The iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c are as hot as wasabi in Japan. The latest Apple smartphones has dominated the market share, according to a new survey. Research firm Kantar Worldpanel said that Apple raked in 76 percent of smartphone sales in October. For NTT DoCoMo, the leading carrier in the country, 61 percent of its sales for the same period, were iPhones.
KWP ComTech Japan tweeted the summary of its findings through its official Twitter account.
KWP ComTech Japan: #Apple takes 76% share of Japan Smartphone sales during October, including 61% on #NTT DoCoMo
— KWP ComTech (@KWP_ComTech) November 26, 2013
The numbers for NTT DoCoMo reveal the sentiments of its consumer base as it is the first time for the carrier to bring Apple handsets to the Japanese market. The research firm did not disclose additional information about its study of the iPhone's performance in the said market.
In July, the leading carrier reported that it has been struggling to keep consumers interested without iPhones on its lineup.
"It is paying heavily for that obstinacy - with a net 3.2 million users jumping ship to its two domestic rivals over the last 4-1/2 years - but is determined to protect the walled garden of services it has built around its own smartphones," a report on Reuters said.
However, following the drop in users, DoCoMo had to no choice but to seal a deal with Apple and give its consumers the most popular handset in Japan. The wireless carrier has more than 60 million subscribers.
According to an earlier report on Apple Insider, the entry of the NTT DoCoMo in the iPhone craze resulted to a battle royale between the three biggest mobile carriers in Japan, with the companies offering price cuts to attract customers interested with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Japan is the fastest growing smartphone market in the region, posting figures better than the more populous Chinese market. It said that between April and September, iPhone took a 37 percent share of the Japanese smartphone market considering that NTT DoCoMo only started selling the newest Apple handsets in late September.
The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c were released in Japan on September 25 and are being carried by KDDI, Softbank, and NTT DoCoMo in Japan.
