Responding to Japan's cries for live TV on their handsets, Japanese carrier Softbank announced plans to release a kit that is both a TV-tuner and an additional battery pack for the iPhone.

According to an AppleInsider report, Softbank's device weighs in at about 2.8 ounces, and measures approximately 2.0 x 3.5 x 0.6 inches. Although it is slightly more compact and lighter than the iPhone, it is also thicker / bulkier. It will, however, be interesting to see how many Japanese iPhone users will fork out the US$100 for a brick. Also, according to the same report, industry watchers are still skeptical about whether the iPhone has met initial expectations in the Far East. There are enough negative aspects here for us to seriously doubt that Softbank's device will sell in Japan. But enough analysis. Let's see those specs.

According to the above-mentioned source, Softbank's TV tuner and battery pack will include an internal Wi-Fi module and external antenna for tuning in to the One-Seg (1seg) mobile terrestrial broadcasting service. The signal will be available in Japan and parts of Brazil and it will be delivered to iPhones via Wi-Fi through a specialized application launching soon on the iTunes App Store. iPhone users will be able to visit the venue and download the app free of charge.

The receiver is supposed to stay in users' purse or pocket, but it can also connect to iPhones via the dock connector. This is where the TV-tuner's second nature kicks in, acting as a secondary battery for the iPhone. "Around 3 hours" of continuous One-Seg viewing time is advertised. The device can be fully recharged in about 2 hours via an AC power supply, and in around 4 hours over USB, the same report reveals.

Softbank claims that iPhone sales helped its profits for the quarter ending September 2008, driving nearly a 2 percent rise. "The iPhone certainly supported our profit and boosted the number of new mobile phone subscribers during the quarter," a company spokesperson said. "Since the July launch, iPhone sales have been very good."