DailyTech - Softbank Lands Its First Corporate 3G iPhone Customer in Japan

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Gadgets Softbank Lands Its First Corporate 3G iPhone Customer in Japan
Stephen Kamizuru (Blog) - October 7, 2008 7:56 AM

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7 comment(s) - last by Oralen.. on Oct 7 at 2:21 PM

BearingPoint will provide 1,000 3G iPhones to its workers in Japan

Japanese news site Nikkei Net reports Softbank Mobile recently signed its first corporate customer for the 3G iPhone in Japan. The Japanese unit of consultancy firm BearingPoint agreed to purchase 1,000 3G iPhones to be used amongst 1,200 consultants at client offices.

According to a PC World article, BearingPoint said it chose the 3G iPhone with the goal of improving the productivity of its consultants by helping them access information more easily. Currently, its consultants carry both a cellular telephone and a data modem card for a PC. BearingPoint’s decision is noteworthy as it is the first instance of a large scale adoption of the 3G iPhone with the goal of improving worker productivity in Japan.

Softbank may be attempting to expand the initial target market of the 3G iPhone in Japan as interest in the phone begins to wane over time. According to the Nikkei Net article, Softbank is attempting to entice companies by offering free three-month rentals of the 3G iPhone.

The 3G iPhone has become one competitor in what is becoming an increasingly crowded Smartphone market in Japan. Softbank Mobile competitor NTT Docomo recently announced a Blackberry Smartphone for the Japanese market according to the Mainichi Daily News. It remains to be seen how successful the 3G iPhone will be as business productivity tool in Japan.

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Softbank?

By 16nm on 10/7/2008 8:22:26 AM , Rating: 2

Does Softbank only operate in Japan? Since that is not explained, I believe what you are trying to express is that Softbank lands its first japanese customer for the iPhone, not its first iphone customer in japan. Have I understood or is the story that Softbank is just beginning to operate out of Japan and has landed its first large iPhone contract there?

quote:
Softbank Lands Its First Corporate 3G iPhone Customer in Japan

RE: Softbank?

By NarcoticHobo on 10/7/2008 9:40:45 AM , Rating: 2

Softbank is one of the leading service providers in Japan, and as far as I know they only operate in Japan.

The story is more about the iPhone than Softbank, since the iPhone has been pretty unpopular in Japan it is surprising to see a corporate pick up.

Parent

RE: Softbank?

By Flunk on 10/7/2008 10:44:40 AM , Rating: 3

The iPhone is not exactly popular in corporate environments anywhere so I guess this is probably a big thing for Apple. Still doesn't really qualify as newsworthy.

Parent

That title should be :

By Oralen on 10/7/2008 2:18:41 PM , Rating: 2

"Softbank gets massive free advertisement worldwide, just for buying 1000 phones."

Those guys are smart, you have to give them that.
The PR guy who thought this one up is a genius.

Step one : They needed equipment.

Step two : Because it's nice for Apple to get some corporate account, since Blackberry is the first choice for the enterprise market, they probably got a very sweet discount from Apple.

Step three : Call the press !

Nice.