Japan’s Softbank: Free 16GB iPhone 3GS With Two-Year Commitment
12:16 pm, December 1st, 2009, Ed Sutherland
Japan carrier Softbank Tuesday introduced a new wrinkle in its attempt to tempt that country’s cell phone-hungry citizens into adopting Apple’s iPhone. The company said it will give a 16GB iPhone 3GS to anyone willing to sign-up for two years. A 32GB iPhone 3GS is priced at about $6 per month.
The announcement is part of “iPhone for all of Softbank,” a new campaign to launch Friday, Dec. 4. The offer of a free 16GB iPhone 3GS may be a response to a scarcity of iPhone 3G handsets in Japan. Softbank may become one of the first carriers to stop offering the iPhone 3G, reports said Tuesday.
This isn’t the first time the carrier has offered free iPhones as part of a campaign to spark interest in Apple’s popular handset. Earlier this year, Softbank launched its “iPhone for Everybody” campaign, reducing the price for 8GB iPhones to free. Previously the cell phone cost $238 in Japan.
After a slow start with Japan’s gadget-hungry consumers, the iPhone has built up about 20 percent of the market. Recently, the iPhone was introduced in South Korea, another nation that loves technology. That country’s carrier, KT, has received 53,000 advance orders for the iPhone since November 22. The high interest in the Apple device has caused Samsung and other top cell phone makers to reduce prices.
[Via MacMagazine (Translated) and MacNN]
Posted by Ed Sutherland in News | Comment on this article
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I am a Softbank and iPhone user here in Japan. Looks like I should have waited a few more months for the 3GS.
Part of the reason the iPhone hasn’t taken off here is that Japan already has a large number of users on the web. Most phones here could be described as smart phones, most can access the web, some have 10megapixel cameras, almost all have access to free TV, have infrared sharing and more. The iPhone doesn’t seem like such a step up to many Japanese. Softbank should push the appstore as its main selling point. Japanese love tech and many of the nicer phones cost $700 (spread out over 2 year plans) and they sell well. Phone pricing matters much less than usability and cost of contract.
For example, Softbank charges its customers based on how much a customer uses the internet. If you only transmit 1.2 mb you only get charged $12 + normal service fee + phone calls. If you use the internet a lot (meaning 2.4mb) you are charged $43 on top of the rest. Almost every foreigner here has an iPhone because of the Maps app and language apps. It’ll be interesting to see where the iPhone, and ultimately Apple, ends up in Japan.
TV, on December 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Fantastic story of how the US western mind missed the hearts and ideals of the Japanese Eastern mind. AGAIN. You would think that Apple with its resources might be able to target Japan as early adopters. But then again… they are not… they are way ahead of the early adopters… they are getting rid of technologies that early adopters are wondering about getting… why ? Infrastructure is way ahead… unlike NZ where we still have pay per Gb for broadband, and the worst prices of mobiles and mobile costs… population of NZ is not high enough to sustain another real provider [2 Degrees is not a serious player] and their marketing has all but burned out after an initial launch ! Telecom and Vodafone know it. Duopoly rules still. God help us.
Guy, on December 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
hello how are u i have softbank iphone and am looking for cheapes plan
john karanja, on December 9th, 2009 at 11:20 am
am looking for a free phone in japan
john king, on December 29th, 2009 at 11:46 am
The reasons not as many people bought an iPhone, or rather why they will switch from Softbank very very soon are two-fold:
1) they charge a huge amount for the IPhone, about double as the U.S. and it’s built into the contract so you don’t see it but believe me — over two years you will pay more than $600 U.S. for this phone
2) Their data network sucks. It is soooo slow, they make AT&T look amazing. Compared to NTT, they’re not even trying.
If Japan goes SIM-lock free, and the Google Phone comes to NTT, Softbank is going to really struggle. Too bad they didn’t figure it out sooner.
Greg G, on February 1st, 2010 at 10:34 am
Hi how are u plzz send me info am looking for free iPhone
John king, on February 6th, 2010 at 2:23 pm