Softbank Japan is given hope to the growing number of iPhone users in Japan who are missing the emotion icons in SMS as it is used and known on all mobile phones in Japan.

“Email without emoticons can’t be email in Japan,” said SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. “We persuaded Apple Computer (to localize iPhones for the Japanese market).” Softbank Mobile will add the emoticon function to Apple iPhones within the year through an update program.

If the company is providing the update on time for the Christmas/ year end sale season, it has a good chance to increase the number of its iphone users in this important year end sale.