We already know about Apple’s ambitions to get into a cellphone market with it’s iPod music player and iTunes service. The first attempt to do that with Motorola’s ROKR phone was a big flop. Mediocre design, limited music download features imposed by American carriers prevented ROKR to achieve anything near the success of RAZR or iPod.

But speculations about Apples iPhone ran rampant ever since and recent news gives more confirmation that they might be true. Only now Apple is turning towards more competitive and advanced markets like Japan.

According to Reuters Apple is working with Japan’s Softbank to develop a cellphone with integrated iPod music player for a Vodafone Japan network recently purchased by Japanese firm. Softbank plans to use it’s new iPod phone to compete with it’s bigger wireless rivals - KDDI and NTT DoCoMo.

According to the report iPod phone will be able to download songs from ITunes store and will carry both Softbank and Apple brands.