SoftBank Announces iPhone for Japan
SoftBank Mobile Corp announced today that they have signed an agreement with Apple for the iPhone "later this year":
DoCoMo was previously rumored to be in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to Japan. This announcement does not necessarily preclude an agreement with them, as in some instances multiple carriers have announced iPhone support in the same region.
Apple is widely expected to introduce a 3G capable iPhone at WWDC next week.
SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp. today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Japan later this year.
SoftBank Mobile is a 3G only carrier which, of course, further confirms the existence of a 3G iPhone. Like all of the recent international press releases, they offer no additional details on the agreement.DoCoMo was previously rumored to be in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to Japan. This announcement does not necessarily preclude an agreement with them, as in some instances multiple carriers have announced iPhone support in the same region.
Apple is widely expected to introduce a 3G capable iPhone at WWDC next week.
Top Rated Comments
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48 months ago
Now no one can question the fact that there will be a 3G iphone within the year. Not much of a surprise that it will come though.
48 months ago
Eh? NTT DoCoMo doesn't have the iPhone yet? I think this is probably more about egos than anything else then. Japan has had the hardware support we'll finally see in the 3G iPhone for YEARS.
48 months ago
Excellent news!!! I wonder how much this is going to cost? I don't care!!!
48 months ago
I believe it would be more correct to say "within this year" and not by the end of this year. At least that`s what the Japanese says according to IT Media.
I`ve been waiting since last June to get my hands on one, I even considered switching out the sim card, but since Japan is a 3G based country I decided to wait a little longer.
I`ve been waiting since last June to get my hands on one, I even considered switching out the sim card, but since Japan is a 3G based country I decided to wait a little longer.
48 months ago
Yatta! Yatta!
I have Softbank. I think one of the big reasons for Softbank is that when they were Vodafone they had some nice agreements with Apple.
Another issue is the pricing and sales.
Softbank already requires you to actually buy the phone but you do it over time. AU by KDDI has Listimo Music service, NTT has some kind of music service but Softbank doesn't have anything. With iTunes people can not only get music but videos.
Now all that is left is for the Japanese TV networks and movie studios to offer visual media via iTunes. Right now all we have is music, Pixar shorts and music videos.
One more thing is that this might also confirm video chat capabilities which have become a standard on Japanese phones.
I would love to have an iPhone but will stick with my Panasonic till it is paid off.
I have Softbank. I think one of the big reasons for Softbank is that when they were Vodafone they had some nice agreements with Apple.
Another issue is the pricing and sales.
Softbank already requires you to actually buy the phone but you do it over time. AU by KDDI has Listimo Music service, NTT has some kind of music service but Softbank doesn't have anything. With iTunes people can not only get music but videos.
Now all that is left is for the Japanese TV networks and movie studios to offer visual media via iTunes. Right now all we have is music, Pixar shorts and music videos.
One more thing is that this might also confirm video chat capabilities which have become a standard on Japanese phones.
I would love to have an iPhone but will stick with my Panasonic till it is paid off.
48 months ago
It seems to immensely increase the possibility of iPhone in South Korea?
Anyone getting the secret wind of it?
Anyone getting the secret wind of it?
48 months ago
Softbank has the best mobile phones here in Japan (imo), probably the only one with some smartphone and a blackberry-clone (x-series).. And it's growing a lot, actually won top spot for annual net mobile subscriber growth in 2007..
I'll definitely move to softbank, bye bye AU KDDI!
However.. I hope they're gonna start selling the iPhone very soon here in Japan.. waiting other months could be dangerous for my mental health...
I'll definitely move to softbank, bye bye AU KDDI!
However.. I hope they're gonna start selling the iPhone very soon here in Japan.. waiting other months could be dangerous for my mental health...
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