Get an iPhone 3G for free — in Japan

Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:00PM EST

See Comments (464)

Is Japanese wireless carrier SoftBank making way for a new version of the iPhone, or are sales just sluggish? Who can say, but from Friday through the end of May, you can sign up for an 8GB iPhone 3G in Japan for a grand total of zero.

AppleInsider and CrunchGear report that starting Friday, SoftBank's new "iPhone for Everybody" campaign (translated page is here) will offer the 8GB iPhone for free, so long as you sign up for a new two-year contract. The promotion apparently runs through May 31.

Meanwhile, SoftBank will sell the 16GB iPhone for a steeply discounted price—just 11,520 yen (about US$119), and you can even pay for the handset in monthly installments, which come out to less than $5 a month during the two-year service agreement.

SoftBank subscribers will still have to pay monthly voice and data charges, of course, although as AppleInsider notes, the carrier is chopping its standard data plan (about US$62 a month) by more than 25 percent.

Here in the U.S., of course, the iPhone 3G is still $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB model—although if you're a Reward Zone member at Best Buy, you can snap up an 8GB iPhone 3G for $99 (through February 28 only).

So, what's the deal? Hard to say; as CrunchGear points out, Apple has yet to release iPhone sales figures for Japan, while Ars Technica speculates that SoftBank might be struggling to fulfill its promised sales goals for Apple given the worldwide economic crisis.

For its part, AppleInsider thinks the promotion could simply be a way for SoftBank to clear out its inventory in advance of a new iPhone, which may well arrive this summer. That said, AT&T has yet to offer any promotional deals, which suggests that it isn't having any trouble moving its iPhone stock.

In any case, if you've been pining for a new iPhone and you happen to live in Japan, looks like Friday is your lucky day.

Related:
SoftBank now giving away iPhones in Japan [AppleInsider]

Comments on Get an iPhone 3G for free — in Japan

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  • 66 Posted by nleeds01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    How funny. I always say that finding a $239 16GB 3G Iphone is like finding a 10 cent parking meter in Manhattan because for all intensive purposes NO ONE have them in stock for this price. So this is probably one of the most useless pieces of info out there anyway. the apple trend w**res and sheeple who live in Manhattan will continue to spend $600 - $900 for a 'like new' Iphone off of craigslist

  • 68 Posted by julclarkcardenas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    iphone 3g is the best cellphone out in the market now..it has a great features that you will really enjoy and fun to use...i wish i can have my own i phone 3g as a gift.. thats my dream and wish to have my own iphone.....thanks for those who have a kind heart that will grant my wish....

  • 69 Posted by scwaring on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    LOL my Transend USB is 64GB, and its under 1 inch x 2.5 inches, so why are iphones still 16 GB MAX ??? WHO IS BOGARTING THE TECHNOLOGY?

  • 70 Posted by flipper12368 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    here in the us is the iphone really worth the money?

  • 72 Posted by pisay_sweetie15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Japan gives free phone most of the time.... It's not really something new, being a technoligical capital that she is.

  • 73 Posted by luckyducky5496 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    so wait i dont get it. can u get it 4r free in the us or do u really have 2 live in japan? bcoz i friggin want one so baad!

  • 74 Posted by rockford33usa on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    4g? heck I want 7g! No 10g! I have no idea what it means, most people don't, but as long as it costs more, it must be better!!! And didn't we beat the Japanese in the war? Morons.

  • 75 Posted by felmbea on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    how about us here in philippines? how can we avail the free iphone?

  • 77 Posted by siilent_kin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    i would never trust anything with the words Free + iphone...

  • 78 Posted by throw_back14 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    someone send me one please text me if you can 315-552-7086

  • 79 Posted by idealaudio@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    In a time like this?...ENOUGH!!! Give it for free Apple w/2 yr plan. Have you noticed or are you're heads in the sand...the nation is in economic turmoil...be decent...8GB for free w/2 yr plan. I can't believe there are companies still trying to rake in dough at the expense of the American people who made you into what you are in the first place, REMEMBER!!!

  • 80 Posted by g_yan04 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    is it also possible for those who live in other countries to get one free?preferably in Philippines?:)

  • 81 Posted by tmpcltd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    We supply and distribute different kinds of electronics and video games, Mobile Phones, etc. If you are interested in buying from us kindly send us the following details are Your full name, country, sex, profession, what products to buy, how many units to buy, phone number, etc. Contact Email: denisrobertson@hotmail.com Dont hestitate to reply us back. Sincerely.

  • 82 Posted by ortizaudry on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    waoo it look like that we as american suck everything is export thats why we have this huge debt iphone, blackberr, all that crap you just make them rich and you get more poor people let start focusing on our goals

  • 83 Posted by frenchdel77 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    hello? I live in Chicago and just got a free INSTICT for Sprint via RadioShack. Same catch: 2 year contract, but who cares because Sprint's website was going to make me pay $129 to sign a 2 year contract for the same phone. The deals are out there, you just have to look for them.

  • 84 Posted by ortizaudry on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    here is a catch on how low we are in college math sucks back in my country i already knew it, ww11 japan depended from the US now is everything in reverse

  • 85 Posted by tessajean84 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Correction: The current promotion running at Best Buy right now is: $50 off if you are a current Reward Zone Member $100 off if you are a current Reward Zone Premier Member and $10 off if you are simply joining. It's by far the best deal going on in the U.S. right now, plus you get a free Skin with the activation. GO THERE!

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