Crappy cell phones

[ismetony]

The worst phone I've ever had was a Tsuka. It was cheap but not user friendly at all. I would steer very clear of them. I have never had any problems with all mu other phones from DoCoMo.

[Blah Pete]

Used to have a Docomo from work and it sucked too. Had Tsuka from work for a while and agree that it is not user friendly.
I have always had my cellphones provided by my employer but had to break down and buy one for personal use.
I got a phone from "au", made by Sanyo called "Global Passport". Reception is good, can call overseas too. One reason I like it is that you can set the menu up to operate all English. It comes with a Japanese and English manual although the English manual doesn`t have all the info that the Japanese manual does.
I think the phone cost about 4,500.

[American Oyaji]

The phone system doesnt really matter.

The phone maker does. Some offer Bilingual support and others dont.

I always chose the system based on the type of phone I wanted and needed.

Never had any problems with DoCoMo

[Kurofune]

I heard today that NTT Docomo has problems with their system being overloaded. The person who told me this also recommended AU. He said the phones were usually cheaper than Docomo, had better reception and sound quality, and the Sony and Panasonic models are bilingual. I think I'll get one.

[American Oyaji]

I never heard of AU 2 years ago. what does AU stand for?

But when I get back to Japan, I DEFINITELY will look it up.

[Blah Pete]

Don`t think AU stands for anything. It is actually prounced like 'ow' , the word used for when you stub your toe if you don`t use cuss words. Never heard anyone call it 'A-U'.

[American Oyaji]

oh ok thanks

Makes me think of Australia for some odd reson.

[stuckinkysuhu]

Actually - the official pronounciation is "a-u" (EI YUU) as thats how its pronounced on the commercials. But that doesn't really matter as the important think is whether its good or not.

My take is that is rules. They have great service, and give foreigners no problem. Actually if you want to sign up for Docomo you have to pay a 30,000 yen deposit cause you're foreign. That is the biggest bullshit I have ever seen. For students, AU service is actually half price and thats why it has come from nowhere to being the 2nd most popular maker even ahead of J-phone. In fact, in recent months new customers at AU have been higher than anywhere else (if you must know - i know all this after hitting on an AU shop girl haha) As for a specific phone, I just bought the new SANYO model with a camera attached and a screen on both the front and inside. It is excellent and I get a lot of use out of it. (it costs around 18,000)

[canman]

I think another reason that AU is the best phone company is that they use Qualcom's technology, which if I'm not mistaken is now the world standard. While DoCOMO, uses its own technology which seems to be inferior, but they continue to push it, since they invented it, and refuse to go to anther platform. And admit it, AU has much better CM's than DOCOMO.

[American Oyaji]

30,000 yen deposit?!!?!

I never had to do that. When did they start that?

I think it may have to do with the type of visa you have.
I had a spousal visa and thus I wasn't likely to go anywhere.

Hmm,
I dont think thats legal and it may have been a local thing in my opinion.

[stuckinkysuhu]

American Oyaji --> It actually just started recently. I cannot remember the exact date but I do believe it was around the middle of this year. There has been huge outcry from the foreign community and since then I do believe that Docomo has allowed Permanent Residents the right not to pay the deposit. also the deposit doesn't apply to existing customers. So it would likely not affect you if you already have a contract with them. But for new people signing up, the demand for 30,000 is presented. A step back in the battle against discrimination? Looks like it.

[kamome]

I personally would look into J-Phone before buying an AU phone. Having a small market share, AU does not offer as much support. J-Phone is the number 2 company after DoCoMo, so you would have no problem finding customer support shops if you have a problem. Also, if you want a camera phone, J-Phone made that technology popular with its sha-mail service. Most people with camera phones are on the J-Phone network, making it easier to send pics/movies to them. J-Phone's models are cheap and have all the features you could want on a cell phone. Finally, J-Phone's parent company is Vodaphone (Britain's leading cell phone company), so you can get the overseas usability that AU has.

