Softbank pulls a DoCoMo, launches 12 phones

Adding a confusing, seemingly endless array of new handsets in one fell swoop is a tactic we normally reserve for NTT DoCoMo (and more recently, KDDI), but far be it from Vodafone Japan-turned-Softbank Mobile to get left out of the fray, launching 12 phones -- plus a data card -- for October delivery. Notable in the bunch are the X01HT (essentially a Hermes tweaked for the Japanese market, a la the Z) and the 705NK, a rebranded Nokia N73. If we get even one third the love spread out over an entire quarter on a US carrier, we're elated -- we obviously live in the wrong country.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2008 10:49PM]

How to unlock 811SH sharp???

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2006 11:41AM]

Let's discuss better N95!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2006 11:58AM]

we live in wrong time :)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2006 9:01PM]

man I miss Japan...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 1st 2006 5:20PM]

There are two more 3G Windows Mobile phones than just Hermes. 705SC and 706SC.

[shinbunboi Posted Sep 29th 2006 3:58PM]

hahahah pulls a DoCoMo!!!!!! I love this site, just gets better e'day:)
Good work guys!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2006 11:23PM]

Softbank's press release doesn't mention the OS of the Samsung phones, unlike the Hermes, so I don't believe that they are actually Win-Mo devices. They do have integrated readers for MS Office documents, and at least the 705SK can do some translation from English, Hangul, and Chinese (doesn't specify simple or traditional).

Anyway, don't get me wrong, Softbank's new lineup has a lot of nice phones, but I can't say if it's enough to woo people to the brand. Vodafone acquired the reputation of having spotty 3G coverage, and lost a lot of customers in the process. The three ex-vodafonies that I've talked to about their new lineup all said that the phones look nice, but that they'd need some assurances about network improvements before joining Softbank. If that sentiment is at all representative, Softbank may have to still work hard to attract new customers and pay off their massive debt.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 2nd 2006 11:36AM]

I just saw the page of HTC TyTN:

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/3g/x01ht/index.html

And it says that this mobile is not compatible with MMS!! Why? Is a problem of the Phone, of SoftBank, or what!!