Softbank Confirms Emoji and Digital TV for iPhone in Japan - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Softbank Confirms Emoji and Digital TV for iPhone in Japan

by

Nikkei Trendy reports that SoftBank's president has confirmed that emoji (Japanese emoticons) are coming to the iPhone in Japan:

"This was made possible by us telling Apple that emoji is essential for Japanese users. And this is Japan specific service."

He also mentions that they will also introduced a 3rd party accessory which provides mobile television service and an extended battery pack for the iPhone. SetteB.IT provides a photo of the device:

092538 05038b softbanktvbattery 500

The device will act as a TV tuner which will transmit video to the iPhone via Wi-Fi but can also act as an extended battery pack when connected directly to the phone. An App Store application is required to support the device and will be made available for free through the Japanese App Store. Price has not yet been announced.

[Thanks coelacanth]

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

50 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27 - Out Now!

Monday September 14, 2026 10:48 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27 this week, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features to explore, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. Which iPhones Support Every iOS 27 Feature? This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though,...
Read Full Article • 50 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments