TOKYO —
Softbank Mobile Corp said Saturday it will start selling Apple Inc’s iPad tablet computer in Japan on May 28 under a partnership with the U.S. firm. A basic model with Wi-Fi wireless Internet access is priced at 48,960 yen and a model which can use both Wi-Fi and 3G mobile network service costs 58,320 yen. A monthly network usage fee of 3,225 yen is necessary for the 3G model under a two-year contract.
Softbank Mobile, a mobile phone service unit of Softbank Corp, will begin taking iPad orders from Monday through some of its own outlets and consumer electronics retailers. The tablet computer will also be available at Apple’s retail outlets in Japan.
Softbank Mobile’s announcement came after Apple said Friday that the iPad will be available in Japan and eight other nations including Australia, Germany and Italy on May 28.
The U.S. firm said it has sold over 1 million iPad units in the United States since its debut in April.
NTT Docomo Inc, Japan’s top mobile phone service provider, said in late April that it was considering selling SIM cards, or subscriber identity module cards, for the iPad.
Apple, however, chose Softbank Mobile over Docomo as a partner for the launch of the iPad in Japan as it has been serving as the exclusive provider of Apple’s iPhone in Japan, observers said.
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