likely to retain exclusivity
Softbank, which used to be Vodafone, is the only fully GSM operator in Japan and so the only one which could offer a 2G iPhone, or support 2G fallback for a 3G device. DoCoMo do use the GSM family WCDMA so in theory could use a 3G iPhone, but it would have no 2G fallback without a huge amount of expensive and otherwise useless hardware work from Apple.
So in all likelihood the deal will be exclusive in Japan, regardless of Apple's rethink of its business strategy to go for multiple carriers competing to write the shortest press release.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
