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Softbank to offer subsidized iPad to Japanese market in exchange for two year contract

Japanese carrier Softbank has announced that the company will begin offering the 16GB iPad 3G for free when customers sign up for a 25 month, US$56 a month contract, a new report claims.

Per mocoNews, Softbank’s subsidy would contain no hidden costs that spread the cost of the iPad over the term of the contract. The customer will need only sign a 2 year contract for US$56 a month in order to receive a free 16GB iPad 3G, mocoNews reports.

As the sole distributor of the iPhone in Japan, Softbank has enjoyed the tremendous success of the device. In April, Tokyo’s MM Research Institute Ltd. issued a report revealing that Apple captured a massive 72% of the Japanese smartphone market for the fiscal year ending March 31.

Japan recently saw the launch of the new cloud-centric Apple TV and the iTunes Movie Store. Major international and top Japanese studios, such as Asmik Ace Entertainment Inc., Fuji TV, Kadakowa Pictures, Nikkatsu, Shochiku Company Limited and Toei Company Limited, are offering their movies on iTunes.

Apple appears to be allowing heavy iPad subsidies in regions where its iAd program is preparing to launch. The company announced earlier this month that it will expand iAds into Japan early next year with the help of Japanese advertising partner Dentsu.

iAd will also launch in Europe in December. The launch has attracted the attention of European and global brands alike, including L’Oréal, Renault, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Citi, Evian, LG Display, AB InBev, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio.

Shortly after Apple’s announcement that it will bring iAd to Europe, Orange UK revealed its plan to sell the iPad 3G at a discounted price with a 3G data plan.

One reply on “Softbank to offer subsidized iPad to Japanese market in exchange for two year contract”

Excellent news– Softbank is working hard to stay ahead of the competition, which consists primarily of Android-based phones and soon tablets as well. (Softbank even has some Android devices in their lineup –hedging their bets carefully.) Competing carriers AU and Docomo have been blanketing ad space recently with Android-related campaigns.

The bottom line: more iDevice users means more potential converts to the Mac platform. Softbank is doing a lot to help Apple in the Japanese market.

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