Many manufacturers prefer to introduce new electronics in their own countries, to see what problems may arise before exporting the goods. There is a strong interest in catching and repairing previously unknown design defects before hitting the U.S. mass market, where the cost of a product recall could be disastrous.
Companies must also gauge consumer reaction locally before exporting. Manufacturers realize that despite extensive consumer testing, it is important to float a limited quantity of a product and see how well consumers react to it before opening the floodgates-only to find less demand than anticipated.
Some products are at a performance disadvantage in the U.S., like cutting-edge smartphones that do not mesh well with the current state of American telecom services, and videophones that operate much better in countries that have higher-speed wireless networks. The faster the network, the smoother the video will appear. In general, Japanese and Korean telecommunications companies have been quicker to provide faster connections than those offered in the U.S., so consumers in those countries are presented with more-advanced phones and more-advanced services.
Plus, according to a major player in this game, the U.S. tech market tends to take its cue from big business, not John Q. Public.
"In Japan, where a majority of the cutting-edge innovation occurs, they're driven by consumer demand. In the U.S., we're mainly driven by business needs. That's why you see more of an emphasis on cheap laptops than on lightweight machines," says Douglas Krone, chief executive of Dynamism.com, an online site that sells technology not found on the shelves of U.S. retail stores.
Smaller, Faster, Better?
In addition to corporate strategies driven by the bottom line, there are cultural preferences to consider...(continued....)
I "work" for a European company...High tech stuff they sell overseas is not available here in the States..
It's a lot cheaper and easier to build out the wireless infrastructure in countries the size of California as opposed to the whole USA.
I have big hands and small isn't always best for me.
I have google alerts for HiDefTV and Sed TV, everything comes out in Japan first. If I want to know what works, my relatives call Manila and get a user reaction since it's probably been sold there a year before we see it.
Japan and Korea (and most of Europe) are much more densely populated than the US. That makes wireless that covers most of the population much, much easier and therefore less expensive.
In addition, Europe has good cell phone service/coverage because their wired telephone service is very bad and expensive. When an alternative to the state run telephone services became available everyone flocked to them. That sent huge amounts of money into cellphone services which drove the technology.
I believe it was Motorola that invented the cellphone here in the US.
I read the article. The headline is entirely misleading.
For one thing, cell phone users abroad don't pay for incoming calls. TV display standards are higher everywhere else (we wuz furst, that's why.) Gummint decision making is more efficient, believe it or not, in those countries we like to dismiss as "socialist". A decision is a decision, live with it, mofo, no lawsuits, no lobbyists. We in the U.S. tend to consider everything a Consitutional issue and are willing to wait for the 9 high priests in black robes to tell us what's good and what isn't. Is vanilla ice cream good? Let's file a lawsuit to find out!
I believe that part of the reason is that we don't have an Akihabara, a single massive district that allows not only companies to get anything they need rapidly and effortlessly, but also allows a mass consumer market direct access and fast feedback.
Too much regumalation, too much gummint, too much monopoly, duopoly, quadropoly. Free market? Not in the good ole USA!
Anyone still think that outsourcing isn't going to hurt us?
locked cell phones in the USA while ON THE REST OF THE PLANET GSM phones can be changed with event needs with the swap of a chip. (one phone for work, the basic and small phone for small profile dress up)
I could not stand the clunk ware of sprint/nextel.
OF course companies like sony have no long term support for their products. (ie clie)