Increasing Difficulty of Differentiating Handsets and Competition from MVNOs

「Smartphone shipments are expected to decline as devices become more expensive due to the weaker yen and higher costs for memory and other components, while replacement demand has run its course. Meanwhile, the used smartphone market, which offers lower prices, is expanding because smartphone performance has reached a certain level and older models remain comparable in performance.」

「As device prices continue to rise against a backdrop of yen depreciation and higher component costs, including memory costs, domestic shipments have begun to decline amid the completion of the replacement demand cycle.」

「In the mobile industry, shipments continue to recover, but with device prices remaining high due to foreign exchange and other factors, trade-in programs and other measures to encourage replacements are stimulating demand. Mid-range to upper-mid-range product lineups offering an attractive price point are attracting attention as the replacement cycle moves toward renewal.」

「Although device prices have been trending upward due to the weaker yen and higher prices, shipments have recovered amid an increase in the discount cap and stronger device-upgrade initiatives by each carrier, as well as rising replacement demand.」

「As the benefits of switching have declined due to the normalization of device prices and lower communication charges, the replacement interval has lengthened, partly because of weaker consumer appetite for the latest models.」

「In the mobile industry, the replacement cycle has lengthened amid declining benefits from switching due to lower device prices and communication charges, partly because of weaker consumer appetite for the latest models.」

「In the mobile industry, the replacement cycle has lengthened amid declining benefits from switching due to the normalization of device prices and other factors, as well as concerns about higher prices and their impact on device prices.」

「In the mobile industry, the benefits of switching have declined as rate plans have become cheaper and device prices have been normalized, while device sales have been trending downward as high-end devices become more expensive and feature enhancements slow.」

「While switching between carriers has become smoother with the discontinuation of mobile email portability fees and contract cancellation charges, among other measures, the benefits of switching have diminished due to options such as changing plans within the same carrier, making the environment for acquiring new users increasingly challenging.」

「As carrier email portability and the abolition of contract cancellation fees make switching carriers easier, competition to acquire switching customers is intensifying.」

「In the mobile industry, competition to promote low-priced plans such as online plans and sub-brands is intensifying, and the number of major carrier shops continues to decline slightly. Meanwhile, the role of physical stores in providing services and acquiring users is growing as they sell sub-brands alongside the main brands and cooperate with certain MVNOs in handling their offerings.」

「In the mobile industry, competition to promote low-priced plans such as online plans and sub-brands is intensifying. Although the number of major carrier shops continues to decline slightly, the role expected of stores is expanding as they increasingly handle sub-brands alongside the main brands.」

「The role of store-based services is expected to change as telecommunications carriers launch online-only plans.」

「Demand prompted by device replacement needs associated with the shutdown of 3G services and the launch of new pricing plans also contributed to a recovery in customer traffic. The 2021 spring sales season saw a solid recovery.」

「The introduction of lower-priced new plans by telecommunications carriers reduced the appeal of the offering, and sales fell well short of the plan.」

「As high-end devices become less affordable following the enforcement of the amended Telecommunications Business Act, more users are turning to mid-range devices, and telecommunications carriers are expanding their device lineups.」

「Contract numbers at MVNOs offering low-cost SIMs are steadily increasing, but competition is intensifying and industry consolidation is occurring. In addition, device replacement cycles are lengthening as smartphone innovation moderates and the prices of the latest models rise.」

「Providers offering low-cost SIMs are increasing their contract numbers by emphasizing low communications fees and offering physical stores and extensive device lineups, including iPhones.」

「Meanwhile, major carriers are focusing on retaining existing users and acquiring new ones by announcing new pricing plans tailored to long-term use and usage patterns.」

「Meanwhile, major carriers are focusing on retaining existing users and acquiring new ones by announcing new pricing plans tailored to long-term use and usage patterns.」

「MVNOs offering low-cost smartphones are emphasizing low communications fees and expanding their physical store networks and selections of mid-range devices and device protection services. They are beginning to become an option even for relatively cautious users who are willing to adopt new products, and are increasing their contract numbers.」

「Meanwhile, the number of MNP transfers and new contracts with MVNOs offering low-cost SIMs is increasing because of their low communications fees. The MVNO market is expanding as users begin to take advantage of broader selections of mid-range and higher SIM-free devices and SIM unlocking.」

「Low-cost SIM providers are also successively announcing a range of large-data plans and new pricing plans, substantially reducing the price per unit of data capacity.」

「The low-cost SIM market is expanding steadily as a result of mandatory SIM unlocking and greater awareness of low-cost smartphones.」

「Interest in MVNOs offering low-cost SIMs is spreading, and SIM-free device lineups are becoming more extensive. Price competition among MVNOs is also intensifying.」