Vodafone Japan sells to Softbank for $15 billion
by Ryan Block 
posted Mar 17th 2006 at 9:41AM
Vodafone, enter Japan: check. Stick around a while, not really gaining traction: check. Release a slew of phones
that don't entirely appeal to the Japanese market: check. Pull out for 15
billion: double-check. Looks like they took 15b for a 97.7% stake in the biz from Softbank, who apparently also
operate the infamous ultra high speed Yahoo Japan Internet service. What's Softbank's first order of business having
acquired Voda? Slash prices, man; looks like they want to get down and dirty with KDDI and DoCoMo. Whether they'll
actually be able to pull off a tangle with those two, however, is another question entirely.
Filed under: Vodafone
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vincent @ Mar 17th 2006 10:05AM
Softbank is an interesting turn. Though, I can't see how slashing prices will help Voda...er, softbank compete with Docomo. The latter largely wins on having the best phone selection and widest network, but generally has the most expensive service. Hopefully, Softbank will make improving the reliability (or perceived reliability) of their 3G network, which has probably driven away at least as many customers as any ill conceived Sharp handset.
For foreigners, it will also be interesting to see how the Softbank acquisition changes the level of service. Voda-jp was easily the most foreigner friendly system, with messages and support in both Japanese and English. Some of that is bound to change.
Jamar @ Mar 17th 2006 11:14PM
I most certainly hope that they still release their handsets to the outside world...it would be kind of cruel to give the rest of the world a (cheapish, subsidized, affordable) taste of Japan, and then to take that away. This may be the motive behind the 905SH- to make a decent 3G Japan-only phone to show that 3G isn't only for world travelers.
john b @ Mar 18th 2006 12:04AM
I beg to differ. DoCoMo has excellent customer service for foreigners...I've used Voda briefly and DoCo extensively...DoCo wins hands down IMO...if u call into CS at DoCo u have a choice of many languages also...not just english and Japanese. DoCoMo is deservedly number one in Japan
Even my Japanese friends on Voda always wanted to abandon Voda but were stuck on family plans of sorts...
About price slashing...doubt it will result in much...my perception of the Japanese consumer says that quality is equated to price, and image is equated to price...having spent time at a Japanese university, I can say that, no student want to be seen with an inferior product..if u look at AU and the new WIN services, there is no student discount as there was on the old services...look at how well WIN has done (especially among teens/y. adults)...goes without saying that u rarely see the non WIN AU phones on campus...except for ironically the foreign exchange students trying to save a few yen...
Vodafone has already had good offerings on email packages and discounts but still was unable to turn around its performance...it will be interestin to see what Softbank can do
Jamar @ Mar 18th 2006 7:43AM
But, DoCoMo doesn't have any 3G phones that work outside Japan. I wouldn't mind so much if DoCoMo 3G phones could at least work in other 3G countries (like Hong Kong) but they don't do any such thing, keeping their 3G phones locked to Japan when it would be so much better to allow 3G roaming on the same handsets that people use in Japan.
Chandana De Silva @ Apr 19th 2007 12:59AM
I hava Nokia 6630 vodafone (Japan) I want use this in SRI LANKA. What can i Do? Pl Help me.
Chandana De Silva @ Apr 19th 2007 1:05AM
I have nokia 6630 vodafone from Japan. I am Now In SRI LANKA. How can i use In Sri Lanka this phone. How can active the phone for Asian Countries. Pl help me
Chandana De Silva @ Apr 19th 2007 1:07AM
I have nikia 6630 vodafone. I am In SRI LANKA now. How can i catice this phone to Asian Countries. Pl help me.