Apple said to be working with Softbank on "co-branded" handset

Japanese news agency Nikkei is reporting that Apple and new Vodafone Japan owner Softbank are working together to develop cellphones capable of downloading and playing music from the iTunes store. Details are, of course, very slim at this point, as we don't even know whether to characterize this as a "true" iPhone, or simply a ROKR-like model featuring only software from the iPod manufacturer powering a non-Apple handset. However, Nikkei is quoting sources that say the phone, which may be released as early as this year (and which is definitely NOT pictured alongside this post), is expected to sport both Softbank and Apple branding, which may indicate that Cupertino will have a hand in developing the hardware as well. Whatever they're working on, we wanna know about it, and we won't rest until we have a ton of specs and pics for you.

[pattyboi @ May 12th 2006 5:25PM]

Finally, an official image of the iPhone...

[Brian @ May 12th 2006 5:33PM]

naw dude, i'm totally calling fake on this one.

[Joe Smith @ May 12th 2006 5:34PM]

urghhhhhhh... that's so FUGLY! Why the f**k would apple make something so shitty?

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 5:35PM]

I was definently thinking Apple would have made the design a little more "nano". I guess this makes sense though. You can just keep it in your pocket and let the headset dangle and hit the floor. Durability might be an issue though. Maybe they will have different color handsets so once one gets worn out you can just snap on another. And i think it is totally radical that they decided to stick with the old dial wheel system. They definently want people to go back to their roots. Is the handset going to double as earphones, too?

[Facts @ May 12th 2006 5:39PM]

You all are all so stupid. They said that the picture in this post has nothing to do with the product. It's not a prototype of anything, just a fake mockup of a dial-tone phone and an iPod.

Did you all even READ the article?

[south @ May 12th 2006 5:43PM]

#5 Facts, I think they're just trying to be funny.

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 5:44PM]

Facts i think you should get your facts right. It doesn't say anything about this not being an official photo. And why would they post a random picture like this of the iPhone if it wasn't real. The only problem with this design might be that cord that connects the ipod to the handset, it seems a little outdated.

[doyouflip @ May 12th 2006 5:45PM]

Facts, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, meet Facts.


Oh and I won't rest either until Engadget has tons of specs and pics for us.

[Facts @ May 12th 2006 5:45PM]

#6 south, I think they are just ignorant. Personally I think the iPod is overpriced garbage that locks you into iTunes, but I'll at least defend this article for accuracy's sake.

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 5:46PM]

South I am serious. Don't tell me you are taking facts side.

[Facts @ May 12th 2006 5:47PM]

#7 Jeff, please read from the article:

"However, Nikkei is quoting sources that say the phone, which may be released as early as this year (and which is definitely NOT pictured alongside this post)..."

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 5:49PM]

Facts you have some major issues. First of all you have no idea whether or not this picture is official. Remember that Alien Autopsy video that you could rent at Blockbuster? No one thought that was real until the people that made the film started mysteriously dying one by one. I'd be careful what you say, REAL CAREFUL.

[flamer's grill @ May 12th 2006 5:49PM]

Wow, #5 facts, words cannot describe your stupidity. Incredible. I am speechless.

On topic, this sucks. This is another phone that will be released in Japan/Europe two years before it's released here in the US, AND it'll be GSM. Boo on both counts.

[Ireland @ May 12th 2006 5:49PM]

If it looks like that, and has Blu-Ray built-in I'm there ;)

[Todd @ May 12th 2006 5:49PM]

I know that pic of the rotary phone / iPod is fake, but ya know what, its kinda cool. It shows contempt for Apple, the big telcos and technology in general, all at the same time. The fake iPhone pictured is still a better design than that lameass dual iPod DJ mixer!

[PDubNYC @ May 12th 2006 5:52PM]

Facts, you are too stupid to live. I mean seriously. Hang on, I'm tangled up in the cord of my iPhone.

[Facts @ May 12th 2006 5:53PM]

So is Engadget filled with nothing but trolls and flamers?

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 5:55PM]

#17, Facts that is probably the smartest thing that has come out your mouth...ever.

[Facts @ May 12th 2006 5:56PM]

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO THE iPHONE.

[Bart Lee @ May 12th 2006 5:59PM]

Boy is that Facts guy a moron. I'm not sold on this design, to be honest. I prefer Apple's all-white or all-black coloring on the current iPods. Of course, the integration of the rotary dial is genius. Pure Jobs to come up with a solution that works for the phone and stays true to their established design simplicity. I'm a little surprised they are going back to a monochrome screen, but on the other hand who is going to watch a movie while talking on the phone? Helloooooooo extended battery life.

[BILLY THE KID @ May 12th 2006 6:02PM]

I think my grandma used to have a phone just like this one. that's cool that they are coming back. What's the white thing in the middle though? Kinda makes it Cheesy looking

[Jeff @ May 12th 2006 6:04PM]

#20 sounds like a registered sex offender if you ask me. First of all the name "TonyTiger" is used just too lure in ADD kids addicted to the cereal and once he gets his hands on them they're GGGRRRRREEEEEAATTTTTT!

[craptacular @ May 12th 2006 6:08PM]

The fact is, Facts is a bloody idiot!

[BILLY THE KID @ May 12th 2006 6:13PM]

WHAT.....IS.....THE......WHITE.....THING IN THE MIIIIDDDLLLLEEE??????????

