RE: TECH: cell phones as singularity scouts

From: Barbara Lamar (barbaralamar@sanmarcos.net)
Date: Mon Jul 01 2002 - 10:55:59 MDT


 Robert J. Bradbury wrote:

> I thought this article in the Seattle Times was interesting:
>
> Japan and the United States worlds apart on wireless
> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/134485095
_japanwireless300.html

>Are there really cultural differences that cause certain
>technologies to take off in one location but languish
>in others?

The only relevant cultural difference mentioned in the article was that most
people in the U.S. drive to work rather than using public transport. (it's
difficult to view a screen while driving). But Japanese carriers'
statistics indicate that peak use of was not during peak commute times.

Looks to me more like an effect of marketing. U.S. carriers focus on "1,000
minutes for $39.99" in their advertising rather than on other services. As
the article says, <<"This is not going to be user adoption by osmosis,"
said Kevin McKeand, chief operating officer of Wireless Services, a wireless
technology developer in Bellevue. "People are not going to wake up and start
using it.">>

Barbara Lamar



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