Docomo iPhone debuts in Japan?

From “Apple in Talks with NTT DoCoMo regarding iPhone in Japan [jp]”:

Apple is negotiating with NTT DoCoMo regarding an agreement to sell iPhone in Japan. iPhone is the new type of cell phone which are getting very popular in Europe and America.

Hoooooray!! Finally!!!

It reports that CEO of Docomo went to the U.S. to have a meeting with Steve Jobs.

Detail of the meeting is not available yet, though it is quite clear that the discussion was about the agreement to sell iPhone in the Japanese market, said the article.

Will Docomo be the final winner of the race for iPhone…?

From the standpoint of Apple, Docomo would be the best partner since they have the largest number of customers in Japan, but there is a problem:

In Europe and America, Apple is said to have signed contracts that asks carriers to kickback part of the call fees to Apple. However, such term is unusual in Japan, so Docomo might show reluctance to enter into a contract like that.

On the other hand, we have news like this:

According to the Wall Street Journal online of December 18, Softbank also shows interest in selling iPhone in Japan, and Apple is believed to be continuing negotiations with Softbank as well.

Softbank -- they will probably accept such term mentioned above.

There are many reason for Docomo to want to add iPhone to their product line, but it is still unclear how much popularity iPohone will gain in Japan since it does not have 1seg or Osaifu ketai (mobile payment) capability which is now getting commonplace in Japan.

The article says that Apple keeps priority on Docomo becase they are the largest carrier in Japan, but you never know what might happen.

Anyhow, it is at least clear that we have now a very short list.

1. Docomo
2. Softbank