TOKYO —

Softbank Mobile Corp scored the largest net increase in subscriptions among mobile phone operators in Japan in January, retaining the top place for the sixth straight month, according to their reports released Friday. Softbank Mobile concluded 185,000 more contracts than cancellations in January. Its iPhone discount campaign apparently generated increased demand as the promotion expired at the end of the month.
   
NTT Docomo Inc took the No. 2 slot at 108,200, followed by Emobile at 63,300 and KDDI Corp at 52,900. Wilcom Inc, a provider of personal handyphone system service, lost a net 53,600 contracts. Separately, NTT Docomo said that a glitch in equipment caused communication problems for its FOMA mobile phone services in Tokyo and nine other prefectures, affecting around 8 million users.

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5 Comments

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  biglittleman at 01:19 PM JST - 6th February

  As long as the Iphone is "Mobile King" then Softbank will stay on top. First, companies need to find a good Iphone killer. Unless this happens the other competitors might as well get used to it. Even younger folks are starting to catch on to the Iphone. I bet those companies wish they would bidded harder for the Apple contract.

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  Disillusioned at 04:33 PM JST - 6th February

  That's what you get when you can monopolize new technology that becomes the hottest thing since sliced bread. I bet Docomo and AU are kicking themselves.

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  cnc at 04:40 PM JST - 6th February

  au might be getting the iphone by autumn

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  motogaijin at 06:09 PM JST - 6th February

  au is a CDMA carrier isn't it? The iPhone as it is currently is GSM only, so the only way the phone would work on au is if Apple made a CDMA version of the phone. There's been talk that Verizon here in the US would be getting the phone "any time now", but it too is a CDMA carrier,a nd as of yet, there is no iPhone available for their subscribers.

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  sharky1 at 08:18 AM JST - 7th February

  Good marketing...bad service...

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