Apple (AAPL) still has not penetrated on of the world’s largest cellphone markets–Japan. Now that is changing as one of the largest cellular carriers there, Softbank, will begin to market the phone.

The move should help Apple surpass its iPhone sales goals, especially when it puts out its new 3G model. Japan is set up to run most phones on these ultra-fast networks. Softbank probably paid dearly for the deal, most likely by giving Apple a big cut of the service fees that the cellular company will charge iPhone users on their calling plans.

According to the AP, "Tokyo-based Softbank has 18.77 million subscribers in Japan, and is still lagging in third place behind mobile service providers NTT DoCoMo and KDDI Corp".

A deal with Apple may help Softbank move toward first place.

Douglas A. McIntyre