[DM @ May 12th 2006 6:22PM]

I dont like the design of this ipoone..

1. it seems the wired headset is attached to the dock, so we will have to carry around that brick as well in the jeans pocket... well atleast the girls will notice my bulge

2. the bloody wire is too short... seems I will have to be talking to my pants again

[erik @ May 12th 2006 7:16PM]

This post has some of the worst/stupidest comments I've ever seen. The photo is an obvious fake and the jokes being made are just plan dumb.

My two cents.

[erik @ May 12th 2006 7:23PM]

plain, sorry dyslexia got the best of me again...

[James @ May 12th 2006 7:24PM]

But I'm torn;

On the one hand I think Apple would never create a phone as a separate piece of hardware; the ipod video wasn't the ipod video it was just the new ipod. I think they would add to the ipod making it even more desirable.

On the other hand I think the ipod is just that. a pod; a hub for media - not a communication device.

In fact. having written that out it'll def be a new piece of hardware. But all this pissing around with other companies seems ridiculous. Skype or googletalk or whatever .. they are the future. I think they're unlikely to release a phone.. more likely a tablet. God, i can't wait.

Anyone?

[ce34482 @ May 12th 2006 8:03PM]

Facts, commented that the iPod is "overpriced garbage that locks you into iTunes." Am I the only person to notice that all of the other music stores lock you into Windows, which itself is overpriced garbage?

[bliss @ May 12th 2006 9:13PM]

haha.. all you folks on here crack me up. Whatever the design may be...it just better be slick!

[Russ @ May 12th 2006 9:24PM]

I subscribe to the Nikkei, and have read the original article. The phone will be Apple-branded.

"Apple, which will be selling cell phone handsets under its own brand for the first time, is expected to outsource production. The company is believed to have chosen Softbank as its partner because Softbank plans to offer high-speed Internet access for cell phones, with a focus on improving convenience for consumers."

[David @ May 12th 2006 9:36PM]

Most of this discussion reminds me of something Einstein said. "Genius and stupidity differ in that stupidity is limitless." This photo is to throw off speculation. The nest step is nano-mineature. My guess is the final unit design will be a musical earring! Issues will be raised when some users start showing up at police stations with torn out earlobes after robberies, and young ladies (no hair color comment yet) send in product complaints of too little volume in their belly button music jewelry.

[Jamar @ May 13th 2006 12:40AM]

Has anyone thought of the possibility that this will fall under Yahoo branding? As far as I know, Softbank owns that Yahoo brand in Japan, which is why the Japanese site is loads better than the US site (and offers more in their broadband service). So maybe this iPhone will have Yahoo branding, as a first start to their rebranding (Softbank will hardly use their own name on cellphones, they'll use a more familiar name-like *Yahoo*).

[Jessica Simpson @ May 13th 2006 12:41AM]

#5 Facts, you're actually right!!!!!!!!!!!

At first I also thought this was the real iPhone prototype and the dialing disc was just intended to be a retro touch...

But after reading your post I realized it's just a mockup...

Keep up the good work and the great attention to detail!

Love,

Jessica Simpson

[vincent @ May 13th 2006 5:49AM]

@33, Jamar. If I remember right, Softbank indicated that they weren't going to rebrand Vodafone-JP as Yahoo-Phone or something like that. But they also said that Voda-jp would see significant integration into their other business units. (and that their customer's communication charges would be reduced...)

Consider this, YahooBB already markets their own VOIP solution, and are pushing their wireless routers, wireless IP-TV, and WiFi hotspots. So it seems pretty likely to me that they'd want to start releasing phones that have at least bluetooth VOIP, but more likely WiFi as well. Also keep in mind that the Mainichi story says that their phones would be enabled for direct downloads from the iTunes Music Store. Since Vodafone-KK has no HSDPA network, it seems likely that the direct downloading will happen through YahooBB WiFi access points.

It all looks pretty interesting, doesn't it, UMTS phones with WiFi, BB-phone, and direct music downloads, and probably Yahoo's WebTV as well. I just hope their new handsets are smaller than Willcom's W-Zero3.

[indrajitsinh @ May 13th 2006 12:18PM]

If we don't stand up for LOVE, then we don't stand for much......."For I've been out in the world, You know....living my life all wrong....until I came upon this church; the place where I belong."
jit( Win )

[John Henry Brown @ May 13th 2006 10:15PM]

This is disappointing. Where is the innovation? Apple is soooo copying the industry leader here. I'm sure Apple will be hearing from Pokia's, er Hulger's, lawyers.
http://shop.hulger.com/product.php

[Perrey Z. @ May 14th 2006 12:22PM]

Damn! when engadget post anything related to Apple the majority of the posters go crazee*&!@$ insulting each other. come on!, it's just a news article, There's no reason to be so aggresive. behave like educated people.

Apple+Vodaphone/Softbank= FOMA, Japan Only, White and Pricey. Enough said.

[ce34482 @ May 15th 2006 11:06AM]

Facts, commented that the iPod is "overpriced garbage that locks you into iTunes." Am I the only person to notice that all of the other music stores lock you into Windows, which itself is overpriced garbage?

[docsharp01 @ Mar 30th 2008 1:20AM]

Good article about Apple working with Softbank.
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com