Finally: Japan's iPhone users get choice of carrier

Come November, visitors and residents alike will stand a far better chance of being able to actually use their iPhones in Japan if the latest solid rumor about a second network picking up the Apple smartphone proves true.

According to the “Nikkei Business” magazine -- not an organ that deals in tittle-tattle -- the iPhone 5 will finally be freed from the bonds of the much-derided Softbank network and make the leap to KDDI’s au-brand, giving it a second carrier in Japan.

October announcement

The magazine says the next-generation iPhone will hit Japan’s second-most-popular mobile network in November. Official confirmation is likely to come after a projected Apple event to announce the new handset in October.

• More on CNNGO: Get your iPhone Japanese on

Although Softbank had managed to sell an estimated 7.5 million iPhones in Japan over the three years of its exclusive contract, it came in for almost unanimous criticism over poor network performance.

Market shifts

By contrast, the two carriers currently ahead of it in terms of subscriber numbers -- KDDI’s au and leader NTT Docomo -- have long been considered more robust.

“Nikkei Business” suggests the rise in Softbank's fortunes brought on by its iPhone exclusivity could be swiftly reversed if the KDDI move prompts users to switch carriers.

Users, on the other hand -- whether living locally or incoming travelers -- are sure to be happy to wave sayonara to dropped calls and Softbank’s famous lack of coverage bars.

Update: November or next year -- who knows?