iPhone Hits Japan... full Kanji support

[atomiton]

I wonder how this will do in Japan:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/06/6-09-08-iphonejapanese.jpg

Apple Japan (http://www.apple.com/jp)

[Hikoku-Y]

I wonder how this will do in Japan:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/06/6-09-08-iphonejapanese.jpg

Apple Japan (http://www.apple.com/jp)

Probably not so well, because this is a picture of a Chinese iPhone.

[atomiton]

Yes... but it will be launched in Japan... (not China yet though)... and last time I checked Chinese and Japanese share the same kanji (more or less).

[blank slate]

John Appleseed, now THAT is a mighty fine Japanese name. As for the phone, I'm not sure it has enough hello kitty to be a hit there, or enough megapixels in the camera (according to one yahoo! article).

[Black Dog]

I love kanji...I must buy Iphone......I must study kanji on Iphone....Black Dog is drooling now!


Kanji is the sole reason I like the Chinese language! To Hell with speaking, I just want to write !

[JapaneseLever]

Ghaa
I looked on the Japanese iPhone page, but there doesn't seem to be any info about who the provider will be.

Anyone have any information about that?

[EIJI]

SOFTBANK
http://www.outpostnine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=441987&postcount=34

[羽之助]

My Chinese buddy bought a Chinese-language iPhone on the mainland months ago. Old.

Anyway, here's the link to the original Engadget article:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/iphone-2-0-free-in-early-july-for-all-iphone-owners-9-95-for-i/

Steve just ran through a bunch of features of iPhone 2.0, and while we saw most of them back in March, some of them were new, like being able to draw in Chinese characters. There's also new support for iWork documents and better Office doc support, as well as new abilities to save images from email to the photo library, and new contact search functions. There's also finally bulk delete and edit of email / SMS, and the App Store will be making it to 62 countries, up from 22 in March.

Looking through the gallery now live on Apple's site, there are some other changes as well: the Maps app now has a slightly different "peel back" icon, there's a new 3G icon (obviously), and the calendar app has been redesigned, probably to work better with MobileMe.

Firmware 2.0 will hit in July free for iPhone owners (we'd say July 11, when the 3G iPhone launches, is a good bet) and the price has dropped to $9.95 for iPod touch owners -- still high, but better than the $19.95 we heard in March.

So, no mention about Japanese in the original text, just on sinogram support.

[stsparky]

Softbank and Apple to Bring iPhone 3G to Japan on July 11 (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/06/09softbank.html)

TOKYO and SAN FRANCISCO—June 9, 2008—Softbank (SBM) and Apple® today announced that the highly anticipated iPhone™ 3G will be available in Japan on July 11. iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast* as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

“I am delighted at this opportunity to partner with Apple,” said Masayoshi Son, SBM chairman and CEO. “SBM’s and Apple’s shared vision of promoting the innovative integration of the Internet and mobile phone through the distribution of iPhone is exciting. iPhone has been enthusiastically received around the world, and we think it will be popular in Japan as well.”

“Japan is one of the world’s most advanced mobile markets and we are thrilled to partner with SoftBank to launch iPhone 3G there next month, “ said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPhone 3G is an amazing product and we think customers in Japan will love it as much as we do.”

*Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.

The Softbank Group has upheld its corporate policy, “Endeavoring to benefit society and the economy and maximize enterprise value by fostering the sharing of wisdom and knowledge gained through the IT revolution” since the foundation in 1981. Subsequently it was successful in the publishing business and the distribution of packaged software for PCs. In 2001, the Group entered into the broadband business, “Yahoo! BB”, very early and brought dramatic innovation to the Internet environment in Japan, encouraged by overwhelming support from customers. The Group entered into the fixed-line telecommunications business in 2004 and into the mobile communications business as SBM in 2006. Through innovative pricing and attractive product strategies it achieved the No. 1 position in net additions for FY 2007 in the Japanese market (number of subscribers 18,952,800 as of end of May 2008).

