SoftBank Announces iPhone Service Plans

As the hype anticipation builds, Softbank Mobile has released the the applicable subscription plan details for Apple’s 3G iPhone. According to this announcement, purchase of iPhone 3G 8GB model will run approximately 23,000jpy, or 960jpy month over 2-year term and unlimited data packet usage is priced at 5,985jpy per month. The package provided will be their popular ‘White Plan’ offering free domestic voice calls between SoftBank handsets from 1:00 to 21:00 and a SoftBank original mail service with receipt notification ‘Email’ for free.

A new service - Packet Flat-rate Full - enabling customers full access to web browsing, video and map services regardless of the communication charges and making the most of iPhone 3G’s features will be introduced. Subscribers can surf the Internet as freely in their hand as on a PC at competitive rates. In addition to the basic price plan iPhone 3G users will be required to subscribe to ‘Packet Flat-rate Full’ and ‘S! Basic Pack’ (315/month) even though S! features are apparently not available on the iPhone.

As you might imagine we have had several request for comment since breaking the story late last month. Ranging from the predictable “How many units will they sell” and “Will DoCoMo cut a deal too”, to the more obscure “what about YahooBB Wi-Fi” or “will it have e-moji characters”. For the time being lets look at the reality that this special price plan offer only applies to new customers, no doubt at least somewhat related to the specific sim-card required, and all the chatter about the first-round limited quantities. It would be reasonable to expect that SBM will win the net subscriber addition war in July and that at least ’some’ die-hard Apple otaku’s will go home empty-handed on July 11th. As for the questions above: Maybe a million, still very possible, that would be interesting, and not likely.. Whew.

Posted: 23 June 2008 | Filed: Carriers, Sign of the Times | Feedback | Print |