Last Friday, July 11th, Apple released their latest iPhone 3G in some 21 countries. The launch in Japan was heralded with a massive launch throughout Japan - with the biggest premier at the Softbank Mobile Corp store on Ometesando dori. Softbank is the official licensed seller of iPhones in Japan, just like AT&T is the officials licensed seller in the USA.
The store on Omotesando dori (表参道通り) opened early at 7AM, some 5 hours earlier than any other store in Japan amid fanfare, press, and a line of 1,500 people waiting in line that stretched 1km (some people waiting in line for more than 4 days) for a chance to be the first to see/purchase this new smart phone.
The iPhone has the same touch screen, internet browser, texting, camera and music features; however, the new 3G phone has a higher speed and larger data handling capacity. The GPS feature with maps including addresses in Japanese are incredible.
The price of the phone ranged from JPY23,040 (8 gigabyte memory) to JPY34,560 (16 gigabyte memory). Subscribers must also pay at least JPY7,290 a month as a subscription fee.
Even at these prices supplies sold out in a record time. This sign was posted at a Yodobashi Store front door in Ueno later that day.
All the best.....Mark
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