But I also think that success will be relatively short-lived since Softbank will have to play catch-up with Japan-centric apps that are already available on other phones. There are also hardware limits, like no RFID for Suica/Pasmo and no 1seg for TV.

I think Apple will see more success with a 2nd-gen iPod touch.

So as you know today was the release of Iphone, in Japan, i am know staying in Japan with a ryuugaku visa, till 2009/09 so i wanted to have an Iphone .
I decided to go a softbank shop in Osaka Namba, i had to wait more than 3 hours to have a ticket who give me the right to buy an Iphone . But when the seller saw that i was just a tall white men he told me to wait of a moments, then he came he asked me to see my Alien Card, even if I did not wanted to show him i Just showed him . Then he went back to his shop again, and told me that i need a 2 years visa from now if I wanted to buy an Iphone, like normal people but as my visa is only till 2009/09 I had to buy the Iphone for 84000 ens, yes japanse can have it form a cheap price, but for white people its only 84 000 ens .I tried to check on softbank site and there is no trace at all that a Gaijin must pay his phone if his visa is not 2 years visa or more .
i think the owner of this shop just don’t want to sell his iphone to a white man, or if what he told me is true, it means that getting a mobile phone in japan will be nearly impossible for foreigner people in Japan even if we hold a visa . Its just unbelievable .

Here the name of the shop

ソフトバンク日本橋インフォプラア
　
TEL　066648　7811
Faｘ06　66487812　

Steve Jobs is a marketing genius. Of course, all the free press helps.

My favorite phonhe function is pretty simple. It was free.
Maybe if more dolts pay high prices for iPhones and iPhone service, MY cell phone bill can stay low.

That “Will it be a success?” is hard to answer without knowing what the definition of success is! With about 15% considering one, knowing the prices, versus just 7% thinking about all the other SoftBank, au and DoCoMo models, I’d call that a success.

http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/07/10/why-the-iphone-is-not-wanted-in-japan/

I just think the high prices, lack of familiar Japanese keitai features and the Softbank exclusivity are going to really hurt the iPhone.

http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/en/news/press/2008/20080623_01/

And that Sataki guy:

“Although Japanese cellphones have advanced interfaces, they have become much heavier and bulkier”

The iPhone’s heavier than just about every one of the new DoCoMos, for instance, even though they all have One Seg and FeliCa.

Anyone know how many they are supposed to be shipping to Japan?

8gb: ~23,000円
16gb: ~35,000円

Monthly plan seems to be: 7,280円

More info can be found here: http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2008/20080623_02/index.html

My Japanese isn’t good enough for the specifics, so if anyone cares to enlighten us?