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iPhone service in Japan: Softbank (rumor)
- Thread starter kashimo
- Start date
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Network of Japanese Mobile Providers
Softbank: 3G 2100
NTT DoCoMo: 3G 2100
AU/KDDI: 3G CDMA 2000
I believe we still support GSM. I have had people from the US use their phones here. I can use my 3G in the US. When I arrive I turn it on and it switches to GSm and looks for a global partner.
Softbank is garbage. Their coverage is confined to outdoors for the most part and half the time the e-mails never come through properly, even worse when you send between networks. Also, their customer service is abysmal.
It would be a mistake for Apple to bring the iPhone to Softbank, because people would blame Apple for Softbank's shortcomings and tarnish Apple's image in Japan.
Apple should partner with au, their design style is similar to Apple's.
It would be a mistake for Apple to bring the iPhone to Softbank, because people would blame Apple for Softbank's shortcomings and tarnish Apple's image in Japan.
Apple should partner with au, their design style is similar to Apple's.
Docomo would be a likely candidate. Some of the Apple phone patent activity actually showed the NEC/Docomo N502i interface, and Apple did some work with them on 3GPP.
Doesn't 3G simply stand for 3rd Generation? And the 2100 the frequency or band that it runs on?
However, this doesn't say if it is CDMA or GSM technology (or perhaps some other technology) I thought most of Asia used CDMA, but I might be wrong. Can someone help clear this up for me?
GSM coverage in Japan
CDMA coverage
(this chart is weird, Docomo & Vodafone have wCDMA [ ed: ok, just names out of sync with acquisitions ] )
There is also an older service called PDC, a TDMA variant specific to Japan, probably not relevant to the iPhone business.
But would AU give up their Listmo music service for iTunes? They are very stylish and are the number 2 provider.
Softbank is still getting on its feet. They will get better I hope. (I went from J-phone to Vodafone to Softbank....not sure who it will be next year.) I bet Son will do anything to get the iPhone on its network. (Maybe next year J-phone/Vodafone/Softbank will be just known as Apple Phone.)
I hope Apple doesn't go with DoCoMo. They are too pricey. But they have the best coverage in Japan and best relations overseas. They do have a good market.
I figured it would be DoCoMo. I hope the iPhone does go to Softbank. But I probably still won't buy it unless it is a 2nd or 3rd version.
I find it just the opposite. I've had all three services and I think Vodafone/Softbank is the best. DoCoMo was by far the worst. Talk about never getting reception or email going through. I'll never do DoCoMo again.
I find it just the opposite. I've had all three services and I think Vodafone/Softbank is the best. DoCoMo was by far the worst. Talk about never getting reception or email going through. I'll never do DoCoMo again.
I don't know much, but I think softbank would be a great choice. Softbank has been great for me, from what I know they don't have a music thingy (AU does) and I just don't like NTT Docomo (though there is one really nice phone...) THe iPhone really needs to get some extra features though to be good here, like video calling, mobile tv, that yahoo keitai app, gps, that kind of stuff...
If Japanese carrier would to get an iPhone it would probably be Softbank.
NTT has always been a Japanese style company and probably know partners like Sony would not want Apple trying to get their share. Somehow, I also think Apple will not be putting in imode on their phone.
Au has the LISMO when they invested pretty good amount of money so unless Apple supports it it is out of question.
Softbank's Son has been know to be talking to Steve Jobs and he probably can offer the best deal to Apple in regards to profit per phone sold. But then again Softbank does not have a large share in the market and their reception and customer service is poor so its a hard decision.
If iPhone does come to Softbank I hope they support the emoji.
<- this is the only reason that I have not stopped using Softbank from J-Phone days.
NTT has always been a Japanese style company and probably know partners like Sony would not want Apple trying to get their share. Somehow, I also think Apple will not be putting in imode on their phone.
Au has the LISMO when they invested pretty good amount of money so unless Apple supports it it is out of question.
Softbank's Son has been know to be talking to Steve Jobs and he probably can offer the best deal to Apple in regards to profit per phone sold. But then again Softbank does not have a large share in the market and their reception and customer service is poor so its a hard decision.
If iPhone does come to Softbank I hope they support the emoji.
Yes, you may very well have bought your E61 to use in Europe and Japan, and it would work in all of these places, whether the latter had GSM coverage or not. The E61 is, of course, a 3G compatible handset (which in Europe denotes 2100Mhz wCDMA technology) so would be able to roam in Japan (although in 3G, rather than 2G, mode) without the assistance of good old GSM.