As a corporate group based on Internet-related businesses, the Group will not limit itself to its existing role of telecommunications carrier. Rather, by providing both information infrastructure and content as a comprehensive digital information company, the Group aims to make people’s lifestyles and business styles more affluent and enjoyable, and to be the global No. 1 corporate group in the broadband era.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Press Contacts:
Takashi Takebayashi
Apple
takashi.takebayashi@asia.apple.com
+81 3 5334 2431
Corporate Public Relations
Softbank
pr@softbank.co.jp
+81 3 6889 2301
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website, or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh and iPhone are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[laggedreaction]

So, no mention about Japanese in the original text, just on sinogram support.

http://images.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/images/main_sms20080609.jpghttp://images.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/images/supp_sms20080609.jpg

Sure looks like it supports full Japanese input.

http://www.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/sms.html

[羽之助]

I never said it didn't support Japanese, only that the article mentioned nothing except recognition of Chinese characters.

[Vihis]

Give.

The new 3G phone with hackable service provider, so I can switch in my own SIM card and use it where I live.

Also that phone + dictionaries with kanji hand write recognition support sounds like a winner to me.

I wonder how much it will cost in Japan, from a service provider. Most likely will not be obtainable without one.

[stsparky]

Softbank to sell iPhone for Y23,040
Tuesday 24th June, 07:05 AM JST

TOKYO —
Softbank Mobile Corp, Japan’s third-largest mobile phone carrier, said Monday it will sell Apple Inc’s new iPhone handsets for 23,040 yen for an 8-gigabyte model and 34,560 yen for a 16-gigabyte model starting July 11.

The mobile phone unit of Internet conglomerate Softbank Corp said its popular discount ‘‘White Plan,’’ with a basic rate of 980 yen a month, will be available for the multi-feature phone. Apple plans to sell its 8-gigabyte iPhone for $199 in the United States and the 16-gigabyte version for $299. The company says it has sold about 6 million iPhones this year, with a goal of 10 million.

[OaklandZoo]

Softbank to sell iPhone for Y23,040
Tuesday 24th June, 07:05 AM JST

TOKYO —
Softbank Mobile Corp, Japan’s third-largest mobile phone carrier, said Monday it will sell Apple Inc’s new iPhone handsets for 23,040 yen for an 8-gigabyte model and 34,560 yen for a 16-gigabyte model starting July 11.

The mobile phone unit of Internet conglomerate Softbank Corp said its popular discount ‘‘White Plan,’’ with a basic rate of 980 yen a month, will be available for the multi-feature phone. Apple plans to sell its 8-gigabyte iPhone for $199 in the United States and the 16-gigabyte version for $299. The company says it has sold about 6 million iPhones this year, with a goal of 10 million.


You also have to get the 「パケット定額フル」option if you are getting
the iphone, and it is a 6,000 yen/month. Add the monthly payment
for the phone itself, it will cost you almost 8,000 yen/month just to
have this phone. I just can't justify myself to get this thing if it's going
to cost me 96,000 yen a year.

[mikem]

The webpage is up. It doesn't make it seem very exciting though:
http://www.apple.com/jp/iphone/

Mail = Boring: http://www.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/mail.html
SMS = Boring: http://www.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/sms.html
Maps = Cool, but no 3D?: http://www.apple.com/jp/iphone/features/maps.html

The other stuff seems good, but I don't see myself giving up my most used feature for being able to use iTunes and Safari.

(None of this reduces my lust for an iTouch though.)

[Pierrot le Fou]

It will be 7280 yen/month for free calls to other softbank customers from 1am - 9pm, unlimited mail and internet, etc. Not so bad if you use the packets, very bad if you call a lot and won't use the phone for the net. It's a toss up for me. I'd use the net if I had it, but I was hoping to go with a cheapo plan and just use it with wireless instead.

Choices, choices...