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Japan isn't weak in software if my game library has anything to say about it. ;-) Fascinating that Joy-Cons run a TRON-compliant OS. Docomo was certainly ahea
by musicale 2y ago
Japan isn't weak in software if my game library has anything to say about it. ;-)
Fascinating that Joy-Cons run a TRON-compliant OS.
Docomo was certainly ahead with i-mode, but as the video notes i-mode wasn't successful abroad, and it was eclipsed by iPhone/iOS and Android, much as other mobile platforms (Palm, Blackberry...) were (though it will continue to operate until 2026.)
Line (perhaps similarly to WeChat) also pioneered the super-app space, but it was mainly domestically focused.
Incidentally it was SoftBank Mobile (formerly Vodafone Japan), rather than Docomo or KDDI, that adopted the iPhone in 2008, as an exclusive until 2011. That probably turned out to be a good move (though maybe not as good as investing in Alibaba.)
- deisteve 2y agoGames or selling to consumers is a totally different line of business than enterprise software which Japan lacks talent or incubation for. There is just no upward mobility and little regard for software profession. Line was made by Korean engineers and owned by a Korean company. i-Mode is interesting but seems like there were no strides to innovate further than running a server side HTML application to proxy off of but Japanese consumers are unique in that they will put with mediocre or annoying. I personally blame Son Masayoshi's monopoly and his close mindedness, too much focus on maximizing profits rather than innovation.