In Japan, iPhones are now free
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The sizzle in the Steak
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Southern California
In Japan, iPhones are now free
In Japan, iPhones are now free
The price of an iPhone in Japan can’t get much lower than this.
Starting Friday, Softbank Mobile, the exclusive carrier of Apple’s (AAPL) smartphone in Japan, will give anyone who signs a two-year contract a free 8GB iPhone 3G. If customers prefer the 16GB model, that will cost them $118 (reduced from $350).
Writing for CrunchGear, Serkan Toto reports that SoftBank Mobile’s data plan is also being discounted from $62 to $45.60 per month for both new and existing subscribers, a move he attributes to weak iPhone sales in Japan.
The promotion is scheduled to end in May. It follows a data plan price cut in August — less than a month after the iPhone’s Japanese debut.
The price of an iPhone in Japan can’t get much lower than this.
Starting Friday, Softbank Mobile, the exclusive carrier of Apple’s (AAPL) smartphone in Japan, will give anyone who signs a two-year contract a free 8GB iPhone 3G. If customers prefer the 16GB model, that will cost them $118 (reduced from $350).
Writing for CrunchGear, Serkan Toto reports that SoftBank Mobile’s data plan is also being discounted from $62 to $45.60 per month for both new and existing subscribers, a move he attributes to weak iPhone sales in Japan.
The promotion is scheduled to end in May. It follows a data plan price cut in August — less than a month after the iPhone’s Japanese debut.
I didn't know the recession in Japan was THAT bad.
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As an example, Apple's iPhone may seem cool for North America but Asian users already have access to some of the most advanced phones. Models sold in Japan typically contain a high-end color display, digital TV-viewing capability, satellite navigation service, music player and digital camera. So, nothing the iPhone offers is really...new.
Many models also include chips that let owners use their phones as debit cards or train passes.
Many models also include chips that let owners use their phones as debit cards or train passes.
about how great the phones are in japan
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From: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
i almost bought an iphone in japan, but i figured since my AT&T phone didnt work in japan, the iphone probably wouldnt work in the US.
and it was probably stolen or something since it was cheap.
and it was probably stolen or something since it was cheap.
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Very. And when you have dozens of phone providers in Asia, the costs of owning and operating a phone crammed with features and etc. is not $$$ at all...
My cousins were
-ing when I told them how much it is to have a data plan here.
My cousins were
-ing when I told them how much it is to have a data plan here.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Los Angeles, Ca
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I now drive an accord....
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From: Etters, PA
where is....
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: palmyra,pa
yeah but thats extra ontop of your talking plan making each month close to $100 after taxes and fees.
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From: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
My Blackberry plan for Sprint's Simply Everything is $83 a month after hefty discounts that supposedly don't exist..
I'm still paying twice as much as people in Japan for the same thing..
I'm still paying twice as much as people in Japan for the same thing..
^^ ?
but yes, when i lived in japan i had a cell phone that rivaled phones in the us 3 years later.
i just dont see how we can get soo far behind.
btw the iphone is crap anyway. the japs can see past the trendiness of it.
s60 for life.
but yes, when i lived in japan i had a cell phone that rivaled phones in the us 3 years later.
i just dont see how we can get soo far behind.
btw the iphone is crap anyway. the japs can see past the trendiness of it.
s60 for life.
One on the right for me
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From: Bay Area, CA
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Cruisin'
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haha, agreed!
Engineer
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Boston
That's not exactly true, we just don't have the infrastructure for it like they do in Japan. Japan is relatively tiny compared to the US. With that smaller area to cover it is easier to implement and upgrade the network. When the eventual transition from 3G to 4G occurs, it will probably first be in Japan, Hong Kong, or that region in general because of this reason.
I am sure Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc would love to sell their latest and greatest phones over here, but the problem is the lack of that infrastructure to use them to their full potential.
I am sure Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc would love to sell their latest and greatest phones over here, but the problem is the lack of that infrastructure to use them to their full potential.
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