Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo confirmed to be negotiating with Apple for iPhone

We previously reported that the largest wireless operator in Japan has been in talks with Apple to bring the coveted iPhone to the island-nation’s NTT DoCoMo network. Well, today we get confirmation straight from NTT DoCoMo that Apple is indeed working with the Japanese network to bring those edgy-Japs a bit of minimalist-style.

“It is true that Mr. Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. and our president (Masao) Nakamura held a meeting,” an NTT DoCoMo spokesman said in a statement to the Agence France-Presse,. Unfortunately, NTT DoCoMo wasn’t all that forthcoming with information regarding the timing of the iPhone’s Japanese debut or even what Apple and NTT DoCoMo were talking about.

Now, we are also hearing that Apple is in talks with another Japanese network operator, presumably to hedge their bets and make sure the iPhone makes it to Japan one way or another. Softbank Corp., Japans No. 3 carrier, has been rumored to have made business trips to Cupertino to discuss the iPhone exclusivity deals. Apple could be working both sides of the Japanese market to make sure they can land the revenue-sharing deal that’s turned the whole manufacturer-carrier model on its head.

We’re not going to expect a Japanese iPhone launch before the middle of next year, perhaps in line with the Asian launch that we’re looking for in China. Ears to the ground, folks. Ears to the ground.

[Via: Yahoo]