[stuckinkysuhu]

Actually kamome,

J-phone has recently been aquired by Vodaphone but that means nothing with regard to its overseas usability. J-phone and Docomo both use the same digital technology, which is unique to Japan. It is different than the 2 most common world technologies, GSM (mainly Europe) and CDMA(mainly North America and other parts of Asia). Au, on the other hand uses CDMA, so it partners itself with providers in other countries that use CDMA technology enabling au users with the right kind of phone to make phone calls from those countries. With the other providers, a seperate phone that doesn't use the Japan only system would be needed right?

As for the second point, saying Au has a small market share is a miscalculation. I haven't seen this years figures but as of last year Au still had a bigger market share than J-phone. It is also backed by the giant company KDDI, just like Docomo is backed by NTT so there is a huge network to support it.

As for the camera phones, J-phone did popularize the camera phone but as of now all 3 of the big players sell camera phones. They are usually the same phone too, made by the same manufacturer but just with "au" or "docomo" or "jphone" stuck on the front.

So don't count Au out - its cheaper and it holds its own against the other 2 companies.

[American Oyaji]

Tell me more, Tell me more!!

Lots of good info here.

BTW, remember when Leonardo DiCraprio was promoting a phone called CDMA-1? Wasnt that with a company called Cellular?

Whatever happened to that company? That had some of the COOLEST comercials. Back in 1995, I remember during the summer they some people dancing matsuri dances dressed in yukatas and that shorts set that is made of yukata material but only men wear them? (I have 2 sets but cant remember the name of that).
Any way they were dancing and shouting, "CERURA, CERURA keitai denwa CERURA"

Anyone remember this CM?

[Blah Pete]

My phone will work in Korea, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong. US support is limited to major cities according to the brochure. Haven't tried it in the US yet.
Took it to Korea during World Cup and had no problems.

[stuckinkysuhu]

CDMA-1 is the same as CDMAOne i suppose.
I am guessing that the service you speak of was a KDDI one. The KDDI mobile services have had many names but finally they found a brand "au" that stuck well with consumers. Of course, it could be a different player. In any case, the only CDMAOne network today is Au I think

[American Oyaji]

WOW.

Didnt know that. Thanks for the info.
You guys are definitely knowledgeable.

[GomiGirl]

I have just spent all day playing with my new P504is. Have to say that it is great!! 2 cameras which is a novel idea but actually quite handy as you can see when you are taking a photo of yourself.. huge ego trip but heaps of fun.
Have no idea how the price will stack up as I don't pay for my phones or charges.. but it is great...

Must admit that I have all brands of phones and carriers. The programming and service available for AU is different but it is great to take the phone OS when I need to.

[kamome]

stuckinkyushu mentioned that J-Phone's takeover by Vodaphone has nothing to do with its overseas capability. That's not true: Vodaphone has said that it will be making its overseas capabilities available to J-Phone users.

[gomichild]

I swapped from Docomo to j-phone about a week ago. At the j-phone store I got a relatively new type bilingual phone with a ccd camera for 4,000 yen! Go skymail!

[Taro Toporific]

I swapped from Docomo to j-phone about a week ago.

You and 1 million other Japanese swapped. J-Phone which is really the Brit company Vodafone is overtaking DoCoMo.

So ... JapanInc did the big slapdown on the evil alien Vodafone threat...

Japan monopoly watchdog raids mobile firm J-Phone
Reuters / Wednesday November 20, 2:19 AM EST

TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Japan's third-largest mobile phone operator, J-Phone Corp, said on Wednesday the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) had raided its headquarters and some branch offices on suspicion of fixing retail prices on handsets.

J-Phone is operated by Japan Telecom Holdings Co Ltd (9434) and its British parent, Vodafone Group Plc (VOD).

... the raids, carried out on Wednesday morning, concerned the alleged fixing of handset retail prices.

SHEESH.

[cstaylor]

Jeez, that's pathetic. Let's see what Britain does next.