NEWSWORTHY
Business / Corporate Apr 10, 2019
Japan's Docomo, KDDI, SoftBank and Rakuten get mobile phone 5G bands ahead of 2020 launch
The telecom ministry allocated Wednesday 5G frequency bands to Rakuten and three mobile carriers that will enable users to send and receive data 100 times faster than 4G.
Business Mar 5, 2019
Japan Cabinet OKs bill forcing firms to separate mobile phone and data costs in bid to lower prices
The bill to revise the telecommunications business law would ban carriers from offering plans that cover both the price of the phone itself and connection fees.
Business / Tech Feb 26, 2019
Sony tries to reboot smartphone sales with movie-style screens for 4K filming and viewing
Sony Corp., having fallen way behind its South Korean and Chinese rivals in the smartphone sales race, aims to capitalize on its movie pedigree with new devices featuring 21:9 ratio screens, the dimensions used to film blockbusters. The company announced a new flagship Xperia 1 ...
Business Jan 22, 2019
Japan is looking at allowing e-money salary payments ahead of foreign worker influx
The government hopes to promote a shift toward a cashless society as well as cater to foreign workers — who may face hurdles opening bank accounts.
National / Crime & Legal Dec 20, 2018
Drivers using phones at the wheel in Japan could face steeper fines and six-month jail terms
Penalties for drivers caught using mobile phones at the wheel will be toughened with steeper fines and possible prison terms, according to a draft bill released Thursday that is aimed at curbing the practice that has led to a surge in the number of ...
Business / Tech Dec 7, 2018
Ericsson boss apologizes for 'faulty software' behind huge SoftBank service disruption
Swedish communications giant Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson said a problem with its software caused Thursday's massive telecommunication disruption that affected SoftBank users across Japan. People were unable to make emergency calls to report a fire or request an ambulance as the phone and data connection trouble ...
Business / Corporate Dec 6, 2018
SoftBank mobile services disrupted ahead of bumper IPO, sending shares downward
SoftBank Group Corp. apologized Thursday for disruption of its mobile phone services, saying they were fully recovered by 6:04 p.m. the same day, the cell phone operator said Thursday in a statement. The problem came less than two weeks before the telecommunication giant's mobile unit, ...
Business / Corporate Nov 22, 2018
As demand slows, Apple iPhone supplier Foxconn plans deep cost cuts
Foxconn Technology Group, the biggest assembler of iPhones, has become the latest Apple Inc. supplier to warn of anemic demand, with an internal memo suggesting that expenses will be cut by almost a half next year. The contract manufacturer aims to cut $2.9 billion from ...
Editorials Nov 8, 2018
The carriers need to continue their efforts to improve their services while reducing the charges for consumers through more efficient operation and use of their resources.
Business / Corporate Nov 7, 2018
NTT to invest ¥3 trillion on research and 5G mobile network systems
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. said Tuesday it will invest ¥3 trillion ($26 billion) over the next five years on advanced research activities and next-generation 5G mobile communications networks. Under its medium-term business strategy, unveiled the same day, the telecommunications giant will also seek to ...
Business Oct 26, 2018
A more affordable model in the iPhone X series went on sale in Japan on Friday amid expectations that sales will exceed that of the pricier XS Max and XS, which made their market debuts last month. The XR model, which costs ¥84,800, is available ...