Filed under: iPhone
Softbank announces iPhone 3G pricing for Japan
According to the blog iPhone in Japan, Softbank will be offering the iPhone 3G to its customers starting at ¥23,040 (≈$214) for the 8GB model. The 16GB model will cost ¥34,560 (≈$321).
Service for the iPhone will be offered under Softbank's White Plan, but will be available under Blue and Orange plans as well. Users will be required to sign a two-year contract, and the cost of the handset will be spread out over the 24-month period.
You can read Softbank's press release (in Japanese) on their site.
Thanks, evilboy!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
sam said 2:25PM on 6-23-2008
Does this mean I can use an iPhone 3G in korea too? In my understanding they both have the same kind of wcdma and umts networks. the iPhone 3G will work in Korea?
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Jason Hung said 2:35PM on 6-23-2008
No, SoftBank is providing GSM/UMTS. If you read the product specs on Apple's website, they include a "SIMカードツール" (Sim Card Remover).
The baseband is also enabled for the same bands as the US iPhone: UMTS/HSDPA (850、1900、2100 MHz).
sam said 2:54PM on 6-23-2008
wait. korea has UMTS2100. is it not GSM? Does korea have zero GSM support? I was under the assumption that as long as a phone was UMTS2100 it could be used in korea.
Jason Hung said 6:14PM on 6-23-2008
If they have UMTS2100, I think you can use the iPhone 3G in Korea provided you have a USIM (3G SIM card). If it's WCDMA, there's no going around it. You're going to need to have a SIM card.
Neil said 2:46PM on 6-23-2008
"the cost of the handset will be spread out over the 24-month period"
So, just like Britons, folks in Japan will also be getting the handset for "free".
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GrizzlyAdams said 3:11PM on 6-23-2008
I was under the impression that cellphone contracts were illegal in Japan, David Pogue and others have been saying for years we should ban subsidy agreements like japan has...
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Meatleg said 9:56PM on 6-23-2008
nah, cell phone contracts are common here. i just changed my plan with softbank the other day. ill cange it again as soon as i get my hands on the iPhone!!!
Will said 3:13PM on 6-23-2008
Does any one know what roaming charges are like for softbank? if take my US phone to Japan will it cost me an arm and a leg?
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RP said 7:46PM on 6-23-2008
I want to know the same, we go a couple times a year, and I would use it. There is also telestial that provides a service that I was looking into.
George said 8:18PM on 6-23-2008
Check AT&T's international Roaming. I suppose you are in the US.
My guess is, when you roam in Japan your AT&T iPhone 3G will hop between DoCoMo and Softbank's network and KDDI is out since they are CDMA shop.
Meatleg said 9:59PM on 6-23-2008
MMS is the same thing as email as far as its function is concerned. i send MMSs to my email account all the time, attaching photos and movies (when I am out of bluetooth range). and how can a phone NOY have SMS?!? where did you read that?
Meatleg said 9:59PM on 6-23-2008
MMS is the same thing as email as far as its function is concerned. i send MMSs to my email account all the time, attaching photos and movies (when I am out of bluetooth range). and how can a phone NOY have SMS?!? where did you read that?
Anderson Imes said 4:07PM on 6-23-2008
Except they won't buy it because is doesn't (*&@!#$ have MMS support.
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Jason Hung said 6:17PM on 6-23-2008
Use e-mail already. MMS is antiquated. I'd rather get e-mail then MMS to be honest since it will store a copy in my mailbox. And most modern 3G phones should have e-mail anyway.
Anderson Imes said 6:39PM on 6-23-2008
Yeah, except for everyone in Japan uses SMS / MMS. Everyone. Let's just ask them all to change, right? These people have SMS/MMS devices in their homes for pete's sake.
George said 8:15PM on 6-23-2008
In Japan, you don't send MMS or SMS TXT, you send email from your phone. When you sign up mobile service with a JPN carrier you get an email address.
Meatleg said 10:08PM on 6-23-2008
MMS is the same thing as email as far as its function is concerned. i send MMSs to my email account all the time, attaching photos and movies (when I am out of bluetooth range). my "MMS" account is emailname@softbank.ne.jp.
and how can a phone NOY have SMS?!? where did you read that?
(not sure why this post went to the wrong place, and TWICE!)
Soryu said 4:59PM on 6-23-2008
It won’t sell in Japan. There is no way to attach hello kitties to it.
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bryon brock said 5:25PM on 6-23-2008
Just get the pre-paid phone with no contract then head over to http://www.iphone-hacks.com unlock it for free and put it on any carrier you want.
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Paul D said 5:37AM on 6-24-2008
Apparently it doesn't support emoji, which means if I got one, the messages I received would be half-composed of "geta" characters.
And if it doesn't support SMS, that means my friends have to pay to send me messages.
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