J-PHONE
announced that as of October 23, 2002, the number of “Sha-mail”
units (picture messaging enabled handsets equipped with mobile cameras)
exceeded the 7 million mark. Since topping six million in August 2002,
“Sha-mail” subscribers have increased by 1 million in approximately
two months, bringing the number of “Sha-mail” users to 54%
of J-PHONE’s total subscriber base.
Picture shows Sha-Mail
(picture messaging) handset, the "J-SH09" manufactured by
Sharp Corporation.
The rapid growth of “Sha-mail”
can be attributed to the following:
1. Penetration of “Sha-mail”
communications
J-PHONE began its service called “Sha-mail” in June 2001,
which allows a person to take a picture with a mobile camera and send
it as an e-mail attachment. Attracted to its ease-of-use, greater numbers
of customers have recognized the “Sha-mail” brand and adopted
the service. As a result, the number of “Sha-mail” handsets
in use has continued to expand at a rapid pace. In addition to being
able to send pictures to other J-PHONE users, with the commencement
of J-PHONE’s “@Sha-mail” service, users are now able
to send photos to subscribers of other mobile operators in Japan. Furthermore,
J-PHONE further expanded “Sha-mail” communication possibilities
by introducing services called “@Sha-mail album”, “Fukidashi
[speech bubble] Sha-mail”, and “Anime [animated] Sha-mail”,
which allow users to save photos on the J-SKY Internet service so they
can create and display their original albums.
2. Extensive lineup of “Sha-mail”
handsets”
J-PHONE now has a lineup of 20 different types of “Sha-mail”
photo-capable handsets, the most in the industry, of which 6 are “Movie
Sha-mail” (video messaging) compatible. Subscribers can choose
from among a wide variety of handsets with mobile cameras that offer
zooming, close-ups, frame setting, lighting and other photographic functions.
3. From “Sha-mail”
to “Movie Sha-mail”
With the start of its mobile packet data service in March 2002, J-PHONE
marked another milestone in mobile communications by launching “Movie
Sha-mail,” a service which enables users to send and receive e-mails
with attachments containing audio/video messages of up to five seconds
in length, thereby offering expanded possibilities for expression. J-PHONE
now offers 6 “Movie Sha-mail handsets” and currently has
more than 800,000 customers subscribing to the service.
