SoftBank unveils 1-Seg TV tuner for iPhone
Addressing a widely-publicized feature omission for Japanese iPhone users, local carrier Softbank on Thursday announced plans to begin selling a TV Tuner add-on later this year that will also serve as an extended battery pack.
Expected to retail for around US$100 when it goes on sale in mid-December, the rechargeable brick-like receiver will include an internal Wi-Fi module and external antenna for tuning into the One-Seg (or 1seg) mobile terrestrial broadcasting service available in Japan and parts of Brazil.
The device will deliver the One-Seg signal to iPhones via Wi-Fi through a specialized application that will be made available on the App Store free of charge. This frees users to place the receiver in their purse or pocket. Alternatively, the gadget can be connected to iPhones via the dock connector, where it can then serve as an secondary iPhone battery.
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iPhone Headed to US Bases in Japan
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A product recall may delay Friday’s expected arrival of iPhones at U.S. base exchanges in Japan, a SoftBank representative said Monday.
He declined to say how many phones have been ordered, but said it would be “sufficient” to cover anticipated sales. However, the recall may delay shipping, said the representative, who did not want to be named due to company policy. SoftBank has exclusive rights to sell iPhones in Japan.
“We hope they’ll be there in time, but we’re not sure,” he said. (さらに…)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )iPhone Monthly Fee Drops to ¥2,324
Softbank Mobile Corp. said Tuesday it will reduce the minimum monthly basic fee for Apple Inc.’s iPhone from the current ¥2,990 to ¥2,324 in a stated bid to counter the latest move by larger rival NTT DoCoMo Inc. to launch new low-charge services.
It will be the second time Softbank Mobile has lowered the minimum monthly basic fee for iPhone 3G users since the company started selling the model in July.
The new basic fee, effective Wednesday, is nearly ¥5,000 lower than the initial charge of ¥7,280.
The cut in the minimum monthly charge will be made by lowering fixed fees for services such as e-mail and Internet access.
The company made no bones about the purpose of the price cut.
“This is meant to offer a new price within 24 hours of NTT DoCoMo’s new price announcement” to compete with Japan’s biggest carrier, Softbank Mobile said in a statement.
Softbank Mobile’s announcement came after industry leader DoCoMo said Monday it will launch new low-cost services in October, offering a flat monthly rate plan of ¥1,029 for infrequent users, compared with the current ¥4,095.
An iPhone Mondai?
James over at Japan Probe has this very interesting article on a potential problem that foreigners may face when buying an iPhone in Japan. He writes:
“Live in Japan and want an iPhone? If you’re a foreigner, you’ll probably have to pay a huge sum of money. Blogger w00kie has translated the terms on Softbank’s website.”
It is reported that some have said that they were able to bypass these rules by using a Japanese drivers’ license/health insurance ID.”
Here is the Softbank iPhone 3G Service Plan announcement.
Here is the iPhone Apps Store in Japanese and in English.
Read the rest of the story here.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )iPhone 3G Launch in Japan
Unlike most countries, Japan isn’t going iPhone crazy at precisely midnight on the morning of 11 July. Instead, the sole carrier there is planning on keeping most customers waiting by holding off until lunchtime that day. Softbank Mobile announced this morning that it would put the new iPhone on sale nationwide at noon on Friday.
Hiroyuki Sano, a graduate student who turns 25 this week, couldn’t think of a better way Wednesday to celebrate his birthday than being the first person in Japan to own an iPhone.
So he ditched class in Nagoya and headed 160 miles north to Tokyo’s trendy Omotesando district, home to mobile carrier Softbank Corp.’s flagship store. Sano arrived at 6 a.m. Tuesday, grabbed the first spot in line and prepared to wait three days and one hour until Apple’s much-hyped handset goes on sale Friday at 7 a.m.
“I’m not sure how popular it’ll be among general users,” Sano said. “But for us die-hard Apple fans, we’re happy to buy the iPhone.” (さらに…)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )iPhone coming to Nihon
Okay, I’m past the typical otaku excitement that Apple will release the 3G iPhone in Japan. I plan on buying two (one for me and the Mrs.) next month to compliment my other geeky Mac toys but it seems that Apple will have to really gambaru if it plans to kick the cell phone mafia, NTT DoCoMo, in the oshiri. If Steve Jobs keeps his word, the 3G iPhone should sell for about 20,000 Yen in J-land.
A few years ago, I sold my idea for a keitai English site that I had sat on since 3G technology was not available for Japan’s keitais. The keitai site went up with various gaijin and it seemed like it went down with various gaijin. Saturated market? Bad timing? Other? Well, since I am no longer involved in the project, I really do not know. What I do know is that Apple’s new 3G iPhone has slapped me upside the ol’ afro and got my creative juices to flowing again in regards to using the keitai as an educational/instructional tool.
At any rate, check out what Business Week has to say regarding Apple’s iPhone entry into Japan.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )![Lake Dillon and a Tree [In Explore]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731226172_4004cbfea4_s.jpg "Lake Dillon and a Tree [In Explore]")
Black Tokyo Japan 