musings of a social architect

Mobile Commerce taking off in Japan

Interesting article about how mobile commerce is taking off in Japan. Based on what I've been hearing from focus groups, interviews, etc. with young females, this'll be HUGE in the U.S. once we get our systems working. Stay tuned...

Mobile commerce over cell phones jumped 25 percent last fiscal year to around 971 billion yen ($8.8 billion) according to a survey on e-business just released by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Covering all of fiscal 2004 (which in Japan ended March '05), the survey showed wireless purchases of books and music had grown by 85 percent from virtually nothing the previous year to 330 million yen ($3 million). Shopping for clothing and accessories over the smallest screen accelerated 79 percent, taking in 150 hundred million yen ($1.3 million).

Back from Drumming Camp

It's been awhile since I've posted -- I've been out of town, first on a family camping vacation at the Congolese Dance and Drum Workshop, and then in NYC participating in some focus groups for LimeLife. It's been a busy, active summer! I have a number of posts to catch up on -- but first, a brief report on Drum Camp.



Well, it was FABULOUS -- taking drum classes from Congolese masters, swimming in the nearby river every afternoon, eating communal vegetarian meals three times a day (cook's vacation!) and listening to late-night kalimba music in our tent, gazing up at a brilliant array of stars. It was the perfect antidote to my usual computer-centric worklife.