Apple's Japan tablet sales: a precursor of things to come?

Apple's Japan tablet sales: a precursor of things to come?

News On Japan via dailyfinance.com -- Jan 18

According to a recent study , the words most often used in Japanese electronics stores in December were: 'I'll take a Nexus 7, please." Research firm BNC conducted an electronics store calling campaign throughout Japan to gauge tablet sales at 2,400 retail outlets during the busy December shopping season. For the first time since May 2010, when Apple began selling iPads in Japan, Google's Nexus 7 tablet alternative has taken over the top spot in the market. The Nexus commanded 44.4% of Japanese tablet sales in December, while Apple's piece of the pie dropped to 40.1%. There are two primary reasons for the change at the top in Japan: number one, price . The Nexus retails for about $200 in Japan, compared to $300 for the iPad Mini, and $500 for an iPad. Price is a concern for Apple that's going to manifest itself in the smartphone market, too.

Reason number two is the release of Apple's iPad Mini toward the end of last year, which caused some inventory problems, and may also have cannibalized sales of previous iPad versions, skewing the survey's final results. We'll need to wait and see what impact not having readily available iPads in stock had on December tablet sales, but the message is clear; in Japan, at least, consumers are ready and willing to explore alternatives to Apple, particularly when price is part of the equation.

Jan 17	Somalia: Two pirates plead guilty in Japan
	Two Somali men accused of the attempted hijacking of a Japanese-operated tanker off the coast of Oman pleaded guilty in Japanese court on Tuesday (January 15th), AFP reported. (allafrica.com)

Jan 16	Frenchwoman fired for leaving Japan during nuclear crisis sues NHK
	A Frenchwoman dismissed by NHK filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the public broadcaster, claiming her radio announcer contract was unjustly terminated after she temporarily fled Japan at the start of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant in March 2011. (Japan Times)

Jan 16	AKB48 breast shot could pose problems for publisher
	Comic book weekly Shukan Young Magazine, which is published by Kodansha, announced on January 11 that the issue originally scheduled to hit newsstands the following day would be delayed. The problem was the suitability of including an image featuring a topless Tomomi Kasai being fondled from behind by a young boy. (Tokyo Reporter)

Source: http://www.newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/100529.php

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