SoftBank Mobile - History Timeline

History Timeline

• 1984-10: JAPAN TELECOM was founded.
• 1986-08: JAPAN TELECOM launches leased circuit services
• 1986-12: RAILWAY TELECOMMUNICATION established
• 1989-05: RAILWAY TELECOMMUNICATION merges with JAPAN TELECOM
• 1991-07: Tokyo Digital Phone established
• 1994-04: J-Phone starts PDC cellular service in the 1.5 GHz band, 10 MHz bandwidth
• 1997-11: J-Phone launches SkyWalker SMS service designed by Aldiscon and Ericsson for PDC
• 1998-11: J-Phone launches SkyMelody ringtone download service
• 1999-12: J-Phone launches J-Sky wireless Internet service ten months after NTT DoCoMo's i-mode, which was launched in February 1999.
• 2000-11: J-Phone launches Sha-Mail (写メール) picture messaging service using the world's first camera phones developed by SHARP
• 2001-06: J-Phone launches Java service with JSCL library
• 2002-12: J-Phone launches W-CDMA 3G service the first time
• 2002-08: Company name was changed to JAPAN TELECOM HOLDINGS.The fixed-line telecommunications business was also separated to found a new JAPAN TELECOM.
• 2003-10: J-Phone company name is changed to Vodafone K.K., and J-Sky name is changed to Vodafone live!. Vodafone launches a Japan-nationwide Beckham campaign
• 2003-12: Company name was changed to Vodafone Holdings K.K.
• 2004-10: Vodafone K.K. merges with Vodafone Holdings K.K. and company name is changed to Vodafone K.K.
• 2004-10: Vodafone relaunches the 3G services in Japan a second time offering mobile phone handsets designed primarily for the European markets
• 2005 Summer: Vodafone changes management and relaunches 3G services in Japan a third time
• 2006-03-17: Vodafone officially announced it had agreed to sell Vodafone Japan (Vodafone KK) to SoftBank for a total of 1.75 trillion Japanese yen (approx US$ 15.1 Billion) in one of the largest M&A transactions in Japan to date
• 2006-04-14: SoftBank and Vodafone K. K. jointly announced, that the name of the company will be changed to a "new, easy-to-understand and familiar" company name and brand. Masayoshi Son became CEO and Representative Director of Vodafone K. K.
• 2006-05-01: Headquarters moved from Atago Hills to Shiodome to integrate operations with other SoftBank group companies
• 2006-05-18: SoftBank announced that the name of the company will be changed to "SoftBank Mobile Corp." effective October 1, 2006
• 2006-06-16: SoftBank started rebranding "Vodafone" to "SoftBank."
• 2006-10-01: Vodafone Japan company name is changed "SoftBank Mobile Corp."
• 2008-06-02: SoftBank Mobile releases iPhone in Japan beating NTT DoCoMo
• 2008-12-09: SoftBank Mobile joins Open Handset Alliance.
• 2009-05-15: SoftBank Mobile joins TransferJet Consortium .
• 2010: Softbank purchased 100% of the PHS mobile operator Willcom.
• 2012-05-29: SoftBank Mobile unveils the Pantone 5 107SH, a mobile phone with a built-in geiger counter.