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Softbank Releasing PocketWifi in Japan

Mar 18, ’10 7:20 PM
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After what seems like an eternity, Softbank returns to mobile data with the C01HW PocketWifi portable internet router.

Yeah, looks kind of familiar doesn’t it?  It is in fact basically the same as the Huawei D25HW released several months ago by EMobile.

I’m quite happy to see a new offering from Softbank in the data only range, particularly as this may give hints to pricing plans of other data only devices *cough* *iPad* *cough*

Pricing also looks attractive with a minimum monthly charge of 1,000 yen and a maximum of 4,980 yen.  EMobile’s current unlimited data plan tops out at a maximum charge of 5,380 yen.

No info yet on actual device pricing, but I can hope that it is cheaper than EMobile’s extremely high price (The same device is available in Europe for about half the cost).  The C01HW Pocket Wifi will be available in late March.

Press Release: http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2010/20100318_01/

  • Jonathan Feltham

    Nice.. want one :-P

  • TokyoJerry

    Hi Steve. This offering from Softbank for datas only is interesting news. I wonder if we will be able to go through this device to use the iPhone and the new iPad (which I don’t even own yet) simultaneously. I reckon so. I do hope the price is considerably cheaper then the highway robbery prices that Emobile charges for their device.

    Withf all this technological innovation, I am speculating the the iPad can might even be a substitute for internet access and data needs overall and eliminate the need for the iPhone altogether. In such a case, just get a very basic, cheap, if not free, keitai for fundamental voice communications?! :-) There is also Skype for the iPhone. Pull it over to the iPad! :-)

    I heard a subtle rumor that DoCoMo might be a player for 3G services with the iPad, and there will be a contract, and contract-less plan as well. Pay as you go, by the month. If so, oh so welcome! Really irritated by these 2 year contracts + 2 months on top of that, malarky.

    Perhaps a bit more long term and lingering in the background now is the emerginc WiMax as well. Much higher speed and cheaper. ( http://www.diswimax.jp ) It will be interesting how much penetration this begins to make in the Japanese communications market. Emobile’s 7.2Mbps versus 40Mbps? Cheaper? :-) )