On October 10, 2021, X-Mobile, which provides cheap smartphone (MVNO) services, announced a new product "Smart Wi-Fi" that combines mobile Wi-Fi router function and smartphone function. Now on sale.
Smart Wi-Fi is an Android terminal that supports eSIM, eliminates the need to replace the SIM card, and can be used in 95 countries including Japan. It uses NTT Docomo's voice line and KDDI's data line in Japan, and automatically switches to the line of the local carrier overseas.
The main unit fee and administrative fee are free, and the monthly fee is 3278 yen (tax included). Monthly data capacity is 20GB, and unlimited calls within 5 minutes are included.
In addition, it has domestic Wi-Fi mode, overseas Wi-Fi mode, smartphone mode, and simple smartphone mode, and users can switch as needed. The company appeals that it can be used by people of all ages, from young to old.
Speaking of smartphone-like mobile Wi-Fi routers, you may think of "limit breaking WiFi", but this has different rates and data capacity depending on the country, and it does not have a voice call function. It was a mobile communication terminal for people who frequently come and go.
President Masanori Kino said at a press conference held on the 10th that "one unit that can be used by all people is required", and then "one plan for domestic and overseas use, and one terminal I aimed for such a service and product that can do anything on the platform."
In the development of the new terminal, it is also said that "I personally visited local governments and supermarkets to investigate what kind of demand there was." According to the survey, there were many users who said, "Even the lines of major carriers cannot be connected, and high-speed fixed lines such as optical fiber cannot be used."
"In order to eliminate such dissatisfaction points of users, Smart Wi-Fi has increased the number of compatible bands compared to conventional products," he said.
Compete with major cheap plans with "new products that anyone can easily use"
In addition, he briefly looked back on the history of the company from its founding to the present.
"Before founding, I was so poor that I couldn't even pay for my cell phone bill. I started the company at an internet cafe in 2013 with the idea of creating a society where anyone can easily use a smartphone, like an LCC = low-cost airline. After that, by renting a docomo line (as an MVNO), it provided services such as cheap smartphones and cheap SIMs.Also, a stationary phone specialized for the elderly, "Sugoi Denwa", a touch that can be used like a smartphone. Released 'Breakthrough Wi-Fi' equipped with a display.We are expanding our store network nationwide and are actively opening stores."
I thought it was going well so far, but the big threat to X-Mobile was Rakuten Mobile, which has newly entered as an MNO with its own line network, and carrier cheap plans such as ahamo. He said, "We MVNOs are having a hard time due to the cheap plans of major carriers."
The author believes that the smart Wi-Fi that was announced under such circumstances, with the catchphrase "anyone can use it easily," is likely to be one of the differentiating factors from major carriers. Regarding the price, he said, "I was quite conscious of the online-only plan of a major carrier," so it seems that the demand for a second unit can be met.
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