Most of the handsets, which allow subscribers to use a miniature built-in camera to take photos and then send them to friends electronically, were sold in H2 2002. They now account for 24% of the unit’s overall subscribers.

While J-Phone is still behind dominant operator NTT DoCoMo and number two KDDI, it is doing increasingly well. It captured 33.2% of new subscribers in November and expects to do equally well in December.

J-Phone’s success follows mobile giant Vodafone’s move last year to take control of the company and its parent Japan Telecom.