Prior to the Apple WWDC, we were treated to a series of announcements—Apple making deals with carriers from all parts of the world to sell the iPhone in 70 different countries. And now, with the launch of Apple’s 3G iPhone getting closer, we can expect announcements of pricing and offers from around the world.

We’ve heard of O2’s offering in UK, and also read about the pricing of the iPhone in Germany. And now comes news from Japan.

Japan’s third largest carrier, said on 23rd June, it will be selling the iPhone 3G starting at 23,040 yen, or $215 approximately when it launches the product. This is more than the maximum $199. We expect the pricing to be flexible less then $199 but not more. Still not a bad product. Monthly fees will be at 7,200 yen which includes unlimited data. The carrier aims at undercutting its rival DoCoMo.

The Softbank chief exec  Masayoshi Son said:

We expect users who pay a lot to migrate from au and DoCoMo. There have been users who were just attracted to our low price, but the main point this time is feature attractiveness rather than price.

In Japan, a country used to the very latest in technology, the iPhone will perhaps compete not against any specific handset, but with the expectations and habits of the people in general. But then again, the iPhone has tremendous potential as a gaming device, and that’s sure to have some appeal in Japan, which gave us the Wii and the PS3.