SoftBank to launch iPhone 3G in Japan at 7 am Friday

Japanese iPhone carrier SoftBank has announced that it will begin selling the iPhone 3G at 7 a.m. on Friday at its store in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. Other SoftBank stores and major retailers will begin offering the phone at noon. The carrier recently announced its service plans and pricing for the iPhone 3G; plans will start at 7,280 yen (around $68), including unlimited data-transmission usage, while the phone itself will run 23,040 yen (around $215) over 24-months for the 8GB model, and 34,560 yen (around $322) for the 16GB version.