Verizon Wireless announced that it plans to join the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) established by China Mobile, SOFTBANK and Vodafone to “help accelerate the uptake of innovative mobile technologies on a mass-market scale.” Primararily, we’re talking about mobile widgets here, which seem to be the hot topic these days with Microsoft and Samsung announcing their…
Japan to Get Free iPhones on Softbank Mobile
Perhaps iPhone sales aren’t as rosy as we think over in Japan. No solid sales numbers are available at this point, but one has to wonder how good it really is selling now that Softbank Mobile intends to offer up the 8GB model for free. That’s right, free. A report over at CrunchGear noted that…
Japanese study declares Apple iPhone 3G “Best Smartphone of 2008”
Despite speculation that the Apple iPhone 3G would fail to catch on in any significant manner in Japan – a country so used to advanced cellphone features that it makes the iPhone 3G’s feature-set look dull – it seems that Japanese geeks are just as enamored with Apple’s glossy-finished touchscreen handset as the rest of…
Softbank’s One-Seg iPhone TV tuner handled
Softbank recently announced their 1-Seg TV tuner/battery pack add-on for Japanese iPhone 3Gs. The Japanese iPhone 3G was criticized for its lack of an integrated TV tuner, and the One-Seg TV tuner accessory was to be Softbank’s answer. The external TV tuner connects to the iPhone 3G over WiFi, streaming the TV stream to the…
What recession? $131k Softbank 823SH Tiffany phone sells out in 3 days
The world’s economy may be in crisis but that doesn’t stop the uber-rich to get new expensive toys. As a matter of fact, Softbank’s newly unveiled 823SH Tiffany phone has been sold out within three days and the device costs a whooping 13 million yen, which is about $131k. To be fair, this is a…
Japanese Samsung Omnia comes with mobile TV receiver and WVGA screen
Regular Samsung i900 Omnia is cool, but the Japanese version is even cooler. Instead of sporting a 240×400 pixels screen, the Omnia which will be sold in the “Land of the rising Sun,” SoftBank 930SC Omnia, will come with a 0.1-inch larger (3.3 as apposed to the original 3.2 inches) touchscreen which displays WVGA resolution…
Softbank’s Sharp Aquos Fulltouch 931SH slider does high-resolution touchscreen in style
These days, a touchscreen smartphone in your pocket (or in your hand) shows the world that you know what’s what in the mobile space and you’re not afraid to sit on the always-moving edge of high-technology. And, if you’re lucky enough to be rocking a smartphone with a VGA or WVGA touchscreen display, you’re probably…
Softbank to offer iPhone 3G users 1-Seg TV tuner / battery-pack add-on
Looking to continue on the success of their iPhone 3G, Softbank has announced that they will be launching a terrestrial TV tuner / battery-pack add-on for the Japanese iPhone 3G market. The iPhone 3G has been criticized for its lack of the TV-tuner capabilities that much of the Japanese market demands in their handsets. Still,…
Softbank: iPhone 3G helped boost profits and subscriber growth
Things are looking good for Japan’s iPhone carrier, Softbank. Ever since the Japanese wireless carrier signed on as Apple’s iPhone 3G carrier partner, Softbank has seen their bottom line moving onwards and upwards. Even in the face of flagging mobile phone sales amidst a global financial downturn, strong iPhone 3G sales helped Softbank increase their…
Japan’s Softbank Mobile gets first major corporate iPhone customer
Softbank Mobile has recently scored its first major corporate customer for the iPhone in Japan. It’s a management and technology consultancy firm called BearingPoint. BearingPoint’s idea is to help its consultants improve the productivity and enable them to get information more easily. For that purpose, the company has ordered “at least 1,000 units” of the…