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Monday, June 23, 2008, 12:00 pm
Softbank says iPhone 3G to start at $215 in Japan, plans at $68
Softbank Corp., Apple's exclusive iPhone carrier in Japan, announced Monday that the local version of iPhone 3G will start at 23,040 yen ($215) for the 8GB model, around the same price as the version that will be sold in the US.The 16GB iPhone 3G will be priced at 34,560 yen, or $320. Softbank is expecting customers to pay 7,280 yen ($68) per month for their iPhone service plans, which will include unlimited data transmissions and free air time when talking to other Softbank subscribers for the better part of the day.
That's about 70 percent more than Softbank is accustomed to generating from its customers and is sure to boost the company's earnings, according chief executive Masayoshi Son. As of last quarter, the Softbank saw average revenue per subscriber each month of only 4,310 yen, or $40.
"We expect users who pay a lot to migrate from 'au' and DoCoMo," Son told a group of reporters. "There have been users who were just attracted to our low price, but the main point this time is feature attractiveness rather than price."
Both Softbank and DoCoMo had been in the running for the coveted rights to sell iPhone in Japan, with Softbank ultimately winning the contract. That hasn't stopped DoCoMo from persisting in its negotiations to bring the touch-screen handset to its more than 50 million customers, according to Reuters, which cites the carrier as saying it's still in talks with Apple.
Meanwhile, Softbank is unsure how many iPhone 3Gs it will have to offer its own 18 million+ customers come July 11th, the day the handset is due to go on sale in Japan and 20 other countries.
"We expect the first lot to evaporate instantly. We in the company will probably fight to get one as well," Son said. "Supplies will likely be scarce for a while."
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Previous Comments View All
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bageljoey 
Am I the only one who is worried about this? I know it is possible to keep good buzz going in the face of shortages (see the Wii) but I'm worried that the good buzz of a massive multi-continent turnout could sour if waiting lists mount.
Also, what if Apple builds massive stockpiles before July 11 to meet demand and it turns out there is a touch screen/battery/chip issue? Before the fix goes into production, there would be potentially millions that need warentee repair... (plus the resulting bad press).
I just wish they had a rolling introduction schedule over a month or two...
Am I the only one who is worried about this? I know it is possible to keep good buzz going in the face of shortages (see the Wii) but I'm worried that the good buzz of a massive multi-continent turnout could sour if waiting lists mount.
Also, what if Apple builds massive stockpiles before July 11 to meet demand and it turns out there is a touch screen/battery/chip issue? Before the fix goes into production, there would be potentially millions that need warentee repair... (plus the resulting bad press).
I just wish they had a rolling introduction schedule over a month or two...
It does appear to be something of a high-wire act. I hope their confidence
is justified. I'm guessing that they will err on the side of temporary shortages,
since they have basically gone several weeks without selling version 1 iPhones.
Everyone says how the japanese don't like the iPhone because of this or because of that, so I always wondered if they had some product(s) internally that worked better than the iPhone? Anyone cares to name those?
This should be a watershed moment for Japanese phone users... a phone they can ACTUALLY use! How will they be able to deal with it?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
This should be a watershed moment for Japanese phone users... a phone they can ACTUALLY use! How will they be able to deal with it?!
This should be a watershed moment for Japanese phone users... a phone they can ACTUALLY use! How will they be able to deal with it?!
A few days ago people were posting that Japanese consumers made their phone
purchasing decisions based mostly upon the specifications list, regardless of
whether they actually used all the features. I am looking forward to seeing that
theory tested by a phone whose features are useful and easy to use (but whose
specifications may be exceeded by other less friendly phones).
Quote:
Originally Posted by quinney
A few days ago people were posting that Japanese consumers made their phone
purchasing decisions based mostly upon the specifications list, regardless of
whether they actually used all the features. I am looking forward to seeing that
theory tested by a phone whose features are useful and easy to use (but whose
specifications may be exceeded by other less friendly phones).
A few days ago people were posting that Japanese consumers made their phone
purchasing decisions based mostly upon the specifications list, regardless of
whether they actually used all the features. I am looking forward to seeing that
theory tested by a phone whose features are useful and easy to use (but whose
specifications may be exceeded by other less friendly phones).
