I think SoftBank is deliberately withholding supply to create more demand and media attention.

I will try going to Harajuku later today (Monday)… wish me luck.

Is not only Softbank’s problem in Japan, the demand in all the world has been huge and the “iPhone sold out” sign is everywhere.

I think is much more global problem than Softbank and Japan.

They all sold out in one day. It’s hard to call that not a success. Apple won’t say how many there were nor how many it aims to sell in Japan. In other words, this is a long-term thing. Success of the iPhone won’t be determined in a day, a weekend, or even the first month. It will be determined by long-term performance and market share over years.,

Here’s some information on Softbank iPhone contract requirements:

Japanese Citizen/Foreign Resident with >27 months remaining on Visa:

2 year contract req. 8GB phone was 2,200 yen/month, plus white plan, unlimited data, and their email thing for a total of about 10,000 yen per month for 2 years. Payment must be made via auto bank withdrawal or Japan-based credit card. Pmt at conven. store is not allowed for iPhone. No money required up front as price of phone is spread over the 2-years. Softbank was also selling AppleCare for 7,800 yen but it didn’t cover drops, loss, or water damage (and SoftBank didn’t offer any additional insurance on their end).

Hope this helps,
Mike

Repost…..

Foreign resident with more than 27 months remaining on Visa:

Must pay for the phone up front as if no contract exists. Price for the 16GB model was about 80,000 yen and 8GB was about 70,000. If your Visa is close to 27 month mark they might be a little flexible, maybe a 1-year contract instead of 2 to reduce the price of the phone.

If you are a foreign resident, make sure you bring your passport w/visa, gaijin card, and bank book or cash card or else you’ll be out of luck.

Re the iPhone, seems to be a lot of mumbo jumbo about contracts and prices.First the price has been set by the agreement between Apple and Softbank at 8G 24000 yen and some change and the 16G at 34000 yen and some change.Typically Softbank like many other big companies here in Japan are not satisfied with only getting that much money for the item so they have devised a complicated BS type of formula to double their income from the sale of iPhones to have an end price of about 87000 yen plus the extra 5000 yen added to your contract if you are an existing customer to cover the new 3G service.(just another loophole to squeeze more cash from the buyer.) Once the shop assistant at Softbank stores do some creative accounting with the figures the actual retail price for the 16G model becomes 34000 yen and change–as it was in the first place, but Softbank are such nice people they are giving you this massive discount—-yeh right!

Overall the sign up process was pathetic,the staff did not seem to know a damn thing, constantly referring to a pile of paperwork on how to and what to do next etc.,Being a foriegner did not seem to be an issue, drivers license only credit card for monthly payments, that is fairly common here for most transactions of this kind.Having done some web research on Softbank’s prices and tech specs, I did have the feeling that most customers probably know more about the phones than Softbank staff.The phone itself I am still assessing as of yesterday 7/20 so far seems very user friendly and of course it is all in English …that is why I wanted it and downloading apps is English.

Mikeal, thanks for your indepth post. I was glad to have my own findings confirmed. 80,000 yen is a MASSIVE amount to pay especially when in America and Europe it’s half the price. I’ve got a year long visa, anyone know of a way to get hold of a phone with paying this upfront?

ARGGHH fu*king softbank!!