Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

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Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby SQ » Tue May 25, 2010 1:52 pm

I'm in the Navy and getting stationed in Japan.

I used to have Verizon Wireless. Obviously that's not going to work in Japan.
I'll be in Sasebo. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

I would like to buy my cell phone and/or service over the internet, if that's possible, so I can have a sort of seamless transition in cell phone service/usage.

I go to Japan in August.

Right now, I have a phone for texting and minutes. I have the lowest minutes and unlimited texting. I also have a usb modem for 3G internet.

I have no idea how Japanese cellular shit works, but I'm of the assumption they have some new amazing technology that I'd probably think was from a scifi movie.
I like using my computer for the internet, but if Japanese phones are O SO AWESOME with the internet, or I could use my phone as a modem also, then that would be cool.

The big thing is this:
- computer can connect to the internet with it
- I can call/be called from the USA with it (Or use skype mobile)
- It has a QWERTY keyboard for texting
- It IS NOT touch screen (I hate that shit)

Right now, my USB modem and my cellphone coverage is 60USD each, for a combined $120 a month.

What could I expect to be paying a month for similar features on a Japanese phone, and what would your recommendations be?

Was hoping you guys knew some stuff about this since we're on an anime forum and all.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Tue May 25, 2010 3:02 pm

I can't answer all of your questions, but I can tell you the three major companies that I know of are SoftBank, Docomo, and AU. SoftBank is what my wife and I use, I will say straight up, SoftBank probably has the shittiest service of the three companies.

But no matter which one you choose, calling someone on a competitor's cell phone, you will be charged about 40 cents per 30 seconds. I've also noticed you can't send text messages to competitor's either.

All of SolfBank's phones are 3G capable (I did hear a rumor that Docomo was planning on upgrading to 4G, but I've never confirmed this), but you can expect to pay upwards around $500 for a fancy phone or choose from one of the free phone's with a 2 year plan (which is what I ended up doing with the iPhone, expect the iPhone isn't really free, you just spread your payments out over 2 years).

The big thing is this:
- computer can connect to the internet with it
- I can call/be called from the USA with it (Or use skype mobile)
- It has a QWERTY keyboard for texting
- It IS NOT touch screen (I hate that shit)

As far as your "big things":
- I'm sure they can, unfortunately I don't have that answer
- SoftBank does offer calling cards to call the US for a pretty cheap rate, but I use the Skype app on the iPhone
- They have plenty if you're willing to pay up front for the phone (plus you won't have to be locked in to any contracts
- Once again, plenty of high speed phones, some with cameras that have more megapixels than my point and shoot camera

Our bill fluctuates every month, depending on who we call, but I know my bill between our two phones won't be any lower than $50 (if we just called each other and didn't use the 3G) to our last bill of $200 (my wife was on hold for like an hour with an on-base number :x )

Overall, I'm not that impressed with their cell phone service.

Hope that helps, hopefully, Kionon can chime in with his experiences.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby SQ » Tue May 25, 2010 3:31 pm

Sonuva....
Jesus, I may just end up not having a cellphone at all. :|

I asked this on another forum as well, and someone brought up an interesting point.
I could get a cellphone with internet access, and nothing else, and then just use Google Voice with it, which has free txting and will get me a local number my USA people can call, which will ring my Japanese phone.

Do you have any insight on what company may have some type of cheap "unlimited internet" feature, then?
Or is "unlimited" fixed price anything in Japan just non-existent?

I'm going to be in Japan for three years, so this is... Kind of a big deal to me.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Tue May 25, 2010 6:09 pm

yeah, i'm sort of on that same three year plan you're about to go on... only with the Army in Okinawa. I'll ask my troops that have Docomo about their plans, unfortunately I can only give you insight SoftBank, which they had an unlimited plan (thankfully I'm grandfathered into that plan), but not anymore. As for those apps, be careful with them, most only work while you're on a WiFi connection and not on the 3G (which is what my skype app does).

Otherwise, I had majicjack plugged into my computer (but it broke), still use it as a answering machine, which the cool thing about it, is it will email me a .wav file of the message, so I can listen to it anywhere. Then I'll return the call using skype (cool thing about it, can't say for Sasebo, but Kadena's BX has free WiFi, so I can use it there if it's important).

