Amid Rumors of iPhone and iPad Agreement, Docomo Denies Discussions with Apple

Docomo offers many Android handsets, but still no iPhone

Nikkei Business Online is reporting this morning that Docomo (NYSE:DCM) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have reached an agreement on a 2012 release of a 4G LTE iPhone and iPad on the Docomo network. But when we reached out to Docomo representatives this morning, we were told in a brief statement that the company has “no discussion going on with Apple.”

Currently Apple’s iPhone is running on Softbank and au, with Docomo offering a wide range of Android alternatives, reportedly hoping for the iPhone but with some reservations about issues like volume as well as Docomo’s in-house applications which it likes to run on its phones.

The Nikkei Business piece also said that Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Docomo execs last month, but when we followed up with Docomo about this we were told that there was ‘no discussion last month.’ It should be pointed out that even if there was such a meeting, it might not mean much. There was a similarly reported Tim Cook visit at China Mobile headquarters back in June, and no breakthrough has been made to date to bring the phone to that network either.

As for Docomo, I have my fingers crossed that it will be selling the iPhone next year, but I’m not holding my breath… We’ll keep you posted.