SoftBank

Japan's two smallest mobile networks, Softbank and Emobile, are reportedly joining forces to offer mobile data services in an alliance that could further threaten the dominance of their two larger rivals, NTT DoCoMo and KDDI.

Global operators including SK Telecom, KTF, Orange, SoftBank and Telenor, together with smart card vendors Gemalto and Giesecke&Devrient, are teaming up with the GSMA to trial and develop ‘Smart SIM’ technology.

Softbank, Japan's third-biggest mobile operator, said today that it sank into a loss in its fiscal fourth-quarter on one-time costs, including launching a fixed Internet service, according to AP News.

US operator Verizon Wireless is to join the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) established by China Mobile, Japan's Softbank and Vodafone (which co-owns Verizon Wireless) to help accelerate the uptake of mobile technologies on a mass-market scale, reports Cellular News.

Japanese operator eMobile - focused on providing HSPA services via a data-centric business model - has stolen a march on domestic rivals by launching what it claims is the country's first commercial HSPA+ network.

Japan's largest mobile operator NTT Docomo last month managed to replace rival Softbank as the country's fastest-growing player, regaining the ranking for the first time in three years.

Reuters reports that Softbank, Japan's third-largest mobile operator, outran rivals NTT Docomo and KDDI in the number of net new subscribers it signed up in August, after relinquishing its lead in July to Docomo.