Does SoftBank still suck?

[bill]

With number portability in full swing even I have been tempted to look at other carriers. I've been with DoCoMo since the 90s but this is the first time I've even considered a switch in phones. I've read here and elsewhere about the abysmal coverage JPhone/Vodaphone had. However, every time I walk past a SoftBank store it's packed. What gives?

I took a look at their phones other day and checked out the specs. Today's SoftBank phones are a lot cooler than anything I've seen in the KDDI/AU or DoCoMo shops by far. The technical specs and design of their phones really are attractive. The prices aren't bad either.

Does the SoftBank coverage still suck? Am I crazy to be seduced by Cameron Diaz ads?

[TFG]

I got rid of my old PHS which cost me 1,800 Yen per month with no free calls for a softbank Keitai. I got the 705T phone which was free and came with a 512MB mini SD card. If you tell them you are changing from another company they will give you 2 months free service. That doesn't mean calls are free but the basic phone charge is free for 2 months.
I joined the WHITE plan which costs 980 Yen a month and if you make any calls to non softbank phones or even regular phones it is about 41 per minute.
All calls to softbank cell phones between 1 am and 9 pm are free.
If you sign up for mail and other services it will cost you a bit more on the monthly plan.

Works fine for me as I only need it to receive calls or call other sofbank cell phones.

Yeah, they have some cool phones in their shops right now but the newer ones are not free. That said, I had a 6 year old PHS so even a phone that came out 3 months ago is new to me so I went for the one with the free card so I can use it as an MP3 player. Oh, yeah, the software to connect the phone to the pc and the music box software is in English and the PDF manuals in English for most of the phones are on the web.


Hope this helps.

[bill]

Thanks for that info. It sounds like they have some fairly inexpensive plans. I don't know anyone else who has a SoftBank phone, so that could be an issue with the pricing. However, I would probably be getting a plan with more data packets and calls allowed anyway.

How's the area coverage of SoftBank now? I'm in Osaka, and I have great fear that if I go underground, up a tall building, or outside the city limits I'll be kengai [SIZE="1"](out of service area range)[/SIZE]. Do you have the same problems with reception that have been around since the Vodaphone days?

I see in the trains that AU won some award for being #1 for reception. I guess that depends who you talk to. If I got a SoftBank phone I wouldn't want to go through the connection hell that a lot of people here mention.

[FG Lurker]

I moved from Docomo to Jphone a number of years ago, stayed through Vodafone and now Softbank.

I'm now using Softbank 3G on a Samsung phone.

Overall I am happy with the service, but the signal does tend to drop off if you get too far into a big concrete building. I've not noticed any service problems when I move throughout Kansai, but I go out to rural Okayama fairly often in the warmer months and service out there is not good. Docomo is a lot better, especially if you are on the water. Softbank claims that they are working on this, I'll know more when I go down there next month. I haven't been since October.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

I think this is more of a 3G issue. I'm using a 2 year old non-3G vodaphone. Everyone else in my office is using a mix of DoCoMo and Vodaphone 3G phones. I am the only with full service, everone else blackout areas around the office with no service. And this is in Tokyo!?!

[Big Booger]

I've been with J-phone, Voda and Softbank for 6 years now and I still have the same phone I bought 6 years ago... It works fine, I can text message and receive calls... I would love to have that new softbank smart phone mentioned on here but my wife refuses to let me waste money on toys.

I can't complain about the price.. I have a regular bill between 3000-4000 yen per month, and I do a minimum of calling and text messaging. I forgot which plan I was on...

I have gotten the wife to agree when the battery on this 6 year old model fails to keep a charge, we're gonna turn her in for a new model

As for the coverage area, on my ancient phone, I have gotten signals everywhere from Shiretoko in Hokkaido, to Ushimado in rural Okayama. With the desultory dropoff here and there...

http://broadband.mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/service_area/map_pdc.pdf

That should give you a better idea of the service area at least up to April 2006... I am sure it has expanded ever since.

[GomiGirl]

I don't that Softbank was ever major suckage but it did get a bad rep in the press so people assumed it was sucky.

All the carriers have their pros and cons - it just depends on what is important to the individual.

[TFG]

I have not problems in the sticks of Yokohama with Kengai, not even up in the woods with absolutely nothing around here.

[madfuku]

I switched from AU to Softbank's 3G service. I got a Sharp 910SH which I really like and also got a 707SC for my GF which is a nice phone as well. I drive a lot and even hit the boonies every now and then especially to various onsen and I never have had a service problem yet.

So I am happy to have made the switch and have no regrets. My phone bill is even cheaper and my phone is smaller and nicer too!

[bill]

It sounds like those of you who stuck with the old 2G technology phones are the ones with the best reception. I think that's similar with all the carriers. The problems are encountered when you're talking about the 3G connectivity. I've had issues even with DoCoMo on that end. Since most all of the new phones are going 3G, how's SoftBank's coverage with those?

Given the Vodaphone roots of SoftBank's service, can you use a lot of these phones outside Japan?

[TFG]

Mine is a 3G phone and I have no problems as previously described.

[FG Lurker]

It sounds like those of you who stuck with the old 2G technology phones are the ones with the best reception. I think that's similar with all the carriers. The problems are encountered when you're talking about the 3G connectivity. I've had issues even with DoCoMo on that end. Since most all of the new phones are going 3G, how's SoftBank's coverage with those?

2G coverage is better than 3G coverage when you get outside the cities. From what I have been told and to some extent seen Softbank is investing quite a bit to improve their rural 3G coverage.

In the city I rarely have problems. I occasionally have a dropped call while driving (using a headset to stay nice and legal ]Given the Vodaphone roots of SoftBank's service, can you use a lot of these phones outside Japan?[/QUOTE]
Yes, most (all?) Softbank 3G phones work fine outside Japan. Expect to pay through the nose though, roaming charges are very high.

[maninjapan]

Yes, most (all?) Softbank 3G phones work fine outside Japan. Expect to pay through the nose though, roaming charges are very high.

Yep my Xmas phone bill - for 3 wks in the uk - was 35,000 yen - and I just emailed my girlfriend in Japan.

[FG Lurker]

Yep my Xmas phone bill - for 3 wks in the uk - was 35,000 yen - and I just emailed my girlfriend in Japan.

Sending too many "scenic photos" back and forth?

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Yes, most (all?) Softbank 3G phones work fine outside Japan. Expect to pay through the nose though, roaming charges are very high.

Most is the answer. I thought of getting the spanky Sharp model as I sometimes need 3G outside of Japan and I liked the feel of the phone (not too toyish). It's the only one that is Japan only as is stated as such is their sale brochures. Also seeing the 3G problems of people in the office was enough to not change.
Hell with broadband in the places I go to Skype is a better option anyway.