Softbank Corp., which runs the only Japanese mobile operator to offer the iPhone, said profit doubled in the latest quarter as its cellular business continued to expand.
Net profit was 43.37 billion yen ($481 million) during the July-September period, up from 21.75 billion yen a year earlier, the company said Thursday. Revenue was nearly unchanged at 682.9 billion versus 681.7 billion.
Softbank said profit increased even as sales held steady because of falling costs as its mobile operations became a bigger part of its overall business. Softbank paid less to access the networks of other carriers and its per-unit costs for phones dropped as overall shipments increased.
