Softbank says iPhone 3G to start at $215 in Japan, plans at $68
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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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...
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?!
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).