Softbank Confirms Emoji and Digital TV for iPhone in Japan - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Softbank Confirms Emoji and Digital TV for iPhone in Japan

by

Nikkei Trendy reports that SoftBank's president has confirmed that emoji (Japanese emoticons) are coming to the iPhone in Japan:

"This was made possible by us telling Apple that emoji is essential for Japanese users. And this is Japan specific service."

He also mentions that they will also introduced a 3rd party accessory which provides mobile television service and an extended battery pack for the iPhone. SetteB.IT provides a photo of the device:

092538 05038b softbanktvbattery 500

The device will act as a TV tuner which will transmit video to the iPhone via Wi-Fi but can also act as an extended battery pack when connected directly to the phone. An App Store application is required to support the device and will be made available for free through the Japanese App Store. Price has not yet been announced.

[Thanks coelacanth]

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors