[ITmedia Mobile] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications discusses residual value rate of device purchase program ``via email'' - Will smartphones purchased through carriers become even more ``difficult to buy''?

Last month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications held a meeting of the ``Expert Committee on Verification of the Mobile Market from the User's Perspective.''

As it was the timing of the iPhone release, I was regretting that I had completely missed the meeting, but it turned out that it was scheduled to be discussed via email from September 17th to 24th.

In other words, the message seems to be, ``The materials will be made public, so committee members should send their opinions back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications via email.''

It is difficult to understand the irresponsibility of deciding on smartphone discount regulations, an important policy that affects people's lives, based solely on closed email exchanges without disclosing the discussion process.

The focus this time is on setting the residual value rate in the device purchase program.

In 2024, based on RMJ (Reuse Mobile Japan) purchase data, carriers would calculate the purchase price two years later and set the residual value in the device purchase program.

However, RMJ and the carriers are exhausted by the task of researching purchase prices for all the models on sale (by capacity), calculating prices by year, and compiling a list.

In the first place, some carriers are asking, ``Is it reliable by referring to RMJ, which is a small number of cars handled?'' This has become a rule that no longer works.

The expert committee is considering ``unifying the setting of residual value rates across the industry,'' and it seems likely that this will be decided by the end of the year.

If this happens, the residual value rate will be lower than ever, and there is a risk that users will find it even harder to buy smartphones.

Perhaps, if we don't take this moment to reconsider the current residual value setting program itself, no one will buy smartphones from their carriers.

The current residual value setting program is ``a good deal if you buy a new phone every two years,'' but since the iPhone 18 wasn't released this September, users who purchased it two years ago will immediately see their monthly payments rise and become an additional burden.

Even if you want to return it after two years, you will have to enter a monthly compensation program, and if you decide to go to another carrier after two years, you will be charged an additional 20,000 yen.

There are traps in various places, and it's hard to know if you can really get a good deal.

In the end, users are starting to realize that the smartest way to buy is to buy directly from the manufacturer, continue to use it without damaging it, and then return it.

From an industry perspective, it is necessary to popularize terminals that support comfortable data communication using cutting-edge AI and the latest communication technology. There is no doubt that the latest smartphones should enrich users' lives.

However, the current Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications rules only slow down the spread of the latest smartphones.

Better yet, all discount regulations should be abolished and carriers should be allowed to sell products through free competition like in the US and South Korea.