China's Didi Chuxing takes aim at Japan's taxi market

The rest of the world had smartphones years before Japan did.

Japan was one of the first countries in the world to get iphones, and had them sooner than some countries in Europe.

This is good news actually. I don’t like Uber at all, besides UberEATS, so Didi might actually result in something that is worthwhile to use for taxis. But taxis in Tokyo are already too good for Uber

The SmartPhone was not her sooner because they did not want outside companies coming in, so they gave SoftBank 100% rights to it, only fairly recently in a number of years allowing Yahoo BB to sell the iPhone too...and then...the competition to lower prices? NOT!

The SmartPhone was not her sooner because they did not want outside companies coming in, so they gave SoftBank 100% rights to it, only fairly recently in a number of years allowing Yahoo BB to sell the iPhone too...and then...the competition to lower prices? NOT!

The iPhone was the first smart phone to be released in Japan. Apple has already had a foot hold here with the iPod and other devices. Apple had always worked with local carriers to sell there phone. They approached Docomo and AU first. They went with softbank because they we're the only ones to agree with apples software and branding demands. The iPhone was the first phone in Japan to not have any carrier logos or software. Most carriers thought that was crazy. Softbank agreed those terms.

I use Uber in Tokyo fairly frequently. Quite handy for business. Don’t have to stand outside in the cold or heat waiting for an empty cab. Easy to schedule a ride, nice cars, they know where you’re going before you get in and simply get out when you arrive. Itemized invoices that are easy to reconcile after the fact.

Hopefully they will introduce more electric vehicles. Those ancient Japanese taxi cabs are one of the greatest air pollutants in the city, this is why I'm always reluctant to use their services.

But taxis in Tokyo are already too good for Uber

What on earth does this mean?

The iPhone was delayed in Japan because there were kinks to work out to in order to make it compatible with Japan's cell phone infrastructure.

I am not convinced that uber doesnt work in “risk averse Japan”.

I think that Japan closes its market to outside influences until it can come up with its own version. The rest of the world had smartphones years before Japan did.