The end of ¥1 mobiles

19 Sep 2007

The Nikkei is reporting the mobile industry is expected to embrace a Japan Communications Ministry recommendation to end mobile subsidizing practices where carriers routinely sell mobiles for ¥1 but recover the cost in subscriber fees and charges.

47 million mobiles are sold annually in Japan but the end of virtually free mobiles may force mobile manufacturers to look outside the Japan market to survive as users hang on to their mobiles longer.