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  • Japan will get the iPhone "later this year"

    Serkan Toto

    Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

    Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

    Today Softbank, Japan’s No. 3 mobile telecommunications company after DoCoMo and au, said they will be releasing the iPhone in Japan.

    In light of this big announcement, the press release seems to be rather short:

    “SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp. today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple® to bring the iPhone™ to Japan later this year.”

    That’s it. No word on price or exclusivity. In contrast to yesterday’s presentation of Softbank’s cell phone line-up for the summer, there was no press conference this time.

    The iPhone hasn’t been approved for sale in Japan by the JATE yet (Japan’s Approval Institute for Telecommunications Equipment), which usually takes a couple of months.

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