Now that we’ve seen the iPhone released in the promised European markets, it’s time to begin discussing the rest of Apple’s plans for global domination. They’ve promised to expand into Asia in 2008; there have already been some whispers about their negotiations in China.
Now, there’s word that Apple’s in negotiations with two separate providers in Japan: the largest provider, NTT DoCoMo, and the third largest, Softbank. As with the situations in the US and elsewhere, Apple is apparently demanding a share of the money from subscribers, a request that the providers are not eager to oblige.
NTT DoCoMo controls over half of the mobile market in Japan, which boasts 100 million mobile users. While they may not be thrilled about sharing money with Apple, some see Jobs’s negotiations with Softbank as an attempt to make NTT DoCoMo play ball.
So does this mean 3G is on the way?
GSM doesn't work in Japan, you need either a fully fledged 3G machine or phone innards that are fully compatible with the Japanese system.
Excellent news if either of the options is true, though. Except that I am on the wrong network. Again.
Well, SoftBank and Apple have had a relationship for a while now. The SoftBank stores have been pushing iPods in their stores for at least a year now. I'd gladly jump the Docomo ship for SoftBank if an iPhone was involved. As many complaints as there have been about the American service provider for iPhones, one can only imagine how much worse the situation would be for average consumers if NTT Docomo got their sticky hands on the device. Makes me shudder.
As someone who divides his life between Japan and Canada I need a phone I can use in Japan and North America - I'd love it if iPhone could be that phone. Softbank, Docomo or Au - does not matter to me - a global iPhone that works in Japan and Canada does!