iPhone 3G launch : Was Softbank's iPhone Launch Successful?

Posted on Sun Jul 13, 09:40 by DPUkyle, Shinjuku-ku
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I think SoftBank is deliberately withholding supply to create more demand and media attention.

I will try going to Harajuku later today (Monday)... wish me luck.

Posted on Sun Jul 13, 10:12 by VooDooRoo, Engrish teecher, Toyama,Japan
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good luck matey....

If people actually got over the hype of a
"lets face it"

telephone!

you would get a itouch at "hard off" store for 35 000yen and surf the net and do nearly everything the "telephone" can do?

Iphone -starting to equal boring lol


V D R

Itouch ppl Itouch save your cash

Posted on Mon Jul 14, 12:30 by Oskar, IT Engineer, Tokyo
Home Page: http://ikusuki.blogspot.com
Is not only Softbank's problem in Japan, the demand in all the world has been huge and the "iPhone sold out" sign is everywhere.

I think is much more global problem than Softbank and Japan.

Posted on Mon Jul 14, 01:15 by VooDooRoo, Engrish teecher, Toyama,Japan
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anyone know the cost to actually buy the phone? Have to get it on contract?
I`m going back to Australia in October and would love to talk one home...

Yaho auctions they a ridiculously priced

V D R

Posted on Mon Jul 14, 02:06 by Ken, Consultant, Tokyo
Home Page: http://www.japaneconomynews.com
They all sold out in one day. It's hard to call that not a success. Apple won't say how many there were nor how many it aims to sell in Japan. In other words, this is a long-term thing. Success of the iPhone won't be determined in a day, a weekend, or even the first month. It will be determined by long-term performance and market share over years.,

Posted on Tue Jul 15, 08:53 by ML, Tokyo
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I missed out on Friday at the small Softbank Store in Jiyugaoka and the store people were so clueless that I got the impression there was no way I'd get one during the weekend. Then I went to the Omotesando store around 4pm on Saturday and saw a line with a three hour wait (I didn't want one that bad), so I went to have dinner with my family in Harajuku. Afterwards we walked past the store again (around 8PM) and there was no line so I went in and picked one up. In total it only took 45 minutes, was an easy transaction, and I got the impression they had plenty of stock of the 8GB model.

So my recommendation is to go to the Softbank Store in Omotesando or the Yodobashi in Akihabara. It appears most of the retailers are supplying only the big stores with large quantities until things calm down.

Posted on Tue Jul 15, 09:10 by ML, Tokyo
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Here's some information on Softbank iPhone contract requirements:

Japanese Citizen/Foreign Resident with >27 months remaining on Visa:

2 year contract req. 8GB phone was 2,200 yen/month, plus white plan, unlimited data, and their email thing for a total of about 10,000 yen per month for 2 years. Payment must be made via auto bank withdrawal or Japan-based credit card. Pmt at conven. store is not allowed for iPhone. No money required up front as price of phone is spread over the 2-years. Softbank was also selling AppleCare for 7,800 yen but it didn't cover drops, loss, or water damage (and SoftBank didn't offer any additional insurance on their end).

Hope this helps,
Mike

Posted on Tue Jul 15, 09:11 by ML, Tokyo
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More Softbank iPhone details:

Foreign resident with

Posted on Tue Jul 15, 09:12 by ML, Tokyo
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Repost.....

Foreign resident with more than 27 months remaining on Visa:

Must pay for the phone up front as if no contract exists. Price for the 16GB model was about 80,000 yen and 8GB was about 70,000. If your Visa is close to 27 month mark they might be a little flexible, maybe a 1-year contract instead of 2 to reduce the price of the phone.

If you are a foreign resident, make sure you bring your passport w/visa, gaijin card, and bank book or cash card or else you'll be out of luck.

Posted on Tue Jul 15, 09:14 by ML, Tokyo
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Correction!

My last post should have said foreign resident with less than 27 months remaining on your visa. Sorry.........

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 10:31 by Mikeal, Teacher, Tohoku,Japan
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Re the iPhone, seems to be a lot of mumbo jumbo about contracts and prices.First the price has been set by the agreement between Apple and Softbank at 8G 24000 yen and some change and the 16G at 34000 yen and some change.Typically Softbank like many other big companies here in Japan are not satisfied with only getting that much money for the item so they have devised a complicated BS type of formula to double their income from the sale of iPhones to have an end price of about 87000 yen plus the extra 5000 yen added to your contract if you are an existing customer to cover the new 3G service.(just another loophole to squeeze more cash from the buyer.) Once the shop assistant at Softbank stores do some creative accounting with the figures the actual retail price for the 16G model becomes 34000 yen and change--as it was in the first place, but Softbank are such nice people they are giving you this massive discount----yeh right!

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 10:33 by Mikeal, Teacher, Tohoku,Japan
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Continued..Then, if you are an existing customer they throw on an extra 6000 yen fo changing phones to the iPhone, like what is this a penalty payment for buying from Softbank.Where I live the local Softbank stoes told customers that no 8G phones were being released until later ???! so they could push sales of the expensive model first, more BS. The Softbank stores have no as in zero accessories available, customer being told to go to an Apple shop. If you do not have a pc available to finish the set up yourself,such as downloading your address book from your previous phone,(Softbank uploads your contacts to a server and you must USB to a pc to get them back and that is a major mission syncing your phone running English with their web site running Japanese, doesn't work very well!) I ended up taking an hour and a half to re-enter my contacts and numbers manually.

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 10:38 by Mikeal, Teacher, Tohoku,Japan
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Overall the sign up process was pathetic,the staff did not seem to know a damn thing, constantly referring to a pile of paperwork on how to and what to do next etc.,Being a foriegner did not seem to be an issue, drivers license only credit card for monthly payments, that is fairly common here for most transactions of this kind.Having done some web research on Softbank's prices and tech specs, I did have the feeling that most customers probably know more about the phones than Softbank staff.The phone itself I am still assessing as of yesterday 7/20 so far seems very user friendly and of course it is all in English ...that is why I wanted it and downloading apps is English.

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 10:40 by Mikeal, Teacher, Tohoku,Japan
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continued..The signup and general Softbank experience however was the biggest example of corporate BS and product ignorance I have yet experienced in Japan and I would have to agree with above comment, maybe Softbank are too small to carry the ball with something with this amount of global hype, thet just saw the dollar signs and told Apple yes we can do this. Well Softbank you dropped the ball way short of the line regarding customer service, product knowledge and PR re price and availablity. (end) sorry this 4 part comment is so long folks, 1000 character limit and I had a lot to say, for better or worse.

Posted on Wed Aug 20, 03:48 by RichardW, Teacher/Photographer, Tokyo
Home Page: http://rwldnpp.com
Mikeal, thanks for your indepth post. I was glad to have my own findings confirmed. 80,000 yen is a MASSIVE amount to pay especially when in America and Europe it's half the price. I've got a year long visa, anyone know of a way to get hold of a phone with paying this upfront?

ARGGHH fu*king softbank!!