But like I said, I'll ask the other guys in my office with other plans and get back to you.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby SQ » Tue May 25, 2010 8:21 pm

All right... Thanks.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby Athena » Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:59 am

Very appropriate thread, because I've been AWOL from the org because of major movement of my Officer Package. It gets processed Monday, I have an interview with an O-10 next week, board reviews my package first week of July, and I will be in Guam the last week of July for the results. Then it's back to Japan for medical, and then await orders.

LOTS OF FUCKING PAPERWORK MEANS NO TIME TO EDIT.

The answer is, get the darn touch screen: softbank, iPhone, jailbroken, $120 for USB modem tethering. Exactly as you have now. You CANNOT do it over the internet. You must wait until you get here, and then go to a softbank place with your SOFA card. MWR can probably help you. I'm about six hours from Sasebo, or I would walk you through the process in person myself.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby SQ » Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:39 am

But how do I get a jailbroken iphone if not over the internet?
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:23 am

Sorry I haven't had the chance to reply to your answer... work has been seriously stressing me out lately... meaning I haven't asked in much detail about other peoples phone service, but from what I've gathered, they claim to pay about the same and they say they get better service, but places they can't seem to get reception, it seems I'm able to with Softbank... so go figure. Then again, I'm in Okinawa, so maybe Softbank is better on the mainland?

If the Softbank is on the actual installation, as it was for me, all you'll need to get started is your stateside driver's license and your APO/FPO address and of course your method of payment (cheaper, or rather discounted, if you charge it to a credit/debit card). The iPhone is technically "free", but really you're just paying for it spread out through a two year contract.

Oh yeah, I guess through the latest Skype update, it now works on the 3G... though, not very well.

As for jailbreaking... one of my Soldiers squared me away with that. But I think Kionon means something else when he said not over the internet.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby Athena » Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:43 am

I think SQ wanted to buy a Japanese phone from a website. This isn't possible. You need to show id, etc.

With jailbreaking, you can get a program called MyWi which allows you to use your unlimited bandwidth from Softbank on your iPhone over your USB, BlueTooth, or Wifi. Basically, portable modem for your laptop.

Oh, oh... SQ. You can jailbreak a phone you buy. Just download the software. It's not hardware related.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby SQ » Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:02 am

Oh... Okay.
I thought that the newer iphones were not able ot be jailbroken because of some update Apple did.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby Phantasmagoriat » Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:26 pm

Get an Android phone :P

My G1 has a full qwerty keyboard, touchscreen, and a trackball, and as long as I have WiFi access, internet is free, but it can still access 3G if needed. So it can basically be used as a portable computer. The Droid seems to be the Android phone with the most promise these days.

It is possible to Root, much like Jailbreaking an iPhone, though I haven't Rooted mine because I haven't had the need.

There is an Android market for apps much like Apple. It's not as big, but Android is an open OS, and I usually support stuff like that since the possibilities are virtually endless. Because of this, there should theoretically be more customizability, unlike the proprietary nature of some *ahem* other companies. I'm in Canada, with Rogers pay-as-you-go, using an unlocked G1 from ebay, so I got no clue how this stuff works in Japan.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:11 pm

SQ wrote:Oh... Okay.
I thought that the newer iphones were not able ot be jailbroken because of some update Apple did.


It was... but they've already made a new jailbreak that covers the new update
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:29 pm

Oh yeah, almost forgot, I don't think Softbank offers unlimited bandwidth with iPhone anymore (unless you're grandfathered in by contract) over the 3G.

I do however know someone who was able to buy an unlocked Nexus One from ebay was able to use it with Softbank services. And since he had already paid for the phone, he wasn't locked into any contracts and paid month by month until he left the island and continues to use the phone under a US phone company now. Because of that, I'm under the understanding that as long as the phone has SIM card capabilities and unlocked (not tied down by any regions and such), you should be able to use it in Japan.

But I'm no expert, just basing that off of what I've seen, not through personal experience. So that's my disclaimer.

Otherwise, I find nothing wrong with my iPhone and Softbank, shitty reception at times, but I'm able to communicate and do everything else I want to do with my apps.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby Athena » Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:01 am

You are correct. I am grandfathered in. That does suck.

And yes, if you have an unlocked phone, Softbank, NTT, or Docomo all have month by month SIM cards.
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Re: Need Japanese Cell Phone + Service?

Postby kenisama » Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:52 am

Kionon wrote:You are correct. I am grandfathered in. That does suck.

lol yeah, I grabbed my iPhone on the last month before it changed over |:>
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