Recently, Apple Int. just made a deal with Softbank Corp. which allows the latter to distribute iPhones in Japan. The company based in Tokyo is at the third spot for the leading mobile service providers in the country. It is also said that the iPhones will be distributed in Japan before the year ends.

On the other side of the globe, Telefonica, a mobile service provider in Spain, also announced that they made a deal with Apple Inc. that they will be an iPhone carrier through the help of Movistar. Currently, Telefonica is the number carrier in Spain and has more than 23 million subscribers in the area. Its subsidiary, O2, is already carrying iPhones in United Kingdom.

Between the two, the deal made by Apple Inc. with Softbank is more surprising. It was assumed that Apple

Inc. would be in favor of NTT DoCoMo which is known as the leading mobile service provider throughout Japan. NTT DoCoMo is also considered as a pioneer when it comes to 3G technology. But although Apple already made this deal with Softbank Corp. the NTT DoCoMo is still not closing any doors for possible working relationship. However, they are not ready to give solid comments if they are planning to pursue the negotiation with Apple Inc.

The two deals created by Apple with Telefonica and Softbank increased its list of iPhone-distributed countries by 2 notches. As of now, according to the applinvestors, there are already 70 countries all over the world where iPhone is carried. And it is expected to increase before 2008 ends since one of the goals of Apple for this year is to expand its market.

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