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Latest Softbank News

Sharp AQUOS 206SH announced in Japan; Probably not hitting the West

Japan’s SoftBank has announced the Sharp AQUOS 206SH, a fancy-lookin’ Android 4.2 smartphone with features that include a 5-inch full HD screen, Qualcomm’s quad-core processor and 13.1-megapixel camera. All this comes as standard in similar products sold elsewhere (i.e. Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z, etc); what doesn’t is an enormous 3,080mAh battery, which is usually found in phablets with 5.3-inch or larger screens. Sharp used the super-thin CG Silicon TFT LCD to make room for such big battery. The mentioned display also offers improved performance while consuming less power. Read more

Sprint to vote on SoftBank offer during June 12th stockholder meeting

SoftBank is continuing its public campaign as it tries to win the favor of Sprint. After a war of words between SoftBank and Dish erupted this week, SoftBank is back on the offensive and encouraging Sprint stockholders to approve its deal. Sprint will be voting on the merger during a special stockholders’ meeting that will be held on June 12, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas. According to a SoftBank statement,  the SEC has completed its review of the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Sprint-SoftBank deal. Now that this milestone has been Read more

Kelly Hodgkins

Dish network chairman blasts SoftBank in war of words over Sprint

Earlier his week, SoftBank confirmed it wont budge on its offer to acquire US wireless carrier Sprint. It said the competing offer from Dish was “incomplete and illusory” and claimed it has the better deal. Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen didn’t take this criticism lying down and responded vehemently in favor of his company. Speaking to USA Today, Ergen said this about Japanese-based Softbank: “We’re offering a higher price. That’s just math. We are an American company, and the modernization of Sprint’s network will have to be done from the Read more

Kelly Hodgkins

Sprint gets go ahead from Softbank to discuss deal with Dish

Sprint is in the enviable position of being courted by not one, but two companies for a potential merger. Sprint already agreed to a deal that would give control over the company to Japanese wireless carrier Softbank. This Softbank deal was expected to close this summer, but a sweeter offer from Dish puts that merger at risk. According to a report by CNET, Softbank has give Sprint permission to enter into a nondisclosure agreement with Dish to further discuss the $25.5 million bid. Sprint has held its cards close to Read more

Kelly Hodgkins

Softbank confirms it intends to close Sprint deal by July 2013

Dish may be courting Sprint with $25B in cash and stock, but Softbank still believes that it will win the hand of the US carrier in the long run. According to a report in AllThingsD, Softbank released a statement that confirms it intends to acquire a majority interest in Sprint by July 2013. SoftBank believes that the agreed terms of our transaction with Sprint offer Sprint shareholders superior short and long term benefits to Dish’s highly conditional preliminary proposal. The SoftBank-Sprint transaction is in the advanced stages of receiving the necessary Read more

Kelly Hodgkins

Verizon Wireless eyeing Clearwire spectrum

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Verizon Wireless is negotiating a deal with Clearwire to lease its spectrum. Verizon allegedly offered Clearwire $1.5 billion to use some of Clearwire’s spectrum in larger markets. This offer was disclosed in Clearwire’s recent SEC filing, with insiders claiming that the bidder, “party J,” is Verizon Wireless. This deal may not go through as Clearwire is in a precarious financial position. Sprint owns a majority stake in the wireless carrier, and wants to purchase the company outright. Sprint is also being Read more

Kelly Hodgkins

SoftBank testing balloon-based emergency base stations

SoftBank Mobile wants to be prepared when the next disaster strikes. Following the earthquake and tsunami on March 2011 that left the communications networks struggling to cope, the Japanese carrier started working on a backup solution… and they came with an elegant way to keep the networks running. The emergency relay system uses a balloon and a satellite to restore mobile phone coverage in areas affected by natural disasters. This communications balloon is tethered to a vehicle-mounted relay station when deployed, providing coverage for around 3km from their anchor point. Read more