SoftBank rebranded their Nakameguro shop to be half SoftBank and half Y! Mobile, previously Yahoo Mobile, which is their low-end brand. This surprises me because this is a relatively tony area.
I assume it is due to government pressure on mobile service pricing.
I assume it is due to government pressure on mobile service pricing.
(The government exercised some light suasion on Docomo, the biggest provider which was previously a unit of the national carrier NTT, and Docomo basically immediately instituted a X0% price cut.)
The economics of cell phone retail are fascinating if you’ve never looked into them, by the way. This SoftBank store is not owned or operated by SoftBank; it is (effectively) a captured sales agent that has a stock of iPhones they will happily sell you and a login to SoftBank.
SoftBank pays for your iPhone when you contract with them, sells the iPhone receivable to someone, and pays the store a commission for getting another customer on the X plan on a 2 year contract.
If you’re thinking “Hmm this sounds like something Wall Street would love” they’re way ahead of you: google.co.jp/amp/s/www.mark…
