TOKYO: SoftBank Corp. said Thursday that it has revised its new low-cost mobile phone service plan to lower the base rate.

The 20-gigabyte smartphone plan will be offered at 2,480 yen per month, with an option of adding unlimited calling for 500 yen. The service, named “Linemo,” will be launched on March 17.

The plan, first announced in December, was initially priced at 2,980 yen per month, with unlimited calling of up to five minutes included in the base plan.

The change brought down the base rate to be on par with that of rival KDDI Corp.’s new “povo” low-cost service.

Users will be able to sign up for the Linemo service online, including through the Line app.

SoftBank has been accepting applications for the service since Jan. 27. The number of applications “has exceeded our expectations,” Senior Vice President Hiroyuki Terao said at an online press conference.

Another rival, NTT Docomo Inc., will offer its new “ahamo” low-cost service, including unlimited calling, for 2,980 yen per month, starting on March 26. KDDI’s povo will also start in March.

The three companies’ move to start low-cost smartphone services come in response to calls from the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga for lowering mobile rates.

JIJI Press