Tuesday, September 10, 2013

NTT Docomo apparently undecided on iPhone SIM locking


According to a shukan Ascii post, when asked via a phone interview if the Docomo iPhone can be unlocked just as any Docomo Android phone, a representative stated that "it is undecided at this point".

Perhaps it is, perhaps it's not. Allow me to refresh your memory regarding what Docomo said about SIM locking back during the debate. In an interview with the Yomiuri (that is of course no longer available online), here is what a a Docomo exec had to say (emphasis mine):
Yomiuri: It has been said that the reason for you to unlock SIMs is to bring Softbank's popular iPhone to Docomo.

Kouji Furukawa: I've heard that too, but the first priority is customer convenience and choice. The reason is to follow the MIC's clearly written guidelines. While the iPhone is most certainly selling extremely well now, I don't know if it still will be two to three years later. If we were to release a killer handset that everyone wanted, we would under no circumstances sell it locked to our network.
Well, if Docomo does not allow their iPhone to be unlocked, then it proves what we all new all along. That, contrary to what they maintained publicly, their entire push for SIM unlocking was exclusively about getting the iPhone.

Ishikawa Tsutsumu has indicated on twitter that it may indeed be locked.

Oh, and Docomo also isn't saying whether or not they'll carry the iPad.

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