. Sony HAS given Redmond a real opportunity here to build a lead. But so far from what Microsoft has done, Sony seems to have little to worry about. 360s are still tough to come by in stores (plenty on eBay, though), and new game titles are REALLY slow in coming (a lot like the PSP was when that went live).
Anyways, kudos to Apple for teaching Sony The Rookit Slinger a thing or two about selling DAP/MP3s.
Posted by flatline response on February 25, 2006 at 2:06 AM (PDT)