Softbank profit shoots up 41 percent in 1Q

TOKYO — Mobile carrier Softbank Corp., the exclusive seller of the iPhone in Japan, said profit shot up 41.4 percent last quarter as it slashed costs and managed a slight increase in revenue despite the economic downturn.

Softbank said net profit was 27.38 billion yen ($288 million), up from 19.37 billion yen last year. Revenue inched up 2.9 percent to 666.3 billion yen from 647.3 billion yen.

The upstart company is the smallest of Japan’s big three mobile carriers, but has aggressively introduced low-cost pricing plans and popular advertising campaigns to lure users from its rivals. It said Thursday it has added more subscribers than any of its competitors for 26 straight months.

The company said the jump in profits from a year earlier was boosted by lower procurement costs for its e-commerce business, as well as holding less holding mobile phone units in storage compared to the amount it sold.

Softbank has also gradually raised its income from Internet and data services on its phones, a crucial step as competition drives voice charges down. Through handset offerings like the popular iPhone from Apple, which is suited for viewing Internet pages and checking email, the company has gradually increased its data income per handset.

The company’s shares were up 1.9 percent to 2,035 yen in Thursday trade before the earnings results were announced.