I know what Japanese consumers are used to, and I'm betting they'll be pleasantly surprised with the alternative, even if they end up adding the usual kawaii chotchkes to the iPhone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otRCw...3202_3289.html
http://www.strapya-world.com/categor...068d92cfdf2846
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bageljoey
I just wish they had a rolling introduction schedule over a month or two...
I just wish they had a rolling introduction schedule over a month or two...
Easy for someone in the U.S. to say when we've been waiting here in Japan for over a year already!
@Buck I'd say there are no phones that work here nearly as well as the iPhone presumably does. The few smartphones here large bricks, or Blackberry knockoffs that feel totally cheap in hand.
And the main factor for women under 40 when choosing a phone is (almost unanimously) PURELY how it looks. I've never met any Japanese woman whose main reason for choosing a phone wasn't how it looked. They may have had other reasons, but the main reason was if they thought it looked good.
All this said, I still won't be getting an iPhone because I'm moving back to the U.S. in January, so still I wait and continue to labor away writing messages by pushing tiny buttons three times each to get a letter on screen.
My wife is Japanese and couldn't care less about how her phone looks. She needs it for business and demands certain functions.
I know a few others who are less concerned with looks than with photo/video quality so they can capture their kids' lives in full color and share the moments instantly with their friends. (This might be where the iPhone fails to catch on with Japanese women.)
There are plenty of them out there.
It is also that three clicks with the thumb that the Japanese are very accustomed to; they can type with only one hand, something that is impossible (almost) on the iPhone. My wife has an iPod Touch and can type three times faster on her cell phone. She doesn't even need to look at the screen as the buttons are tactile; she writes and then proof-reads.
There are also the new novels:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/wo...a/20japan.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bergermeister
My wife is Japanese and couldn't care less about how her phone looks. She needs it for business and demands certain functions.
I know a few others who are less concerned with looks than with photo/video quality so they can capture their kids' lives in full color and share the moments instantly with their friends. (This might be where the iPhone fails to catch on with Japanese women.)
There are plenty of them out there.
It is also that three clicks with the thumb that the Japanese are very accustomed to; they can type with only one hand, something that is impossible (almost) on the iPhone. My wife has an iPod Touch and can type three times faster on her cell phone.
There are also the new novels:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/wo...a/20japan.html
My wife is Japanese and couldn't care less about how her phone looks. She needs it for business and demands certain functions.
I know a few others who are less concerned with looks than with photo/video quality so they can capture their kids' lives in full color and share the moments instantly with their friends. (This might be where the iPhone fails to catch on with Japanese women.)
There are plenty of them out there.
It is also that three clicks with the thumb that the Japanese are very accustomed to; they can type with only one hand, something that is impossible (almost) on the iPhone. My wife has an iPod Touch and can type three times faster on her cell phone.
There are also the new novels:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/wo...a/20japan.html
My original criticism of the iPhone was that it made one handed operation impossible. Of course, where cell phone use while driving is banned, the point is moot.
Again, the iPhone/Touch is not practical for Asian input.
Anyone who buys it on hype will soon realize they made a mistake and keep it as an iPod Touch with a phone they never use.
I'm not even native and I type Japanese feverishly with my mobile using both thumbs and this is simply impossible with a touch screen.
Might be good as a second phone at home where you don't have to rush replies maybe. Who knows until it debuts.
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Meanwhile, Softbank is unsure how many iPhone 3Gs it will have to offer its own 18 million+ customers come July 11th, the day the handset is due to go on sale in Japan and 20 other countries.
"We expect the first lot to evaporate instantly. We in the company will probably fight to get one as well," Son said. "Supplies will likely be scarce for a while."
Am I the only one who is worried about this? I know it is possible to keep good buzz going in the face of shortages (see the Wii) but I'm worried that the good buzz of a massive multi-continent turnout could sour if waiting lists mount.
Also, what if Apple builds massive stockpiles before July 11 to meet demand and it turns out there is a touch screen/battery/chip issue? Before the fix goes into production, there would be potentially millions that need warentee repair... (plus the resulting bad press).
I just wish they had a rolling introduction schedule over a month or two...