SoftBank prepares to offer iPhone 3G for free in Japan

That’s because in Japan there phones are ten times more advanced and can do much more. They can watch high def t.v mobile to mobile video chat. There networks are far superior than ours. The iPhone is great here in america because most American’s are stupid with phones.

as stated by brian,

the iphone is just a drop in the bucket among super-advanced phones in japan. in US, the iphone is our jesus phone simply because we have nothing currently available that can compete with it.

best hopes for palm pre?

Absolutely agree with those comments above me. People outside the US will look at the iPhones lackluster spec sheet and be more than a little disappointed compared to what they are used to.

They are also less impressed by the iPhone’s “Ooohhh, pretty!” factor that seems to resonate so strongly in the states.

Every time I mess with mt roomates iphone 3G I want to snap it in half, maybe if a newer one comes out this year they might have perfected it by then, but hey this is apple where talking about lol.

The 8GB version has already been on sale here in South Africa for ‘free’ for a while when applying for a new 24-month contract with Vodacom. The monthly fee excluding usage is ZAR185 (USD18.69)

https://vodacomdirect.vodacom.co.za/Deal_Details.aspx?DealId=DV929701PA

I agree with everyone above me. Most people like the iPhone because of the ease of use. The UI is very simple yet has the wow factor withthe touchscreen. In these days the iPhone is slowly but surely falling behind of it’s competition: 8900, 9000, Palm Pre, etc. So I suggest Apple come out with something more then an update to keep ahead of the competition.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Rancho California United States

It has less to do with the iPhone itself and more to do with the World economy.

What’s an iphone?

Wow, that’s almost as good as $199 on a three year contract we get here in Canada. As soon as the 1980s roll around Canadian mobile providers are going to be cutting edge in pricing and service.

Finally someone understands that the iphone is just an expensive ARM board and a nice GUI rather than something else with actual features.

Phones in JP compete on features, not price. The people buying phones are about the latest coolness. It’s also their primary computer/internet portal so needs features of such which includes lots of text related operations such as a decent kana keyboard support and cut/paste. One-handed operation is also required.

iPhones would have better luck trying to sell with Disney branding.

Whether iPhone is less superior than other phones in Japan is very subjective.

iPod and App store are two more significant features with iPhone. I don’t know if there are other phones in Japan offers something comparable.

The objective superiority of 5MP+ cameras, video recording, NFC chips for credit-card-free buying of food and train tickets, easy text messaging, 1seg tv, flip-protection, and one-handed usability while riding the subway standing up is undisputable.

iPod and App store features in the face of the above and much more features is more subjective needs.

The phone has to match the lifestyle and the iPhone isn’t since it doesn’t fix anything that wasn’t already working and better in keitais.

JP mobile web has been alive longer and bigger priority because of keitais than the desktop web compatiblity that iPhone tries to offer.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/3g/931sh/index.html

specs–
3.8″ Half-XGA LCD
5.2 Megapixel Camera
Digital TV (One Seg)
Media Player
microSDHCâ„¢ Memory Card
(sold separately)*5
Bar (QR) Code Reader
Bluetooth®
IrDA
Simple Mode
PC Site Browser
Global Roaming Service
3G High Speed
PC Mail
Graphic Mail
Chaku-Uta Full®/Chaku-Uta®
E-Comics
S! Appli
S! Music Connect
S! Information Channel
S! Quick News
Customized Screen
Chaku Graphic
S! Town
S! Friend’s Status; S! Circle Talk
Video Call*6
S! FeliCa (Mobile Suica)
S! GPS Navi
Mobile Widget
Double Number
S! Addressbook Back-up (SAB)

Hey, Zach, I think you got a little typo at this part “and but the iPhone data plan”. No offense ! Just pointing it out :] Cheers.

@Michael,
The Palm Pre doesn’t have a camera good enough sell in Japan; people there are not going to care about the keyboard, which is for the Latin Alphabet and even adapted won’t work there (which is why you see no Treo/BB type handsets there; and the top phones in japan all have removable cards. Even the OS is not going to be very attractive in East Asia market.