iPhone Comes to Japan
The iPhone will be available to Japanese customers through Softbank Mobile beginning on July 11th. 8G and 16G iPhone 3G models will be included in the launch starting from US 199. The Japanese who are all loco for iPods and other miniature gadgets will no doubt line up for the opportunity to own one. Softbank Mobile is hoping the iPhone will boost its sales and steal subscribers away from their larger rivals KDDI and DoCoMo.
Misc:
Japan is the first Asian country to receive the iPhone. The iPhone will also become available next month in Australia, Canada, Mexico and several European countries.
Japanese are obsessed with text messaging. They are much more inclined to send a message than make a phone call. It could also have something to do with the costly minute rates, and phone etiquette while in public. Anyhow, it would not be a stretch to say that the Japanese national passtime is playing with one's phone while riding the train. I am curious to see how the iPhone will impact Japanese phone obsession.
Additional info:
AFP: Softbank bringing iPhone to Japan