SOFTBANK MOBILE new product launch to introduce smartphone's new strategy & new model, Q & A

Softbank's Masayoshi Son at the announcement in May 2014 "Fortune-telling is going away for a while"On August 18, 2014, SOFTBANK announced the introduction of smartphone strategic models and new services"New product launch"It will be held. It is a place to wonder about what new products and services will be announced at the recital meeting that is to be held at once, so this time we will update the state of the presentation in real time from the site.

Softbank
http://www.softbank.jp/

The venue is the famous Prince Park Tower Tokyo every time.


The recital is held quietly on the basement floor.


Before the venue, long lines are formed and a lot of reporters gathered.


It is like this in the hall.


It seems that stakeholders of analysts and financial institutions are gathering, what kind of things are announced ... ....


· 2014/08/18 11:00
The recital started.


Maki Tahara, Marketing Strategy Division / General Manager Director, is on the stage.



· 2014/08/18 11: 05
Softbank and Sprint's exclusive sales terminal "AQUOS CRYSTAL" appeared.


This is "AQUOS CRYSTAL".



Features are frameless structure.


With a frameless structure, browsing and contents such as moving pictures can be enjoyed on a big screen.



· 2014/08/18 11: 09
With a frameless structure, it evolved more compactly than the conventional narrow frame terminal.


Harman's Clari-Fi technology is installed in the audio part.


Clari-Fi technology makes it possible to restore the missing range during compression.


In addition, high quality sound speaker of harman / kardon is set as standard.


In the venue, we actually showed the performance of the speaker, Mr. Tahara danced to the music.


· 2014/08/18 11:14
"AQUOS CRYSTAL" has over 3 days battery holding, translation finder, HD Voice and other features also.


A variety of accessories will be sold from SoftBank SELECTION.


"AQUOS CRYSTAL" is released in Japan and the United States.


It will be on sale August 29 (Friday), reservation is starting from tomorrow.


In America, it is released from Sprint, Virgin, boost.


In addition, the premium model "AQUOS CRYSTAL X" will also appear.


· 2014/08/18 11:20
SOFTBANK also announced a joint development platform. By this, it is planned to announce terminals of original specifications in the future.


Sharp's President and Representative Director, Kozo Takahashi, who got the opportunity to sell terminals in the United States thanks to Softbank's collaborative development platform, is on the stage.




In addition, SOFTBANK announces "App Pass", an all-you-can-eat service. This "App Pass" is also offered both in Japan and the United States.







"App Pass" will also be available from August 29 (Friday).


· 2014/08/18 12: 13
Added content of Q & A.

NHK Seki:
Although it is possible to reduce costs by joint development of Sprint and terminals, what specific effects can you expect from the market?

A:
I think that there are cases such as when selling only in Japan, selling SOFTBANK by itself, even in the case of selling alone in the USA, but I believe that the benefits of scale can be gained by the joint development platform.

Freelance Ishikawa:
What is the merit from the consumer side?

A:
For users, I think that the cost part is still the largest. In addition, we have a part of monopoly

Freelance Ishikawa:
Is the terminal cheaper?

A:
Because the cost is lower due to the merit of scale, we believe that amount will be reduced to consumers.

Newsletter Hashimoto:
I would like to ask about the position of AQUOS CRYSTAL, including market trends.

A:
Because I got ready as to why we will release this time. As for what to do with the iPhone, since I think that there are customers like your favorite customers and iPhones, the idea that they want to prepare terminals for both preferences.

Freelance Isino:
If you check the specifications of the terminal, it seems that it does not correspond to Osaifu-Keitai and full-segment functions for the Japanese market, but this area seems to be a disadvantage of joint procurement, but what do you think about this neighborhood?

A:
Although it does not correspond to the function of Japan specification, it is not necessarily considered necessary. And considering the procurement scale, we thought that we should introduce these terminals to the market.

Freelance Yamaguchi:
I was talking about iPhone and Android, but are you thinking about joint procurement on OS other than Android?

A:
It is still undecided. I will refrain from comment about the future of the company policy as well.

Wall Street Journal Negishi:
I think that there were many manufacturers that were aiming at the American market, but what is the reason why we jointly developed with Sharp?

A:
Naturally, development consulted with Sprint, this time it was decided to jointly develop with Sharp and three companies. Of course, there are other Japanese manufacturers that are entering the American market, but this time it was with Sharp.


Wall Street Journal Negishi:
What is like a deciding factor to co-develop with Sharp?

A:
In the part called liquid crystal, the part that can sell frameless things monopoly.

Wall Street Journal Negishi:
Are you currently considering joint development with other companies?

A:
I am giving suggestions from multiple companies, but currently I can not say anything.

Freelance Koyama:
Is the joint development platform just for Sharp?

A:
Basically, based on the platform created with Sprint, we plan to set up communications carrier and distribute contents etc. Because it is difficult for terminals with strongly unique identities like iPhone, we would like to cooperate with manufacturers who can co-develop with us.

Freelance Koyama:
Will all of the terminals that can use joint development platform migrate to this platform? Or do they develop separately?

A:
I think that there are things to develop separately.

Freelance Koyama:
Is not there any particular priority to either?

A:
It depends on consultation with the vendor.

Toyo Keizai Tanabe:
Although it does not correspond to overseas 2.5 GHz band, I think that this band is important in Sprint?

A:
Although it does not correspond to the roaming of the 2.5 GHz band at the present time, there is a possibility of responding in the future.

Freelance sano:
Although the fee is currently undecided, how much is assumed for the price range in Japan and the US in the US?

A:
In Japan, AQUOS CRYSTAL offers a new MNP with real zero currency. The price will be from public relations later.

TBS:
What are the measures to deal with the American market?

A:
Of course, there are needs in Japan and the United States differently, but I think that there is a need for each market, while commonality can be shared, so we will put out a terminal accordingly there. Because there is merit of the number of procurement, I believe that we can attain superiority in price, and as Sprint side can also issue terminal with its own uniqueity, that point will increase competitiveness.