The Softbank group on April 25 will begin an Internet-based telephone service offering three-minute calls to the United States for 7.5 yen.

BB Phone will also enable subscribers to talk to nonsubscribers within Japan for 7.5 yen for three minutes, said the group, which includes Softbank Corp., Yahoo! Japan Corp. and BB Technologies.

BB Phone will also enable subscribers to speak to each other free of charge, the group said.