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KDDI and Apple Confirm the iPhone 4S for October

Oct 5, ’11 3:45 AM
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au/KDDI, Japan’s second biggest cell phone carrier, has just confirmed it will carry the iPhone 4S. I predicted that right.

It will go ahead with the sale of this new handset irrespective if its mobile email service —a key element for Japanese users— is made compatible in time.

KDDI had 2012 in mind

Earlier plans had KDDI releasing the iPhone in January 2012, in order to upgrade its EZweb email conduit first. It seems however that the possibility of reaping nice profits at the launch of the new iPhone 4S in two weeks made the company change its mind.

Yes, you read that right, iPhone 4S could be sold from au/KDDI this month already.

The official release date for the iPhone 4S in Japan is October 14.

Apple makes it official

Apple Japan has updated its “where I can buy” page with the new au/KDDI option (and it seems the website is getting hammered by requests already, showing amazing interest: it’s 4am in Tokyo now)

The iPhone hasn’t appeared on au/KDDI’s website yet, either because it’s very late in the night or for a specific date hasn’t been set by KDDI yet.

SoftBank is feeling the heat. It’s releasing no less than 11 Android-powered handset for its fall collection. The iPhone 4S will arrive in SoftBank’s store on October 14 for sure.

UPDATE, October 5 2011, 6.45pm JST: au/KDDI’s website was briefly updated with the iPhone 4S before removal, confirming the impending launch. However, the mobile site still features the handset, with a direct link to Apple Japan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits: iSummit Ustream channel, Nikkei

  • Giest

    a few important questions:

    1. Is it carrier unlocked?
    2. Can you take a SIM from your prior 3GS or 4 (with softbank) and just plug it into the new one without changing Softbank’s plan without getting some reprisal from Softbank? (and don’t think Softbank isn’t willing to do it.)

  • Anti_kimchi

    Are you joking? Living in japan is like living on Mars. Carrier unlocked? NEVER in a million light years. japan never gives anything away for free … might as well be china.
    You know the term “two for one”? in jap_land it’s double for one. You pay double…

  • http://twitter.com/switchstyle shu

    Whoa, no jp mobile email compatibility? I foresee lots of angry customers…

  • Giest

    Yeah, do you have any real info or just beliefs? Docomo and AU ALREADY carrier unlock a number of their phones. Softbank is the only one carrier against the idea. 
    You have no info, just assumptions. I’ve been here 13 years. I know it’s unfair but you’re forgetting Apple PREFERS to sell unlocked when they’re out of an exclusive contract with a single provider. So there’s a 50/50 chance.

  • http://paulpapadimitriou.com Paul Papadimitriou

    DoCoMo has pledged to unlock all its phones last year. KDDI does it on some phone, but I don’t know what decision has been taken for the iPhone. Interestingly, since the new phone is multi-standard, some say that the phone could only be locked for one standard at a time —I don’t believe in that assumption though.

    My theory is that Apple actually wanted to do a SIM-less phone. The main reason the 4S was only released this October instead of last June is that the first versions were without a SIM slot. But the carriers proved too strong for Apple and it had to re-engineer the design, hence the 3 months delay.

  • http://paulpapadimitriou.com Paul Papadimitriou

    DoCoMo has pledged to unlock all its phones last year. KDDI does it on some phone, but I don’t know what decision has been taken for the iPhone. Interestingly, since the new phone is multi-standard, some say that the phone could only be locked for one standard at a time —I don’t believe in that assumption though.

    My theory is that Apple actually wanted to do a SIM-less phone. The main reason the 4S was only released this October instead of last June is that the first versions were without a SIM slot. But the carriers proved too strong for Apple and it had to re-engineer the design, hence the 3 months delay.

  • http://paulpapadimitriou.com Paul Papadimitriou

    I guess we will learn on October 14 with the first reports.

    I wouldn’t be so sure about the second assumption. SoftBank is known to run IMEI checks to be certain that the phone it gives unlimited data (and the discount price in the plan) is actually one it sold.

  • http://paulpapadimitriou.com Paul Papadimitriou

    I guess we will learn on October 14 with the first reports.

    I wouldn’t be so sure about the second assumption. SoftBank is known to run IMEI checks to be certain that the phone it gives unlimited data (and the discount price in the plan) is actually one it sold.

  • Anti_Kimchi

    Twenty Seven years in japan starting in 1980. Got my first mobile in 1997.  Permanent residency and a japanese government job. Very few have had the bad experiences I have had. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use any carrier we wanted, but then japan would lose its control over us. How do you like being taxed to use an ATM Machine? PATHETIC! 

    Its just my belief. Just my assumption. 

    It’s illegal to jailbreak your iPhone in japan. Of course it is. It’s okay to piss in the street though. Whatever.

    Who carries SIM cards on a prepaid basis?

    Thnx

  • Anti_Kimchi

    Twenty Seven years in japan starting in 1980. Got my first mobile in 1997.  Permanent residency and a japanese government job. Very few have had the bad experiences I have had. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use any carrier we wanted, but then japan would lose its control over us. How do you like being taxed to use an ATM Machine? PATHETIC! 

    Its just my belief. Just my assumption. 

    It’s illegal to jailbreak your iPhone in japan. Of course it is. It’s okay to piss in the street though. Whatever.

    Who carries SIM cards on a prepaid basis?

    Thnx

  • Im stan

    Are the iphone4s from japan unlocked? Can i use it in the philippines?

  • Cunananjenica1980

    i got my iphone 4s plan in au bank in japan,, can i use it in the Philippines? is it open line? pls reply,, i just need to know, tanx

  • Raman singh

    is possible to unlock iphone 4s with au by kddi network?????

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1460377526 Arjhay Villagracia

    I have iPhone 4s from Japan but im just wondering if can activate in the philippines..?

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jhong-Jhong-Baculna-Pales/100001344040197 Jhong Jhong Baculna Pales

    Me too i want to use it in the philipines, can you help me???