Good evening Everyone. So my husband and I have unlocked, jail broken cell phone... an Iphone and HTC Tilt 2. Can we use these phones in Japan? Do the Japanese cell phones use SIM cards? Thanks!

Posted By kasheta on 29 Jul 2010 03:53 PM
Do the Japanese cell phones use SIM cards? Thanks!

Yes, Japanese cell phones use SIM cards, but only Docomo and Softbank are potentially compatible (AU is not compatible - wrong bandwidth).

I have an iPhone 3GS purchased from Softbank here in Japan so I do not have personal experience with your particular situation.
However, I follow the tech blogs and it seems that many people are able to use unlocked iPhones from overseas with docomo here in Japan.
You cannot use an unlocked iPhone in Japan with Softbank as apparently they can detect the IMEI (all mobile phones are assigned a unique 15 digit IMEI code upon production), and once they determine that it is not a Softbank iPhone, you will be charged the full non-subsidized data rate which could easily go over 100,000 yen in one month.
Docomo has a data plan that IIRC is somewhere around 13,000 yen per month.
There are some threads on the Macrumors site under iPhone with related info.
Here is one: iphone in japan with docomo
Gaijinpot.com is another site that may have some related posts in the Telephone Communication section.

Great response BiginJapan.

My husband will be sad to hear he will have to give up sweet Iphone but it better to know now rather than later.

Take care.

I was able to use an unlocked T-Mobile G1 on Softbank, but that was a few months ago. A recent conversation with the on base Softbank rep leads me to believe that they wouldn't allow that anymore.

That, and for Softbank's double charging me, I'm looking at switching to Docomo.

Is there a cell phone kiosk on base there like there is here? We'll need to get phones (Sprint would want to charge us $5/month and $1.49/min to use it! lol) but if we can just wait to get there and talk to someone at the exchange about it that'd be great. Thanks!

Any suggestions pricewise as to which is better?

There is a Softbank at the NEX, but I would also recommend going off base to one of the dozens of shops in town. Many are a short walk from base and speak English. Softbank has one of the worst signals, where Docomo and AU have better reception. I can take calls no problem inside the NEX and commissary with AU, hubby's Docomo doesn't get a signal at all.  Check out the shops and see which carrier has a plan to suit you and a phone you want.

But... right now Softbank is the only one that has the iPhone, but rumors are it'll be on other carriers soon.  You're better off getting phones here.  Depending on your US phone, it probably won't even work here.

I got an HTC phone at Docomo and I'm very unhappy with it. I thought it would be more affordable than an iPhone, but it turns out that it's way more expensive! And the phone is slow and the applications don't work properly. My fault for not researching well before buying, but I hope to switch to Softbank eventually. My friends with iPhones from Softbank are very happy with theirs.

I heard that Docomo will let people use their iPhones there soon!

Thanks! I was worried that off base they wouldn't be very good at English, and I'd hate to get roped into a plan I don't need/etc just because of a language barrier That makes me feel better!

Your husband is still possible to use the iPhone in Japan with low monthly fee at 3960yen including 1000yen-worth free calls.
this flat rate data plan has recently been introduced by Japan Communications utilizing Docomo's tele-network. of course they're not gonna block or surcharge because of unlocked iPhone.

the only problem is that they only accept applications through their website and apparently they don't have english version of the submission form or any explanation page of talkingSIM.

http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/sim_t/index.html

do you think my unlock blackberry bold would work their also?

I lived in Japan 7 years. I had the same cellphone for all 7 years (which meant my cellphone was a 2001/2002 model). I loved it.

I had AU. And now that I'm in Europe using another cell phone with a different plan, I can look back and say: go with AU and get the cheapest phone you can get. Monthly charges were insane--I paid 2300 yen a month for 50 minutes. That's it. Over here in Europe it's night/day apples/oranges. But I'm just glad I didn't spend a lot in Japan getting the super duper bestest phone. Get a phone that lets you dial someone's number, speak to them, and hang up. And make sure the phone can save a bunch of your friends' numbers. Everything else is prologue and worthless.

Since Blackberry is compatible with Docomo's Network, it should work with talkingSIM although they haven't tested it yet according to the website, http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/sim_t/device.html

and I also found a website explaining how to use blackberry in the network. http://gagdet.wordpress.com/2010/06...%E7%94%A8/ (of cause in japanese..)  it says some applications utilizing BIS/BES don't work but everything else does.

the good thing is that they won't tie you up with long term subscription. you can quit anytime you want.

Posted By yasu on 13 Aug 2010 11:28 AM
Your husband is still possible to use the iPhone in Japan with low monthly fee at 3960yen including 1000yen-worth free calls.
this flat rate data plan has recently been introduced by Japan Communications utilizing Docomo's tele-network. of course they're not gonna block or surcharge because of unlocked iPhone.

You can find some information in English about this 3rd party service on the site below.
Link to article: softbanksucks.blogspot.com

Thank you for the info. That really helped.

"You cannot use an unlocked iPhone in Japan with Softbank as apparently they can detect the IMEI (all mobile phones are assigned a unique 15 digit IMEI code upon production) ...."

Actually you CAN use your unlocked U.S. iPhone in Japan on Softbank. That's what I'm doing, using a SIM from an old PAYG Softbank phone. I heard the same thing about the IMEI codes, but it's apparently not true, because I've been using mine for months, no problem.

Is anyone aware if it is possible for us to keep our DROIDs and switch them over there to a Cell Co Japan?

So what kind of smart phone does AU have?

This is the Android they have coming out this month. I've been peeking at it, but since the apps are in Japanese...
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/seih...index.html

How do I go about finding out if it is my AU phone that doesn't get reception or if it is the AU network that doesn't work?  And how much will it cost me to get rid of it and get any other company?

What company actually gets reception on base?  All parts of base, not just very small parts of base.