Mobile Intelligence Tour to Tokyo, 10 - 18 April 2004
Toyko-based Wireless Watch Japan, the leading streaming video magazine, and Berlin-based Mobile Economy GmbH, one of Europe's leading Mobile Lifestyle Think Tanks, will co-produce the Mobile Intelligence Tour (MIT) to Tokyo from 10 - 18 April 2004, promising to be one of this year's premiere events for extracting business intelligence from the Japanese mobile market.
The Mobile Intelligence Tour aims to expose participants to the best and brightest individuals and companies making mobile work in Japan, the world's No. 1 wireless market, and will include highly focussed company briefings, presentations, visitations, end-user demonstrations, access to local experts, and industry-related social events.
MIT members will also be provided with a 3G cellular handset for the week to try i-mode(R), EZweb, and Vodafone live!(TM) services for themselves.
New, third-generation (3G) wireless Internet services are rocking Japan's extremely sophisticated market, with bar-code readers, e-wallet-based m-commerce, mobile TV, and CD-quality music download technology all enjoying fast consumer up-take. Major carriers are finding that average revenue per user on their 3G systems is actually higher than on older 2G systems, with market leader NTT DoCoMo reporting a 28 percent boost in their 2003 third-quarter 3G revenues compared to 2G. Of this, data revenue was up a whopping 71 percent!
Clearly, Japan's mobile industry is fast learning how to make 3G work, and players are amassing valuable and exportable market intelligence.
In addition, media reports for the first time are citing the growing number of enterprises using mobile applications as key elements in their IT strategy. In mid-2003, more than 50 firms were offering almost 80 mobile business solutions, according to one recently published estimate.
"This will be the first mobile industry tour to Tokyo that not only reviews enterprise and consumer mobile application success factors, but that also looks at the growing convergence between fixed and mobile broadband data services," said Daniel Scuka, business manager for Wireless Watch Japan.
Scuka points to the growth in 3G mobile data users, presently over 14 million, the growth in home broadband users, now over 10 million, and the numerous WLAN hotspot services - including offerings from NTT, NTT DoCoMo, Softbank, and others. "Traditional content, application, and service providers focussed solely on 2G i-mode and the other mobile webs now have to think seriously about how to distribute their content and services via fixed broadband, mobile broadband, WLAN, and other channels. New 3G licensees are also set to enter the market with portable DSL," he adds.
With a plethora of distribution technologies jockeying for consumer and enterprise attention in Japan, the country is serving more than ever as a test bed for mobile data services elsewhere, including Europe and Asian markets. "The MIT is perfect for mobile industry executives and managerial-level staff working in sales, marketing, product management, product development, business strategy, or engineering and application development. They will come away from Tokyo perhaps a little overwhelmed but absolutely understanding why mobile is a success in Japan and how success factors can be applied to their home markets," said Jan Michael Hess, CEO of Mobile Economy GmbH.
The MIT expects to include visits with and presentations from operators and service providers, terminal makers, content and application developers, marketing and advertising companies, enabling technology vendors, R&D and consulting players, and individual experts from industry, academia, and government. In addition, the tour will be moderated and guided by long-time Japan mobile industry watchers Daniel Scuka and Jan Michael Hess.
The estimated participation fee for the MIT is Euro 2,500.- per person (tour only); this price includes all fees and expenses for the tour itself. It does not include air travel, hotel accommodation, pro rate fees for certain optional events, or private expenses. Deadline for submitting requests to participate is 5 March 2004.
Since 1999, Daniel Scuka has covered wireless business and technology, entrepreneurship, tech ventures, and Internet-related issues for numerous media in Japan, the US, and Europe. Daniel co-authored the "i-Mode Developer's Guide" (Addison Wesley Professional, April 2002). He has taught mobile marketing at the International University of Japan, has worked as a researcher and analyst for several consulting and market data companies, and is a frequent speaker at industry-related events.
I do recommend all fans of mobile Japan to join Daniel Scuka and me on this unique trip into the heart of the Japanese Mobile Economy.
