Softbank ranks top in net mobile subscription gains for 3rd month

Tuesday 10th November, 07:27 AM JST

TOKYO —

Softbank Mobile Corp ranked first among Japanese cellphone service providers in net subscription gains in October for the third straight month, according to their announcements Monday. Softbank Mobile, a subsidiary of Softbank Corp, gained a net 97,500 new contracts in the reporting month, due to the continued popularity of Apple Inc’s iPhone 3GS handsets marketed by the firm in Japan.

Emobile Ltd replaced KDDI Corp, which provides au mobile phone services, as the second-largest net contract gainer with 80,000 contracts. NTT DoCoMo Inc came third with 55,100 contracts, followed by KDDI with 27,500 contracts. Willcom Inc, which provides mobile services using the personal handyphone system, posted a net loss of 40,400 contracts.

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Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

MadokaKato at 11:56 AM JST - 10th November

That's because of the iPhone.. Yes Softbank service sucks. I will never buy an iPhone in Japan again.
PleasureGelf at 12:06 PM JST - 10th November

iPhone has been on sale in Japan only since last year, Softbank has been number one in new subscriptions for most of the past two years gaining over 4 million new contracts in two years compared to about 2 million for AU and Docomo. The numbers speak for themselves.
taj at 12:28 PM JST - 10th November

Everything but phone calls.

I love my iPhone. Despite Softbank being the suckiest service provider ever. I can only hope that with all the additional subscribers, they'll have the money necessary to build out their network. Of course, if people like me just keep switching over, despite the massive holes in their network, what is their incentive to invest? Perhaps we need to start harrassing them every time we find dead spots in the middle of the city.
badmigraine at 01:22 PM JST - 10th November

Even if Softbank would unlock your iPhone at the end of your 2-year contract--and they won't, I have asked--what other Japan provider would you use? Nobody provides the unlimited data plan and calling as cheaply as Softbank:

--4400 yen per month for unlimited data --maybe 800 yen for the White Plan for calls.

Is there any other country in which you can get a decent calling plan plus unlimited 3G data, all for about US$60? I doubt it. People in the US and Oz are paying much more for much less.

I jailbroke and unlocked my phone with the blacksn0w hack, but unless I travel abroad or leave Japan, I can't see anything but a Softbank SIM card in my iPhone.
Junnama at 01:25 PM JST - 10th November

I like my Softbank plan!!
smithinjapan at 01:29 PM JST - 10th November

Gaijinocchio: Yes, you're bang on; it's because of iPhone. But lest we forget that both Docomo and AU turned down iPhone saying it would fail in Japan. As the proverb goes, you made your bed, now lie in it. They are ranting and raving and even coming up with their own sub-par versions of iPhone, but they made a HUGE mistake when turning Apple down.

Softbank doesn't have the best reception, but it has some of the best deals, and now with iPhone it has the best handset, hands down. Other cell phones simply do NOT compare.
smithinjapan at 01:32 PM JST - 10th November

What does unlocking your iPhone allow you to do? Use it abroad? (without the international roaming charges, I mean)
thomyorke at 01:32 PM JST - 10th November

Honestly though, Softbank is relatively cheaper than AU and Docomo, which makes up for its でんぱ problems. Ill stick with Softbank.
elbudamexicano at 02:01 PM JST - 10th November

I am using Softbank now, so is my family and we are all quite happy but yes, I do wish the phone reception would be a bit stronger. Even here in Tokyo, many places have crappy reception for Softbank mobile phones, and they want us to believe we can also use these same phones all over the world??
Yelnats at 03:57 PM JST - 10th November

Softbank is much cheaper tan my AU plan, and much cheaper than my brother iPhone plan in the states. Next time I will switch to SoftBank and build up Sohn's billions a little bit more.
cr_japanophile at 04:02 PM JST - 10th November

I recently went back to Costa Rica, thinking my phone would be nothing but a useless eyecatcher on the streets of my country. Lo and behold, I was receiving phone calls (via my skype account) pretty much anywhere I went. People might complain as much as they want, but the truth is that their service is not that bad if you compare it with other "developed" countries, such as the US, etc...
McC72 at 05:00 PM JST - 10th November

Hi Smith, jaibreaking and unlocking removes the apple protection and allows you to use other independent applications. Its a lot convenient. When you go to other countries, just get a cheap SIM card and you are connected. I don't need to buy another handset anymore.
nisegaijin at 05:41 PM JST - 10th November

it's not because iphone is good, it's because hand sets for au and docomo just suck!!! the only one supporting GSM from fall models is one looking like a little pink egg...
cnc at 09:43 AM JST - 11th November

au is slow in attracting new customers because they have a very lacklustre lineup. They can bring in the Palm Pre or any Android Phone (Motorola Droid) but, that would require a very imaginative and bold step which is lacking in AU and its parent company (KDDI).

For all those who think that the Iphone is the most advanced handset out there are very much mistaken. The iphone is simply a very cool phone with a a very cool interface. Hell Sharp alone makes phones that are years ahead in technology compared to the iphone. (12mp camera with a totally customizable touch screen interface, who else has that?)
jinjapan at 09:45 AM JST - 11th November

the "great prices" offered by softbank negate the sometimes bad reception .