News Release:20020507

Note:
In the event that the number of samples is not described in the graphs, reference the above tables
Samples for which the genders and ages are not known are included in the March 1997 survey (1 sample) and in the September 1997 survey (3 samples)

3. Summary of the survey results
1) Cellular phone/PHS

The ratio of those who use cellular phones/PHS personally (individual usage rate) increased by 7.9 points compared to the previous year, and has reached 79.0%. Looked at by gender, the increase among women (except for those in their 20s) contributed to the overall growth. Even among women in their 50s, one in two are users. However, among men from their 20s-40s, the growth in the usage rate seems to ha ve leveled off (Reference Graph 1).

2) Internet usage, via cellular phone single

Those using the Internet via cellular phones single (i- mode, J-SKY, EZweb, etc.) increased by 14.5 points during the last year, and have reached 35.1%. Looked at by gender, among men in their teens through their 30s and women in their teens and 20s, Internet usage via cellular phone exceeds 50%. In terms of age levels, the younger they are the more likely they are to have terminals capable of accessing the Internet. In fact, Internet usage among those groups is high (Reference Graph 2).
Of those who use cellular phones, the ratio of those who use for - fee web content increased to almost one- fourth of all cellular phone users (23.3%). The monthly usage cost to for- fee content users is an average of 423 yen, that amount having decreased somewhat from 439 yen during the previous year. The annual market size of for- fee content increased rapidly, almost doubling during the past year; and is estimated to be approximately 73 billion yen (Reference Graph 3).

3) Third generation cellular phones (IMT-2000)

Those desiring to use third generation cellular phones (IMT-2000) are a little less than 30% (27.5%) of cellular phone users and those who wish to use cellular phones. Those who wish to use them number high among men in their teens and 20s and women in their teens. The higher the monthly cellular phone usage rate, the greater the desire to use IMT-2000 (Reference Graph 4).
Of the IMT-2000 services, interest in image accessing and TV phones, etc. is high. Compared by gender, men are more interested in [communication quality] and [data communication speed], whereas women are more interested in [accessing music] and [shopping]. Looked at by age level, [image accessing] and [accessing music] rate highly among those below 20 years of age, whereas those above their thirties are relatively more interested in [shopping] (Reference Graph 5).

4) Personal computers

The ratio of those who have a PC at home and use it (individual usage rate) increased by 7.5 points during the past year, having reached 45.6%. The growth among women (teenagers through those in their 40s) in prominent. The ratio of those who have a PC at home stands at 64.2%, virtually two-thirds of the total (Reference Graph 6).
The number of households which have a plural number of PCs at home increased by 3.1 points during the past year, reaching the level of 19.7%. Of the households containing a plural number of PCs, approximately 40% connect the PCs with the network and 15.8% wish to do so. At this point, the ratio of cable accessing is high; but in the future the ratio of wireless networking is expected to increase (Reference Graph 7).

5) Internet

The ratio of those who use the Internet via a PC at home increased by 10.8 points during the past year, reaching 38.6%. The monthly Internet usage time is 13.8 hours, showing some signs of growth. The usage time for broadband network users is long at 22.7 hours per month (Reference Graph 8).
The ratio of those who use the Internet via PC, including at home and in the workplace/school, increased by 9.5 points during the past year, reaching 49.7%. Compared to men, the ratio of women using the Internet at home only is high (Reference Graph 9).
27.5% of those who use the Internet via a PC at home use broadband network. In particular, the increase in ADSL users is prominent. This increased by 8.3 points during the past six months, reaching 12.2% (Reference Graph 10).
Of those who use the Internet at home, plus those who wish to do so, the ratio of those who at present use broadband network plus those who wish to do so in the future, is large at 76.9%. The ratio of those who are using it plus those who wish to do so can be broken down into the following categories: ADSL 30.5%, fiber optics 22.6%, and CATV 17.5%. The average monthly payment amount, including communication rates and ISP (Internet Service Provider) rates is hoped not to exceed 3,400 yen (Reference Graph 11).
The ratio of those who use the Internet via PC and via cellular phone single increased by 12.8 points during the past year, reaching 60.0%. In particular, the ratio of those [using both PCs and cellular phones] increased by 11.2 points from 13.6% to 24.8% (Reference Graph 12).
The ratio of those who use the Internet via cellular phones and via broadband network at home (the ubiquitous ratio) increased two-fold during the past six months, reaching 5.8% of the total citizenry (Reference Graph 13).

6) Net community

Of those who use the Internet via a PC at home, 16.1% have obtained information via the net community or have experienced consulting over the net community when purchasing merchandise/services. When one looks at those who have obtained information or have consulted over the net community, etc. the ratio of heavy Internet users is high. Also, as for merchandise/services concerning which information was obtained or discussions were held over the net, the topics of PC/PC peripheral equipment/software, hotels/inns, and books/magazines rank very high. (Reference Graph 14).
In purchasing merchandise, etc., of those who have obtained information or held discussions over the net community, the 43.5% who were influenced by the comments made by merchandise/services providers (makers, sales employees) were the largest single group. In view of the high ratio of those who were influenced by the information and comments given by merchandise/services providers, the information output for the network community by those providers is significant (Reference Graph 15).

7) L- mode

60% of the citizenry are aware of L- mode. Of these, 13.3% are either already using it or wish to do so. Of those who know about L- mode, the usage or desire to use is high among women and older people (Reference Graph 16).
Among those who tend not have a PC at home, the usage rate/desire to use L-mode is higher among women than among men (Reference Graph 17).

8) IP telephone services (VoIP)

13.7% of the citizenry know about IP telephone services (VoIP). Although, among those who use broadband network or are highly interested in doing so, the ratio of those who know about VoIP tends to be higher, even among broadband network users the ratio of those who know about IP telephone services (VoIP) remains at 35.5%, only one third (Reference Graph 18).
The ratio of those who already use IP telephone services (VoIP) or who wish to do so is 9.1% of the citizenry. Among broadband network users (19.1%) and among those who use the net for long periods of time (24.1% of those using it for more than 30 hours per month), there is a tendency toward increased desire to use those services (Reference Graph 19).

9) Shopping, games, etc.

The ratio of those who have used on- line shopping (EC) increased by 7.1 points during the past year, reaching 16.5%. Among broadband network users, the ratio of those having used on- line shopping is 46.1%, virtually three times greater that the overall total. The amount spent on such each year by broadband network users is an average of 57,000 yen, exceeding the overall average by about 10,000 yen. The annual scale for the on- line shopping market is estimated to be about 620 billion yen. Compared to an estimated value of approximately 450 billion yen one year ago, the amount grew by almost 40% (Reference Graph 20).
Of those who use convenience stores, 12.5% use an ATM in the store. 27.2% of the overall citizenry wish to use ATMs at convenience stores in the future. Looked at according to gender and age groupings, the groups making or wishing to make the highest use are men and women in their twenties (Reference Graph 21).
The ratio of those who use or are interested in dialog/participation type Internet games is 24.8%. Among those who use broadband network or wish to do so, and are currently using TV games, that ratio is especially high at 54.4% (Reference Graph 22).

The reference materials referred to above are available in PDF file format. (199KB)

* You need to downdoad the Japanese font from "Asian Font packs for Acrobat Reader" at the web site of Adobe in case character errors take place in PDF files.

Inquires to: Corporate Communication Department, Nomura Research Institute
Telephone. 81-3-5255-1981
E-mail:kouhou@nri.co.jp

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