(Kyodo News International via NewsEdge) KDDI asked Japan's Fair Trade Commission on to look into whether a cellular phone market-related advertisement of Softbank Mobile is misleading.
In a written request to the fair trade watchdog, KDDI said the ad is misleading because it emphasizes free calls and email between its customers while using only a very small space to specify conditions for the free service, such as limited time periods. The ad was designed to promote Softbank Mobile's discount campaigns.
The FTC has officially begun an investigation based on KDDI's request.
Softbank Mobile, Japan's No. 3 mobile carrier, has been aggressively promoting discount campaigns to try to catch up with industry leader NTT DoCoMo and second-ranked KDDI after last week's launch of a number portability system that allows people to keep their phone number when switching operators.
With KDDI and NTT DoCoMo complaining about the Softbank Mobile ad, the cellphone unit of Internet conglomerate Softbank has begun reviewing it.
Some large home appliance discount stores have replaced the ad with posters explaining the schedule of charges in detail.
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