Japanese Telecom Industry Delays iPhone SE Release Date... Store Operating Hours Also Reduced

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] Japanese telecommunications companies such as NTT Docomo, KDDI (au), and SoftBank have postponed the release date of Apple's mid-range smartphone iPhone SE to May 11 and shortened store operating hours. This measure follows a request from the Japanese government due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to local media including Impress Watch on the 20th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan recently expanded the state of emergency declaration area to all 47 prefectures nationwide and requested the Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA) to strengthen social distancing. This decision was based on concerns that prolonged contact with customers at frontline stores such as dealerships could lead to the spread of COVID-19.

Accordingly, the three companies immediately shortened store operating hours. NTT Docomo, the leading operator, reduced the scope of services handled at nationwide stores from April 21 to May 6 to basic telecommunications services such as AS reception and new contracts. Other services are basically available only online. Cancellations and other procedures are handled exclusively through call centers. KDDI also operates its nationwide au stores with shortened hours from 11:00 to 17:00 or 12:00 to 18:00 until May 6.

The release date of the iPhone SE has also been postponed to May 11. The iPhone SE is an affordable device priced between 500,000 and 600,000 yen, released by Apple, which virtually dominates the Japanese smartphone market, for the first time in four years. It was originally scheduled to be released on the 24th as a first-wave launch country. However, pre-orders will proceed as originally planned from the 20th. Impress Watch added that Apple Stores in Japan remain closed, and reservations and sales are expected to be conducted online.

Temporary shortening of store operating hours and other measures were previously proposed by the industry in South Korea when COVID-19 rapidly spread. At that time, frontline dealerships and shopping complexes faced a situation where visitors stopped coming due to COVID-19, and there were repeated criticisms that 'social distancing' was not being properly implemented.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan mentioned preventive measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including shortening store customer service hours, establishing non-face-to-face work systems, strengthening social distancing, and placing necessary supplies such as disinfectants and partitions. As of midnight on the 19th, Japan's cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 11,145, which is 484 more than South Korea's cumulative confirmed cases (10,661).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.