NTT DoCoMo plans unofficial iPhone 4 support

  • updated 11:25 am EDT, Fri August 6, 2010
  •         by MacNN Staff

May counter Softbank monopoly

Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo will begin supporting the iPhone 4 later this month, albeit in an unofficial capacity, according to Reuters. To use the device with DoCoMo, people will have to buy an unlocked phone online or abroad, and then get a special SIM card from the carrier. No custom voice or data plans have been mentioned to date.

Softbank is so far the only Japanese carrier authorized to sell cellular-ready Apple products, including the iPhone 4 and iPad 3G. DoCoMo's decision may be motivated not only by profit, however, but by an agreement to follow new governmental guidelines. In an attempt to increase competition, the government has asked carriers to unlock their devices. While DoCoMo has said it will implement the policy as of next April, Softbank has not yet agreed.



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