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. It sounds almost too good to be true. And yes we want to see the same screen technology in other phones that are selling around the globe, not just in Japan. Though we don’t know when (or even whether) that will happen.

As for when Japanese can get the AQUOS 206SH, SoftBank will start selling it in June…

[Via: GSMarena]

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 reached, the two companies are preparing for the next stage in the acquisition process. Sprint will be sending out the proxy statement to its stockholders starting May 3rd and will be preparing for the June 12th vote. At the same time, SoftBank will continue to petition the stockholders and promote the financial benefits of its deal.

[Via SoftBank and MarketWatch]

SoftBank Announces Registration Statement for Sprint Transaction Declared Effective by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Sprint Stockholder Meeting to Approve SoftBank Transaction Set for June 12 and Expectation to Close Transaction in Approximately 8 Weeks

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SoftBank Corp. (TSE: 9984) (“SoftBank”) today announced that the Form S-4 Registration Statement relating to its agreed transaction with Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S) (“Sprint”) has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Form S-4 contains Sprint’s definitive proxy statement related to soliciting the required approval of the SoftBank merger by Sprint stockholders. Sprint is expected to commence the mailing of the definitive proxy statement to its stockholders on May 3rd. SoftBank encourages Sprint stockholders to review the proxy statement and to vote FOR the adoption of the SoftBank merger agreement at the Sprint special stockholders’ meeting to be held on June 12, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas.

With the SEC review of the proxy statement/prospectus now complete, another significant milestone to closing the Sprint-SoftBank transaction has been achieved. SoftBank continues to work closely with Sprint on receiving the remaining government approvals and anticipates closing on July 1, 2013 pending receipt of these approvals.

SoftBank Holdings Inc. President Ron Fisher said, “The successful completion of the SEC review and the commencing of the mailing of the definitive proxy statement demonstrate the continued rapid progress we are making in closing our transaction with Sprint. We are pleased with this progress and believe that our ability to fund our investment in Sprint within a matter of weeks will enable Sprint to continue and accelerate its capital investment plans in 2013 and beyond. Our investment will better position Sprint to win in the ultra-competitive U.S. wireless marketplace, drive subscriber growth, and create significant shareholder value.”

SoftBank continues to believe its agreement with Sprint creates significantly greater value for Sprint stockholders than the highly-leveraged preliminary proposal put forward recently by Dish Network Corporation.

The Registration Statement and proxy materials related to the merger agreement are available at Sprint’s website at www.sprint.com/investors. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please call Sprint’s proxy solicitor and the information agent for the offering, Georgeson Inc., toll free at 1-866-741-9588 (banks and brokers call 212-440-9800). You can also contact SoftBank’s proxy solicitor Morrow & Co., LLC toll free at 1-800-662-5200 (banks and brokers call 203-658-9400).

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 U.S. You have to climb the towers here, and you’ll have to have U.S. employees who speak English. Operations command control will be in America. That’s good for jobs. It doesn’t mean that the other guys are bad. It’s just that we have an advantage.”

Ergen said SoftBank is just giving the deal lip service and will eventually raise its bid for Sprint. At this point, Sprint is entertaining a $20.1B offer from SoftBank and a $25.5B bid from Dish Network. The US carrier is examining both deals and has not hinted which one it is close to accepting.

Sprint has held its cards close to its chest and has not hinted which way it is leaning. The Dish deal gives stockholders a bigger payback, but Softbank is known for its ability to make a struggling carrier successful through agressive pricing. It will be interesting to see what Sprint does with these two offers in the coming weeks.

[Via CNET]

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 approvals, and we expect to consummate the transaction on July 1, 2013.

Softbank announced in October of last year that it submitted an offer to buy a 70 percent stake in Sprint for $20.1 billion. Dish’s recent counteroffer of $25B was unsolicited and caused Sprint’s stock to jump 17.8 percent on Monday. Sprint said it would evaluate the Dish proposal, but declined requests for further comment on the Softbank deal.

[Via AllThingsD]

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 pursued by Japan’s Softbank, which has put in a bid to acquire the US wireless carrier. If all these deals go through, then Verizon will be negotiating a leasing deal with a Softbank-controlled Sprint. It’s unclear whether such a deal would go through under those conditions.

[Via Wall Street Journal]

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.

The tests were conducted in Aichi Prefecture and since everything apparently works like a charm, the plan is to deploy 10 of these units across the country by the end of the month.

Pretty cool though we hope it won’t be needed at all…