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Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank Are Wrong: The iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan

May 18, ’10 6:17 PM
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SIM Locked or Not SIM Locked, that is the iPad 3G question in Japan.

In order to get our facts in order, I’m going to recap what we’ve learned so far.

May 8: Softbank keeps iPad SIM Locked

As pre-orders are about to start in Japan, rumors that Softbank was able to keep the device SIM locked in Japan are turning out to be true.

IT media reporting on Softbank press announcement:

ところが、5月8日にソフトバンクモバイルが公表したiPad販売に関する情報では、日本国内のソフトバンクショップやソフトバンクケータイ取扱店で販売されるiPadのWi-Fi＋3G版は、ソフトバンクモバイルの3Gネットワークでしか使えないように、SIMロックがかかっているというアナウンスがあった。

translating into

According to information released by Softbank on May 8, iPad wi-fi+3G models sold from Softbank shops will be SIM locked so that they can only connect to Softbank Mobile’s network.

The wording used by Softbank to the media outlets is quite clear: SIMロック

It only mentions iPad sold from Softbank shops since the Apple Store only sells the Wi-Fi versions.

May 10: DoCoMo abandons plans to sell iPad microSIMs

Since Softbank’s relation with DoCoMo suddenly became even more exclusive, DoCoMo announces it backs out from its plans to sell iPad microSIMs.

May 12: iPad in Japan Not Really SIM Locked

Thanks to a Mobile in Japan community member, we are able to report that Steve Jobs contradicts Softbank:

Actually, the version of iPad sold in Japan does accept international SIMs.

May 12: Apple changes its official iPad FAQ, adds to confusion

The official iPad FAQ is changed on that same day (the 3rd edit since it got online) and adds to the confusion, due to what can be described as clever wording. Indeed,

you cannot use a microSIM purchased overseas for an iPad in Japan

can be read in multiple ways.

Our commenters seem to be agree that it means that while abroad, one is free to switch microSIM, the iPad is tied to Softbank microSIM in Japan.

May 15: Steve Jobs says both Apple and Softbank websites are wrong

Kernel Panic gets another clarification from Steve Jobs

Our website and Softbank are wrong, and we are getting them the correct information ASAP. The website should be fixed soon. Sorry for the confusion.

Steve Jobs is basically saying that Softbank employees, mentioned in Gabe Glick‘s original email, should not have been saying the iPad 3G was locked nor that it wouldn’t work with any other microSIM than Softbank’s.

May 15: Wall Street Journal Confirms iPads only work with Softbank in Japan

Thanks to Yukari Iwatani Kane reaching out to Apple for the WSJ, it seems now a certainty that iPads can only be used with Softbank in Japan:

Japanese 3G iPads will only work with Softbank’s 3G service in Japan. But outside of Japan, those iPads are unlocked, so they can be used with SIMs for local carriers in their respective markets. Whether 3G iPads purchased outside of Japan will work in Japan will depend on the roaming agreement that the users’s home carrier has established in the country

May 16: Steve Jobs confirms the Japanese iPad works with international microSIMs

On the following day, Ed Andersen gets the same confirmation from Steve Jobs himself:

It is locked to Softbank in Japan, but you can use any international microSIM.

Only to learn, one email later, that there must be some software SIM lock.

Thanks for the reply. So Japanese 3G iPads are not SIM-locked at all, you are just forced to take out a Softbank contract. Is this correct?

No, not exactly.

May 17: Softbank’s CEO responds

Friend Hideki Francis Onda adds a nail into the coffin with a brilliant post summarizing the iPad in Japan situation.

Son Masayoshi, the operator CEO candidly admits the iPad exclusivity is due to the relative lack of robustness of his network compared to DoCoMo

We are at a disadvantage compared with NTT. We will lose massive customers if we did not lock the Japanese iPads to our network

Interestingly, he adds that he would consider unlocking the device if Softbank can get the 800MHz spectrum.

Softbank has a long history fighting for this band that the government doesn’t want to license again until 2015, but already used by DoCoMo and au/KDDI.

May 18: Apple updates the iPad FAQ for the umpteenth time

The new FAQ wording makes it clearer. In Japan, Softbank only!

