SoftBank 16GB iPad 3G + WiFi Subsidy: Free. #ipad #softbank

Japanese cellular provider Softbank is joining Three UK and Orange UK in offering customers subsidized iPads in return for signing a multi-month contract. Softbank’s most enticing proposal offers customers a free 16GB 3G + WiFI iPad in return for signing up for a 25-month 24-month contract costing ¥4725 ($56 USD or £36) per month.

Cheaper discount pricing (especially free) is something we normally don’t see on Apple products. When it does happen, it is almost always the third party eating the cost. With that said, Moco News speculates that the subsidized iPads could be an attempt by Apple to get more iPads into the market in a timely fashion in an attempt to attract more iAd publishers — iAd in particular will be launching in Japan in early 2011. It’s certainly plausible. Though as already mentioned, the discounted cost it more likely a decision by Softbank to simply tie people into a 25-month contract in which they’ll make up the iPad’s subsidized price and then some.

Even then, Japanese users on the fence regarding purchasing an iPad due to high pricing now have a chance to take another look.

SoftBank and Sharp going Android in 2010

For once in my short lifetime I can finally say we here in the U.S. have a cool mobile technology before our tech god cousins in Japan. That gift is Android. The Android scene in Japan has been pretty much non-existent with NTT DoCoMo’s plans to actually release an Android device(s) remaining fairly stagnant. Heck, it’s been a good year since DoCoMo first announced they were going to release Android handsets. Their stalling is another carriers talking point as SoftBank has announced that they plan on releasing an Android powered device next year. Sharp meanwhile also announced Japanese bound Android support though their “device” included an “s” so perhaps NTT DoCoMo is finally getting that ball rolling.

Some may discount the fact that Sharp is but one player in the hardware market in a country that is chock full of mobile devices. Wile true, Sharp just so happens to be the largest mobile hardware manufacturer in the land of the rising sun. That fact alone means any decisions or technologies they choose to introduce will actually reach quite a few people.

Since Japan does enjoy several mobile technologies that many other earthlings can only dream of, Android does have to be tweaked as it’s been stated that the OS will support custom Japanese technologies such as seg-1 (mobile tv standard) as an example. Given the added develops being added to the Japanese flavor of Android, a delay on DoCoMo’s part doesn’t seem as far fetched. Still, a year without any major advancements is a long time.

Any Japanese readers eagerly anticipating Android’s touchdown?

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