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Apple iPad on Docomo?

According to a Yomiuri article (Japanese), Docomo is considering to sell SIM cards for the Apple iPad, which will be sold “unlocked” by Apple. The iPad uses the smaller micro SIM card for 3G data connectivity and has no voice capabilities, so it is not a replacement for a cell phone.

The rest of the article includes a few interesting tidbits in line with rumors of Docomo offering SIM cards for unlocked cell phones.

The 3G model will be SIM-lock free, and if Docomo proceeds with its plan to sell SIM cards for the iPad, it would be the first major domestic telecommunications company to sell SIM cards that are not bundled with handsets. Docomo aims to tap into the telecom needs of iPad users, the sources said.

…

Meanwhile, Google Inc. plans to introduce the Nexus One cell phone in Japan in the near future. Its users will be able to freely switch carriers by inserting different SIM cards.

Therefore Docomo also is considering selling SIM cards that can be used in different cell phones.

However, T-Mobile in the US offers a subsidized and SIM-locked version of the Nexus One with a standard contract. It is possible the phone will be sold in a similar fashion in Japan.

The article also claims that the wifi-only version of the iPad is coming to Japan in March, with the 3G version to follow as early as June. Pricing for the iPad in Japan has not yet been announced by Apple, but the device will start at $499 in the US.

Do you plan to buy an iPad?

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Contributor Bio: Steve has been splitting time between the US and Japan for the past 10 years or so and is now a post doctorate fellow at a large, lumbering University in Tokyo, where he gets paid to play with dirt.

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15 comments - What do you think? Posted by steve - February 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

Categories: Technology Tags: gadgets, ipad in Japan, tech

anon

I’ll be picking one up, as I was planning on upgrading my iPod touch anyway… Why not get a bigger, better quality screen with a faster processor?

I wonder how big the delay will be between U.S. and International release…

Serazahr

Well you see, the iPod fits in your pocket, while the iPad… not so much.
Also getting an iPad means paying a ridiculous amount of money for something you actually already have.

Well, just trying to help you waste your money on something more meaningful.

John Davis

The iPad fits in my pocket MUCH more easily than my PowerBook.

You seem to think you know what I have, Mr Serazahr. I don’t have an iPad. I wish I did.

You’re giving us generalities and so I’ll give you one:

People who think they know all about something very rarely do.

pixelbomber

I think he just meant the person he responded to already had an iPod so he was telling him it’s almost the same as what he has.

It’s true these devices are very similar in the capabilities and operating system. But if you use your iPod as a portable device or if you use an iPhone I can’t see the iPad replacing those at all. The iPad is a more or less a stay at home device, I guess you could tote it around and hope to find wifi. Honestly unless you are someone who likes reading books on an LCD then I can’t see much reason to own one of these. There are devices already available that are portable and allow multitasking. Also I just can’t get past the idea that you can only do one thing at a time on an iPad. I typically do 2-3 things at a time when online. I love the iPod and I accept the limitations of it because of its portability. But the iPad is bigger and has less functionality than the iPod. Just seems like a big step backwards in terms of what I want.

hokkaido stephen

you rock okinawa john. i am getting an ipad this month from vancouver. cheers. no more mickey mouse stuff.

Karisu

Lack of widescreen resolution, no multitasking, no flash, no camera = no sale.

Maybe next time, Jobs!

John Davis

From what I can see, the screen is gorgeous, multitasking isn’t an issue, the iPad already multitasks, as the iPod and iPhone, full multitasking is coming in version 4.0 of the OS, which is a) free for current iPad buyers and b) just up the road, a few weeks away. As for Flash – you actually WANT this? For one thing there is no way the current version of Flash will work on a multitouch device – this includes the copycat Microsoft iPhone that doesn’t support Flash either and for another, it’s a source of instability – not very good software and not very well maintained.

pixel_bomber

I beg to differ, Flash can work on a multi-touch device if it is implemented correctly. Also the new version of Flash is due out in a few days. Although I have yet to test it there is supposedly a built in publisher that will allow flash to run on iPods/Phones/Pads in spite of Apples wishes. What little I’ve seen of it is pretty awesome.
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcs5/appsfor_iphone
All that remains to be seen is how well it runs on the portable devices. The main limitation for Flash on Apple products has always been that they simply run slower and are not optimized to run smoothly on Macs. Flash can tend to a be processor hogs on Apple devices. Personally I hope it works out because it would be nice to be able to develop applications for the iPod/phone/pad that did not have to go through Apples implementation system.
pixel_bomber

Oh also I hadn’t heard about them adding multi-tasking that will be a huge bonus. That is one of my main problems is I need to be able to interact with more than one application at a time.

SushiCat

I just don’t understand why Apple has refused to include
a built-in SD card slot for the iPad. It will probably only
add a few doolars to the cost.

Hyakuman

It allows them to control the capacity of the iPad. If you give expandable storage, then it takes away Apple’s ability to egg you into buying the larger capacity model. SD cards, regardless of the size (as long as they are of the same type, eg. SDHC) can usually be used on electronics whether they say “Max: XXGb” or not.

http://www.japanprobe.com steve

SD cards, regardless of the size (as long as they are of the same type, eg. SDHC) can usually be used on electronics whether they say “Max: XXGb” or not.

You’re right about this. The ht-03a from docomo (HTC magic) can take a 16 GB micro SDHC card, even though the stated max is 4 GB I think.

tokyosama

No thanks Apple. Apple is not even original. They carbon copy everybody lol
Ipad and Iphone are overatted anyway
John Davis

Tokyosama,

According to you, the iPod and iPhone are overratted.

You’re not getting mixed up with mice (mouses), are you?

I have both an iPod Touch and an iPhone, neither came with either a mouse or a rat.

You might say they are undermiced or underratted, but underratted, sadly no.
hokkaido stephen

is that my appleboi in okinawa? john. you are right on man. the ipad rocks. i got one coming from vancouver this month. can’t wait. no mickey mouse stuff. wee hee

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