It’s funny to observe how easily paradigm shifts can occur in the fast-paced world we live in. Looking at the history of web browsers from Netscape to IE to Firefox and Google Chrome, or of social networking sites from LiveJournal up through Facebook, large or small paradigm shifts seem to happen every few years. One of the big changes over the past few years has been in the cell phone world. For the longest time, the “Galapagos Effect” of high competition in the closed Japanese phone market meant the coolest phones with the newest features could be found in Japan, yet all this changed when the iPhone and Android platforms came along. Today Japan’s cell phone market is a closer to the West, with the iPhone 4S and various Android phones by Samsung and HTC being sold by most major carriers here. But competition is creating some new innovations, too, like the Aquos clamshell Android phone for customers who prefer the familiar feel of a 10-key pad under their thumbs but want a proper smartphone experience, or elegant “ladies only” and Disney Android phone designs. (And sorry, we can’t sell you a Japanese cell phone. They are all locked to networks here and wouldn’t work in your country.)
There are some interesting Android phones in Japan.