3Gデータプランについてよくあるご質問
iPad Wi-Fi + 3GモデルはソフトバンクのSIMカードのみに対応していますか？

日本で発売されるiPad Wi-Fi + 3Gモデルは、日本で使用する場合、iPad向け3Gデータプランを提供しているソフトバンクのmicro-SIMカードのみに対応します。海外で使用する際は、その国で発売されているmicro-SIMカードもご利用になれます。
その他の通信事業者のmicro-SIMカードを使って、日本で発売されるiPad Wi-Fi + 3Gモデルを海外で利用できますか？

日本で発売されるiPad Wi-Fi + 3Gモデルは、日本国内ではソフトバンクの3Gデータサービスのみに対応します。その他の国内通信事業者のmicro-SIMカードには対応しません。海外では、その国の通信事業者が提供しているmicro-SIMカードとデータプランを利用して、日本で発売されるiPad Wi-Fi + 3Gモデルを使用することができます。
micro-SIMカードはどこで手に入れられますか？

直営店のApple Store、またはiPad正規販売店でiPad Wi-Fi + 3Gモデルと一緒にmicro-SIMカードを購入できます。（日本国外で購入したiPad用に、micro-SIMカードを購入することはできません。）

So, what do we know so far?

Any iPad 3G sold in Japan will be tied exclusively to Softbank while in Japan.

Any iPad 3G sold in Japan will have the ability to switch microSIM while outside of Japan (or to roam using Softbank microSIM).

Any iPad 3G bought outside of Japan won’t accept any Japanese microSIM, since Softbank is the sole microSIM vendor (at this point) and won’t sell the SIM & plans without an iPad.

It is unclear how Softbank is SIM locking iPads sold in Japan. A software lock is possible but not confirmed, but Steve Jobs remarks seems to indicate that there is more than a simple country contract exclusivity.

So, yeah, Steve Jobs was right all along: both Softbank’s iPad announcement (and customer relations) and Apple’s website (until today’s modification) were wrong. And misleading I should add.

Follow our complete iPad landing in Japan coverage

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/13/steve-jobs-says-ipad-in-japan-not-really-sim-locked/ Steve Jobs Says iPad in Japan Not Really SIM Locked « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/10/pre-orders-start-for-ipad/ Pre-Orders Start for iPad in Japan: What Do You Need to Know « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/08/softbank-reveals-ipad-and-3g-data-pricing-for-japan/ Softbank Reveals iPad and 3G Data Pricing for Japan « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/07/date-is-set-ipad-arrives-in-japan-on-may-28/ Date is set! iPad arrives in Japan on May 28 « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/03/want-to-share-ipad-japan-stories/ Want to Share your iPad in Japan Stories? « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/04/15/no-ipads-for-japan-till-end-of-may/ No iPads For Japan Till End of May « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/02/previewreview-of-the-apple-ipad/ Preview/Review of the Apple iPad « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/04/28/docomo-to-sell-ipad-sim-cards-in-japan/ DoCoMo To Sell iPad SIM Cards in Japan « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/01/28/ipad-in-japan/ iPad in Japan: First Impressions of the New Addition « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • edandersen

    Apple Japan lied, Softbank lied. Good eh? Have a feeling that the 800Mhz band might just be disabled when using a Japanese microSIM.

  • Paul Papadimitriou

    The 800Mhz band disabling is an interesting theory.

  • Naoyuki Maruya

    I don’t think any Apple product (iPhone 3G, 3GS) supports the 800 Mhz band for UMTS. The iPad 3G model won’t either. DoCoMo also operates on the 2100 Mhz band, which the iPad supports.

  • Naoyuki Maruya

    My wild guess is that Apple might not have entries for DoCoMo’s APN information in the iPad. So if DoCoMo eventually does release a MicroSIM card, and someone puts it into the iPad, the iPad wouldn’t know how to access the network, since it has not APN information.

    Its probably fixable via a jailbreak and some creative plist editing.

  • SBS

    iPad supports 850 for UTMS

    http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

  • SBS

    Like Onada mentions, Apple’s selection of not the largest carriers in Japan and China is very interesting. I’ve been wondering a lot lately exactly what softbank is giving apple in return for exclusivity. A chunk of the revenue from data plans? Not a whole lot there since it is deeply discounted relative to both the iPhone and X series flat rate plans.

