iPhones fly off shelves as Softbank launches sales in Japan

Buyers snapped up Apple Inc.'s iPhone after it went on sale at Softbank Mobile Corp.'s flagship store in Tokyo's Shibuya district on Friday, with some 800 people -- some who'd been camping out since Tuesday -- lining up to make their purchase.

Softbank President Masayoshi Son, who'd made a surprise appearance the evening before, was there for the countdown ceremony 15 minutes before sales began at the Softbank Omotesando store at 7 a.m.

"This is the first year of an era when mobile phones become Internet machines," he said. "An age is coming when Internet access will become easier than on computers, and I'm happy to be able to share this day with everyone."

The store's usual 50 counters were doubled to cope with the demand, and the first person to complete a contract and get his hands on the iPhone was a man who said he had been fourth in line.

"The first thing I did was phone my girlfriend," he said, smiling, before shaking hands with Son.

The iPhone went on sale in the United States and other countries in June last year, with about 6 million units sold worldwide by the end of May this year.

(Mainichi - July 11th 2008)

Reportage photographique publie sur le meme site

Apple fan Koichi Funyu uses his mobile phone as he lines up to buy an iPhone in front of the Softbank Corp flagship store in Tokyo July 9, 2008, two days ahead of the mobile phone's July 11 launch. Seeking to be one of the first to grab the new-generation iPhone, fanatical Apple fans around Asia are lining up two days ahead of its July 11 launch while inquiries and early orders are swamping related Websites. (Reuters)

An Apple fan holds a sign as he lines up to buy an iPhone in front of the Softbank Corp flagship store in Tokyo July 9, 2008, two days ahead of the mobile phone's July 11 launch.

College student Tetsuya Umeda, reading a book by Apple Corporation Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, rests as he lines up to buy an iPhone in front of the Softbank Corp flagship store in Tokyo July 9, 2008, two days ahead of the mobile phone's July 11 launch.

Hiroyuki Sano, a graduate student who turns 25 on Thursday, sits in a camping chair as he takes the front position in line outside Japanese mobile carrier Softbank's flagship store in Tokyo's Omotesando shopping district Wednesday, July 9, 2008, before the first sales of Apple's iPhone in Japan Friday. Softbank Corp., Japan's No. 3 mobile phone company, won the coveted right to sell the new iPhone 3G and will launch nationwide sales at noon Friday. Its store in Omotesando will open five hours earlier and sell only the iPhone 3G on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, said company spokesman Naoki Nakayama. (AP)

Enthusiasts sit and wait in line outside Japanese mobile carrier Softbank's flagship store in Tokyo's Omotesando shopping district Wednesday, July 9, 2008, before the first sales of Apple's iPhone in Japan on Friday.

"Butch" carries a bag and a plastic sheet to take up a position in line outside Japanese mobile carrier Softbank's flagship store in Tokyo's Omotesando shopping district Wednesday, July 9, 2008, before the first sales of Apple's iPhone in Japan Friday.

College student Tetsuya Umeda, reading a book by Apple Corporation Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, rests as he lines up to buy an iPhone in front of the Softbank Corp flagship store in Tokyo July 9, 2008, two days ahead of the mobile phone's July 11 launch. Seeking to be one of the first to grab the new-generation iPhone, fanatical Apple fans around Asia are lining up two days ahead of its July 11 launch while inquiries and early orders are swamping related Websites. (Reuters)

A sign made by an Apple fan lining up to buy an iPhone, is seen in front of the Softbank Corp flagship store in Tokyo July 9, 2008, two days ahead of the mobile phone's July 11 launch.