News Release:20021120

Note:
In the event that the number of samples is not described in the Tables, reference the above tables.
Samples for which the genders and ages are not known are included in the March 1997 survey (11 samples) and in the September 1997 survey (3 samples)

3. Summary of the survey results
1) Cellular phones

Among those between the ages of 15 and 59, the ratio of those who use cellular phones (including PHS) personally exceeded 80% at 82.0%. Looking at the changes that have occurred over the last four years, in general the growth among women has been particularly significant. Even among women in their 50s, whose usage rate during past surveys had been the lowest, approximately one in two use them. In terms of the personal usage rate for cellular phones by those in their 60s, on whom the survey has been conducted for the first time, 52.3% of men use them and 35.9% of women do so. The personal usage rate for all, including those in their 60s, was 76.2% (Reference Table 1).

2) Internet usage, via cellular phone single

The internet usage rate via cellular phone single (i-mode, J-SKY, EZweb, etc.) among those ages 15~59 increased by 11.1 points during the past year, reaching 44.1% (38.7% if those in their 60s are included). Looking at it by gender, among both male and female cellular phone users less than 30 years old, the usage rate exceeded 50%. The internet usage rate for the first time exceeded half of the cellular phone usage rate (82.0%). (Reference Table 2).
Among cellular phone users ages 15~59, those who use for-fee web content via cellular phones increased to 30% (29.1%). The monthly content usage payment for for-fee content users is an average of Yen 430. That amount has somewhat declined, compared to Yen 455 a year ago. The annual market size for for-fee content is estimated to be approximately Yen 96 billion, an increase of 40% over that for the previous year (Reference Table 3).

3) Camera-installed cellular phones

Those having camera-installed cellular phones number 11.9% of cellular phone users (including those in their 60s). Of these, 10.0%, an overwhelming majority, actually use the camera. However, the possession rate for camera-installed cellular phones and the usage frequency vary greatly depending upon the age group. Among the younger people, those in their teens and 20s, the possession rate/usage frequency for camera-installed cellular phones is high. Among camera-installed cellular phone users in the ages 30s ~ 60s, those who use them [once or twice per month] or less constitute 56.4% (Reference Table 4).

4) Personal computers

The ratio of those who have a personal computer at home and use it themselves (individual usage rate) grew by 11.2 points during the past year, reaching 53.3% (49.0% if those in their 60s are included). The growth among women, in particular, is significant, having increased by 13.8 points during the past year to reach 46.0% (Reference Table 5).

5) Internet usage via personal computer

The ratio of those using the internet via a personal computer, including those who use it at home and/or in the workplace or at school, increased by 7.6 points during the past year, exceeding half at 52.5%. The usage rate for men at the workplace or in school is higher than that for women, who use it primarily at home (Reference Table 6).
The ratio of those who use the internet via a personal computer at home grew by 7.8 points during the past year, reaching 42.5% (39.2% if those in their 60s are included). Together with an increase in broadband users, the monthly internet usage time increased significantly during the past year, from 12.3 hours to 17.2 hours. The time spent by broadband users per month is 24.7 hours, indicating comparatively lengthy usage (Reference Table 7).
Due to broadband usage, the internet usage time, the time for image-viewing via the internet, electronic mail transmission and reception frequency, etc. have all increased. One the other hand, the time spent sleeping and viewing TV has decreased (Reference Table 8).
37.1% of those aged 15~59 who use the internet via a personal computer at home also used broadband. As for line types, the usage of ADSL in particular reached 22.1%, exceeding the usage for CATV. On the other hand, the usage rate for ISDN is on the decline. The users of optical fiber are still few at 2.1%; but nevertheless they are making an appearance (Reference Table 9).

6) IP telephone services

50% of broadband users are either already using IP telephones or hope to do so in the future. As for those who wish to use broadband, more than 40% are serious about using IP telephones in the future. Those who do not wish to use IP telephone services number approximately 60% of those who use the internet/ wish to use it, including via narrowband. The reasons for not using it are factors other than IP itself, such as [do not use the telephone that much], [ADSL is not needed], etc. (Reference Table 10).

7) Ubiquitous ratio

Among those aged 15~59, the individual usage rate for the internet via personal computer and via cellular phone single increased by 10.6 points during the past year, reaching 67.2% (60.9% if those their 60s are included). Among women in their teens and among men less than 30 years old, that ratio exceeds 80% (Reference Table 11).
The ratio of internet users via both cellular phone single and broadband lines at home (the ubiquitous ratio) increased approximately three-fold during the past year, reaching 7.8% (Reference Table 12).

8) Wireless LAN

The ratio of those who wish to use wireless LAN is approximately 40%, including those [who wish to use it if it is free (33.9%)]. The primary locations at which they wish to use it are restaurants, public halls, libraries, etc. and from bullet trains and stations (Reference Table 13).

9) Online services, etc.

The usage rate of on-line shopping (EC) reached almost 20% (19.2%) among those aged 15~59. The annual usage amount is an average of Yen 58 thousand, compared to that of Yen 46 thousand for the previous year, representing an increase of 1.3 times. The annual total market size for EC is expected to be approximately Yen 870 billion (about Yen 930 billion if those in their 60s are included), compared to approximately Yen 470 billion a year ago, increasing by 1.9 times (Reference Table 14).
Those who use internet banking increased from 1.3% to 4.2% over the last two years. Internet users via broadband or cellular phone are inclined to use or wish to use internet banking (Reference Table 15).
e-learning awareness among those aged 15~69 is 26.5%. More than half of them (14.1%) desire to use such. Many cite the advantages of e-learning to be [can study at one’s own pace] and [convenient because the location and hours of study are flexible]. However, more than half of them cite the disadvantage to be [study not being enforced, it can be neglected] (Reference Table 16).
When asked about the desire to use various services in [the ubiquitous network era], many cite the reasons for usage to be safety or peace of mind (Reference Table 17).

The reference materials referred to above are available in PDF file format. (144KB)

* 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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