    Perhaps softbank is kicking money to Apple with the activation of the 2-year contract flat rate plan? That could explain the reason for the contract requirement. What is the early termination fee, about ¥9000 (just guessing)?

  • Naoyuki Maruya

    Yes, it does support the 850 Mhz band, which AT&T uses, but that still does not make a difference for anyone living outside of North America.

  • SBS

    Why would it be that it doesn’t matter for users outside of the US? Maybe I misunderstood your original statement saying the iPad does not support 850. It does and AT&T is not the only carrier to use it. For example, right here in Japan Docomo uses 850.

    Unfortunately that is of no consequence since, for the time being, you won’t be able to use the iPad with Docomo. Is that what you meant to say?

  • Naoyuki Maruya

    No, I never said that the iPad doesn’t support the 850 Mhz band. It doesn’t support 800 Mhz. I think your getting GSM and UTMS confused. The iPad is Quad band GSM, which means it supports the 800, 850, 1800 and 1900 Mhz bands. Japan does not use GSM. UTMS is 3G, and both Docomo and Softbank uses the internationally supported 2100 Mhz band. Docomo also uses the 800 Mhz band, which is not standard else where.

    The iPad, supports the international 2100 Mhz band, and also the AT&T 3G bands, which is 1900 and 850. The iPad does not support the 800 band, which Docomo uses.

    The 800 and 850 Mhz bands are two different things.

  • SBS

    My fault, I thought docomo used 850, not 800. but I was wrong.
    http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOMAプラスエリア

    Anyway, tech specs for iPad say:
    UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
    GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

    So, yeah, the 3G 850 is not useful in Japan.

  • Naoyuki Maruya

    Not a problem…

    This might be a little off topic, but Docomo has a stronger 2100 Mhz network anyways, so the Softbank CEO’s argument is pretty pointless…

    I carry a iPhone 3GS on Softbank, and a Blackberry Bold on Docomo, both devices are 2100 Mhz only devices. More times than not the Blackberry had full bars, and the iPhone was searching for a signal. Worse experience I had was when I was at Hakone, at Owakudani. DoCoMo and AU had full receptions, and Softbank had none.

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/05/10/apple-and-softbank-keep-ipad-sim-locked-in-japan/ Apple and Softbank keep iPad SIM locked in Japan « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Steve Jobs Says Apple and Softbank are Wrong: the iPad SIM Lock Situation in Japan [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/08/05/1-in-4-docomo-japan-subscribers-wants-the-iphone/ 1 In 4 DoCoMo Japan Subscribers Wants The iPhone « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Now, the study gets more interesting since it asked what people would do when the SIM unlock guidelines become reality. Will they switch? The status quo is favored by 30% of those interviewed. Loyalty is a big thing in Japan. Inertia is big worldwide. Remarkably though, the wish of 20% of customers surveyed is to be able to keep their current carrier with the iPhone. That answer, in second place, shows the big draw Apple’s phone gets in Japan. And why Masayoshi, Softbank CEO, is willing to fight to keep it exclusive -going as far as locking its cousin, the iPad. [...]

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/08/06/b-mobile-releases-micro-sim-for-unlocked-iphone-and-ipad-in-japan/ B-Mobile Releases MicroSIM for Unlocked iPhone and iPad in Japan « Mobile in Japan

    [...] Mmh. Interesting. The problem is that in Japan, both the iPhone and the iPad are locked with [...]

  • Kansai Greenie

    I took my iPad purchased from Softbank to the States and got it to work with an AT&T SIM card. You can read about it on my blog at: http://kansaigreenie.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/a-tale-of-two-sim-cards-and-one-ipad/

  • Noah SILVA

    Actually, the description “Any iPad 3G sold in Japan will be tied exclusively to Softbank while in Japan.” is still not quite correct.  The location of the device isn’t what’s important.  You can’t use Docomo, eMobile, or other Japanese SIM cards, even outside of Japan.  You can use non-Japanese SIM cards (like AT&T) even in Japan.

    Basically, if the SIM card is detected as a Japanese SIM card, then it has to be Softbank, regardless of where you are.