The convergence of mobile data phones, consumer electronics, and wallets: Lessons from Japan

Japan is leading the world with the adoption of new mobile data services such as Internet services and with a resulting boost in data ARPU (average revenue per user). In the development of these services, many functions have been integrated into mobile handsets, which has resulted in a convergence of, so far, separate consumer electronic devices. This article addresses the following questions: What are the drivers of this process? What could European players, in particular the European policymakers do to catch up? According to our research, a major driver of the process in Japan is tough competition among operators, which in turn is driven by factors such as competition in mobile radio infrastructure. The author arrives at the following conclusions for European policies: (1) There should be more awareness of the Japanese lead, e.g., of the crucial role of Internet push e-mail. (2) Europe could benefit from more operators willing to bear the risk of introducing new technologies. (3) For a successful introduction of infrastructure competition, it could make sense to make spectrum bands available with European-wide licenses.