Japan largest carrier refuses to work with Apple

NTT DoCoMo, the biggest mobile carrier in Japan, is facing a serious problem of losing clients. Its firm denial to work with Apple iPhone cost it 3.2 million users over the last 4 and a half years. It is put down to high popularity of iPhone in Japan. Being the most desirable smartphone, it occupies a 42 % share of cell phone sales.

NTT DoCoMo CEO Kaoru Kayo says:

Our aim is to develop a special “lifestyle system”. It requires preinstalled software on mobile phones.

Naturally, remembering how closed iOS system is, Apple does not let NTT DoCoMo install any programs on its devices. Another problem issue is placing carrier’s logo on the iPhone. It is obvious that California-based company refuses to accept there conditions.

NTT DoCoMo could have adjusted some of its requirements, but it still holds its ground, although bleeding customers.

And them again, not only market watchers predict a deal with Apple inevitable, but NTT DoCoMo executives themselves push the company to signing it. If the Japanese carrier keeps on refusing, it may lose its leading position on the market.

Nowadays, nearly all the largest carriers outside USA work with iPhone. The most profitable is China Mobile. Its boasts over 700 million subscribers/

The number of NTT DoCoMo subscribers is around 60 million, which is a negligible figure as compared with Chine Mobile.