Smashing Barriers in Japan’s Mobile App Market
Japan holds one of the top-grossing shares in mobile device consumption as well as application downloads. Consequently, developers worldwide see this market as having colossal potential returns on investment. For years, Western mobile companies have been trying to penetrate this inward and resistant market.
The advanced infrastructure in Japan allowed it to produce its own brand of mobile phones and applications that isolated it from the rest of the world. Japanese mobile corporations knew that they could keep the local market happy and protected with localized applications that capture the attention of those willing to pay.
It seemed like the Japanese app market was already content with this existing setup. However, global developers such as Apple never gave up. When smartphones started to rise up, the Japanese market took notice and responded, with customers enjoying the diversity and high entertainment levels of applications, especially iPhone 4S.
One of the most successful Apple applications is iTunes’Sekai Camera produced by Tonchidot Corporation. Instead of the typical still pictures with background or border designs, Sekai Camera found harnessed local market quirkiness with enhanced reality features, allowing users to take photos and add air tags wherever. Other users can view these posts in the same location. Posts can also be shared on Facebook or Twitter.
The Japanese have always supported reality-based games or applications, whether virtual or augmented. By featuring real-time applications based on the actual environment, reality is merely enhanced with graphics or texts which the user can control. Another popular app from Apple is “iButterfly” with its magnificent graphics, allowing users to add beautiful 3D butterflies to their actual gardens.
Android users, meanwhile, find solace in Google Play, which features different kinds of applications from e-books, movies, music and more.
Google Play uses cloud services and can be accessed on the internet by anyone with a phone. Amazingly, all types of applications are collected in one place, saving the user time and effort. By utilizing the cloud, anyone can enjoy this service as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection. There is increased flexibility and efficiency when applications are accessed on the cloud since users don’t have to use up all phone memory or battery when downloading. The Internet allows applications to store the needed information on the cloud instead of in the actual device.
Most app developers who thrive in Japan can attribute their success to localizing their product. It is crucial to localize the application to suit the particular whims and needs of the consumers. More than merely translating the language, app developers might consider partnering locally-based developers with a clear idea of what clicks with Japanese mobile users.
Be Part of Our Cloud Conversation
Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Guest Author:
Rodolfo Lentejas, Jr. is a fulltime freelance writer based in Toronto. He is the founder of the PostSckrippt, a growing online writing business dedicated to producing top quality, original and fresh content. To know more about him, please visit www.postsckrippt.ca. Like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.
