Amazing Japanese Phones
Japan is well known throughout the world for amazing technological advancements. Tokyo’s almost futuristic design excites tourists and has even inspired film makers. Many aspects of life in Japan take advantage of the readily available technology – one of the most frequently utilized gadgets is the Japanese cell phone, or keitai.
Japanese cell phones, keitai denwa (literally “portable phone”), or simply keitai, are famous worldwide for being extraordinary. Many cell phones in the US and Europe now share some of the features of the keitai, but the capabilities of phones in Japan continue to expand. General features like email, address books, calculators, games, and scheduling are available. The list continues with features not as often seen on American or European devices:
- Playback of music
- Recording and playback of voices, music, images, and pictures
- Portable video player
- Online flash video viewing (YouTube, etc.)
- Video calling
- GPS navigation
- TV and Radio
- Viewing On-demand contents
- TV phone
- Crime prevention buzzers (with automatic police reporting system)
- Pedometer
- Fingerprint/face recognition system for security
In the last few years, the technology has been developed to allow phones to double as credit or debit cards. They can be used at checkouts in supermarkets, convenience stores, train stations, vending machines, and other locations. Phones can also be used as a train pass – swipe the phone across the turnstile, the way you would a typical train card, and you’re on your way. Your phone must be loaded with money in order to perform these tasks, of course!
Newer models allow for TV and movie watching, and most phones can connect to the internet via Japan’s nationwide 3G service. Japan was the first country to launch 3G service on a large scale. Users can browse text-only sites, and many Japanese sites have sub-sites that have been specially designed for cellular phone access. Check train schedules and plan trips using public transit all from your phone. Some phones are even waterproof!
The use of your phone to make a call while on a train or bus is frowned upon. Messages requesting phones be set to “manner mode” or “silent mode” are played frequently when riding public transport. Text messaging and email messaging rates are cheap, and as a result, a train car is often full of individuals sitting in silence, using their phones to play games, read news, or write to friends.
Japanese mobiles can also be used to read special bar codes called “QR codes”. It’s a 2D bar code written in a square shape rather than a bar. The phone scans the bar code with its camera, decodes the information, and will then take action depend on the type of content. Usually this technology is found in advertising. These codes can be found on posters, in magazines, and even on some business cards! Usually the QR code will have a link to a website or email address that the phone can access.
Japanese phones are a fun and interesting change from the typical phones in Europe and North America. With ever-increasing limits to technology, who knows what we will be able to do with our phones next?