Japan Mobile Phone Shipments Decline 2.3% In August-Kyodo

TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Shipments of mobile phones, including personal handy-phone system devices, in Japan fell 2.3% in August from a year before to 3.19 million units, Kyodo News reported, citing the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association.

But strong demand continued in August for "third-generation" handsets with video-viewing and other functions, called 3G. The shipments of 3G phones rose 17.6% to 2.28 million units, the association said.

The ratio of 3G handsets to the total shipments reached above 70% for the third straight month, Kyodo reported.

As many mobile phone users have switched to 3G, shipments of "second-generation" phones with only Internet and e-mail functions dropped 41.1% to 757,000 units.

Shipments of PHS devices, a kind of stripped-down cellular phone with relatively low charges, jumped 312.9% to 149,000 units, the association said.

PHS devices have been very popular since a successful launch of new services in February, it said.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 12th October 2005