Tag: japan mobile commerce

SoftBank invests in South Korean mobile commerce firm

| June 8, 2015

SoftBank to invest $1 billion in Coupang

Japanese mobile operator SoftBank has announced that it intends to invest $1 billion into South Korea’s largest mobile commerce firm, Coupang. This would represent the largest Internet investment that has been made in South Korea’s history and will provide Coupang with the financial support it needs to compete with other mobile commerce organizations. SoftBank has not disclosed the size of the interest it will acquire in Coupang and the South Korean company will continue to operate of its own accord.

Company seeks to expand beyond the borders of Japan

In 2013, SoftBank successfully acquired Sprint, which may have been the company’s first step toward expanding beyond Japan. The latest investment may be another step toward this endeavor, with SoftBank beginning to show significant interests in mobile markets in other parts of the world. SoftBank has also increased its stake in Supercell, a Finnish company that develops mobile games. Mobile commerce may be part of why SoftBank is beginning to expand, as this sector represents a significant degree of financial promise.

Mobile commerce could be a promising opportunity for some companies

Softbank - Mobile Commerce DealMobile commerce has grown quickly throughout the world, with this growth being powered by the increasing number of mobile consumers. As more people gain access to smartphones and tablets, they are beginning to shop with these devices, opting to use their devices to purchase products that they are interested in. Companies like SoftBank could have a lot to gain by engaging in the mobile commerce space, but it will have to compete with other companies that want to establish a dominant position in this market.

Coupang will be able to compete more aggressively in the mobile commerce sector thanks to investments

Coupang will continue to play a role in South Korea’s thriving mobile commerce market. The company has already established itself as a leader in this market, but it will have to continue offering favorable services to consumers in order to maintain this position. In the coming years, South Korea, as well as Japan, may become the most prominent mobile commerce markets in the world.

Apple may fall behind in Japanese mobile payments

| September 16, 2014

Apple could have trouble engaging consumers in the Japanese market

Apple is having trouble finding traction in the Japanese mobile payments space. The country served as the launch for a pilot project from the company. The project focused on mobile payments, using the iTunes platform as a way to make purchases. Recently, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 6, which will be the company’s first official foray into the field of mobile commerce. In Japan, the device was received with relatively modest interest.

Mobile commerce has been around for more than a decade in Japan

Mobile payments have been around in Japan for more than a decade. The country is often considered to be the birthplace of mobile commerce, largely due to the high adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices among Japanese consumers. As mobile devices became more common, Japanese consumers began to demand new mobile-centric services. As such, businesses began embracing the mobile space and accepting payments that were made from these devices.

Consumers have a great deal of experience with NFC-enabled mobile devices

apple - mobile paymentsMany mobile devices in Japan are equipped with an NFC chip called Felica. This chip was first introduced to the market in 2004 and now has a home in nearly every mobile device sold in the country. The iPhone had been one of the very few devices sold in Japan that did not have a Felica chip installed in it. This will change when the iPhone 6 hits the market, but whether or not it will be able to compete with other, more well established mobile payments platforms is uncertain.

Japanese consumers show modest interest in the iPhone 6 and its capabilities

Japanese consumers have had years to get comfortable with mobile commerce. They have come to expect many things from the mobile platforms that they use on a daily basis and platforms that do not meet these expectations do not last long in the market. Apple has limited experience when it comes to mobile commerce, and this has placed the company in a precarious position when it comes to engaging Japanese consumers.