Nikkei: Japan's largest carrier is reported to start selling iPhone this Fall(9to5mac.com)
9to5mac.com
Nikkei: Japan's largest carrier is reported to start selling iPhone this Fall
http://9to5mac.com/2013/09/05/japans-largest-carrier-docomo-apple-reportedly-agree-to-iphone-partnership-sales-start-this-fall/
Panasonic's R&D was firmly centered around Japanese flip phones and the jump to Smartphone put them in an awkward position.
And so it seems, iPhone's pull was too great for Docomo in the end. I cannot wait for the official announcements.