Cellphone, Iphone related question

[Toktogul]

Hi,
My name is Pierre, and i'M about to leave for Japan in August in group B. Today in the MOntreal's JET 2012 group on facebook, we were discussing about cellphones. I know I've read many times on this forum that you can't use your canadian cellphone in Japan, but I was wondering if an unlocked version of Iphone would work?

Also, how expensive is it to get a contract with an Iphone in Japan and is it easy?

thank you,
Pierre

[Musashi]

Well, cellphone companies are really strict in Japan.

If you go to the mobile companies shop with your unlocked iphone they won't sign you up and make you enter into a 2 year contract and pay up front for a phone at their kiosk.

There is a way around it though. Before you leave, research the mobile company you want in Japan. Then when you get to japan go buy a used phone from that company at a recycle store. (completely legit and legal)

Go to the mobile phone company and say you want to get the service you want and that you have a phone that you bought from a recycle store.

Once you sign up, toss the sim card in your iphone, input the apn info from your provider (If you get data) and voilà!

As for contract and prices I'm not too sure. You can really customize your service. I think you could check on their websites if you're up for a nihongo challenge though.

[Patryn]

unfortunately, iphone use micro sim cards which are different than standard sim cards, so you probably don't have much choice about it. I did read somewhere on this forum that the Softbank(or au) kiosk at Narita airport will sign you up on a SIM only plan for unlocked phones, but I can't remember or it might be old info. But most likely, you won't be able to use it as it is a phone that has not been purchased in Japan and as previous posts have said, they generally won't sign you up.

[Musashi]

Forgot about that. He can clip the sim to microsim sizes and it will work.

http://www.solutios.com/simcutting/

Lots of work to go iphone.

[EhimeDave]

I'm pretty sure that Musashi's plan would not work with the iphone because AU and Softbank both have unique contracts for the iphone. I don't think it would be possible to do the used phone switch-around with the iphone because you won't be able to get on the same data plans.

Let me know if I'm wrong here.

[pnksweater]

My husband has a Japanese i-phone. I have a domestic android smart phone. We are both on the same unlimited data pack, minimal calling plan package from AU.

We also spent some time trying to get a contract for a friend’s old i-phone (purchased in Japan). Softbank was willing to give us a contract for it, but I think the monetary savings (buying the friend’s phone and getting a non-promotional rate plan) over a new phone and the advertized plan was minimal. It also took a lot of phone calls and thumbing through procedure handbooks to get an answer as well. In my experience this usually means that it’s not a common procedure and some less enthusiastic reps won’t want to go to the trouble.

Will it hurt you to bring the phone to Japan and ask at your local Au or Softbank shop when you get here? Worst case scenario, you waste a little time and have to buy a new phone.

[Kirari]

I've never owned a smartphone before, so please excuse my noobiness. From the advice I've read on this forum, though, it seems as though it's a pretty good idea to get one upon arriving in Japan.

I would like to go the 'used' route, if possible, to save myself some money. Musashi mentioned recycle stores (second-hand shops, I presume?), and I've heard that phones can be bought via Yahoo Auctions. Are there disadvantages to doing this? I've never changed phones and kept the sim card before (barely even know what that is, lol). I saw it mentioned somewhere (can't remember) that there's an issue with email when buying a used phone - something about a main email address and extra ones, but you have to use the original owner's email?

I have no idea if that even made any sense. Advice, if you please?

[Patryn]

I saw many used iPhones and probably other phones in Akihabara, and I can't imagine why they'd sell them there if you aren't able to get a sim card for them... but then, I could be wrong!

I think it's generally a good idea to just buy your phone (whatever it may be) when you get to Japan as you'll encounter many of the same issues if you try and bring your one over here.

[Kirari]

I saw many used iPhones and probably other phones in Akihabara, and I can't imagine why they'd sell them there if you aren't able to get a sim card for them... but then, I could be wrong!

I think it's generally a good idea to just buy your phone (whatever it may be) when you get to Japan as you'll encounter many of the same issues if you try and bring your one over here.

Thanks for your advice, Patryn! I'm not trying to bring a phone over, though. I'm just wondering: can I buy a used phone somewhere in Japan and then bring it to a softbank or whatever for a contract? Will I have to use the previous owner's email address or something? Is it worth saving the money, or should I just get a brand new one? The latest and greatest aren't that important to me - I'd rather not have to pay out $500 for a phone before I get a paycheck, but I still want to be able to use google and whatnot for all those good things people say smartphones offer.

[Takoyaki]

Could anyone tell me how much is the average iphone contract per month tends to work out at???

[Mordoc]

Could anyone tell me how much is the average iphone contract per month tends to work out at???

I paid for my iPhone up front and I pay about ¥4400 per month. This is with Softbank, AU tends to be a little bit more, and DoCoMo (which doesn't have the iPhone yet, but plenty of other smartphones) is the most expensive.

[nicole.ai]

Could anyone tell me how much is the average iphone contract per month tends to work out at???

I just looked up this information for a couple of Japanese cell phone providers. Google Softbank. Their site has English and tells you exactly all the possible base rates you could possibly pay each month depending on what type of iPhone you get and if you pay for the phone outright or decided to pay it off monthly instead. AU's English site wasn't as comprehensive, but they do give you a small idea of what you'd pay. Not sure about any other cell phone providers since AU or Softbank are one of the two I'll probably end up going with.

[Patryn]

tbh, unless you're in a big-ish city with those 2nd hand stores in the same area as the phone company stores, it's probably a lot less hassle to just get a new phone from the phone company. The Softbank store I went to wouldn't accept my Alien Registration certificate thingy and I had to wait till I could get the actual card before they would let me buy a phone, which came after my first paycheck, so I was "without" a phone for the first month (i had a landline and my aussie phone).

I brought my phone from Australia with me and turned on International Roaming just in case someone needed to call me or something. I still have it so my friends
can send me SMS if they want to (at normal rates) and I'll just reply online. xD

[coop52]

Thanks for your advice, Patryn! I'm not trying to bring a phone over, though. I'm just wondering: can I buy a used phone somewhere in Japan and then bring it to a softbank or whatever for a contract? Will I have to use the previous owner's email address or something? Is it worth saving the money, or should I just get a brand new one? The latest and greatest aren't that important to me - I'd rather not have to pay out $500 for a phone before I get a paycheck, but I still want to be able to use google and whatnot for all those good things people say smartphones offer.

Not sure about buying and reusing phones, but it's probably ok. There's also phones that you don't have to pay for;you just pay for the plan. Check out Softbank, au, and Docomo's sites before you come. Look for the phones that have 0円; those don't need additional fees to use.

[Takoyaki]

kewlllll thanks for the advice guys