“Down with the iPhone data rates!” says Japan

Although Japan has legally had the iPhone for only about a month, their carrier, Softbank, is already cutting the prices on their data plans. Softbank’s site has the number in yen, so I will translate for you. The iPhone 3G data rates were currently at ¥7,280, or $67.47/month, but they have now been reduced all the way to ¥2,990, or $27.71/month. This is a big win for Japanese iPhone customers in my opinion, because the cheapest plan we can get here in the states with AT&T is at $70/month.

The Alley Insider points out that although the iPhone drew lines in Japan on launch day, there are still some issues with its arrival there. For one, it still doesn’t work with some local services, such as using your phone for a subway smart card. Therefore, with a large amount of people in Japan who frequently buy new phones, the iPhone may only see a short term impact over there. We will have to wait and see.

Via [Silicon Alley Insider, Softbank Mobile]