Keitai in Japan....

[spyder]

Hey all.

I will be moving to Japan soon, and will be buying a new Keitai.

Can someone please give me some indication, or a few websites that can show me the price of the phones, and the plans you can join? I will be looking at going with DoCoMo probably. I am in Australia, and I am usure if Japan uses the same 'plan system' as us, however I know the phones are totally different...

Cheers!

-Scott

[AssKissinger]

Gomi has some kind of magic keitai that can translate pictures of kanji or something like that.

[GomiGirl]

Information on the various plans from all three networks can be found at the following sites.

NTT DoCoMo
Vodafone
EZWeb

Since you are looking at a new plan I would suggest you look at a "Packet Houdai" plan which means you get an unlimted amount of packets - you are charged for every email you send and recieve (not vodafone) and also for surfing the net. Bear in mind that you may be limited on the handset you choose if you want this option.

You may think that all you want to do is make calls and send emails but once you start using the fantastic services that Japanese mobiles offer, you will wonder what you ever did without them. Check other threads for the cool things that Japanese mobile phones will do.

When deciding what plan to get, the cheapest monthly plan may not work out the cheapest overall. Talk to the staff at the various stores as they are fantastic in helping you with the best plan for your needs.

You can also switch over plans at anytime at no charge should your useage differ to what you thought it would.

[GomiGirl]

Gomi has some kind of magic keitai that can translate pictures of kanji or something like that.

I do have a magic keitai!!!

But if you are clever you can have one too!!!

[CAkOS]

and some even have built in EN/JP dictionary

[GomiGirl]

and some even have built in EN/JP dictionary

Yes some do but they are very very limited.. they have the same number of words that are perhaps in Berlitz travel phrase book. Only really useful for an absolute J-noob or a tourist.

[spyder]

Thanks guys!

As I will be there for 3 months, does Japan have pre-paid options like we have in Australia, as I'm sure that would work out a whole lot cheaper for me.... However the condition is that I want an awesome phone - to keep

-Scott

[GomiGirl]

Prepaid in Japan blows... it is not like in Australia.

Get a proper phone on contract...

But then also ask Ultra for his recent 1yen phone debacle...

[Ketou]

But then also ask Ultra for his recent 1yen phone debacle...

lol his phone must be running a microsoft OS!

[Taro Toporific]

.... However the condition is that I want an awesome phone - to keep

"Awesome phones" almost never will work back home, and they seldom come with an English interface. Just get the cheapest contract for your 3 month timeframe which most likely will be a basic plain-jane 3G camphone.

The worst case example is the newest cho-kool "Penck": 34,000yen, 700 page JAPANESE manual, and waiting list to purchase at most au stores.

[FG Lurker]

Thanks guys!

As I will be there for 3 months, does Japan have pre-paid options like we have in Australia, as I'm sure that would work out a whole lot cheaper for me.... However the condition is that I want an awesome phone - to keep

-Scott

There will be no point in keeping a Docomo phone -- they only work in Japan. You might have better luck with Vodaphone 3G as they are multiband. I highly doubt you will be able to get one unlocked though.......

If you are only staying for 3 months then you are likely planning on coming via tourist visa, right? You can't get a phone because you won't have a gaijin card. You will have to get someone (likely your gf) get one for you.

[Kuang_Grade]

This topic has come a couple times in the past... I believe my own web research on this topic is what brought me here to FG for the first time.

Temporary phone options in Japan?
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7598
"pay-as-you-go" style Mobiles in Japan
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8490

There are pros and cons to both contract and prepaid phones...it depends what you want in a phone, your usage levels and how much help/what kind of J skillz you have on the ground with you in Japan.

In my opinion, this is how it breaks down
Prepaid
Pros- Simple easy to understand rates, can't get over your head, no contract/banking issues
Cons-Limited phone choice and Older style phones (think phones from 2 years ago) with few to no sexy features and limited service options (no downloadable games, ect), rates are higher

Contract
Pros-Lots of dead sexy phones, full service options, cheaper rates, cheap phones (although not as cheap when you factor in the application and termination fees if you are only a short timer)
Cons-Seemingly 100's of possible rates/rate plans, likely need some local help with dealing with staff, immigration status MAY be a factor for paperwork needed for the contract (I'm not positive about this)

I got a prepaid and it worked out quite well for my needs, but my needs and level of use were very limited.

However, since the above posts were made, I believe the phone companies have been tightening up on prepaid phones due to crime concerns (before you could buy them off the street, literally...I walked by a guy with selling them off a small table on sidewalk in Kabuki-cho). They are still available but I believe now they want to see some ID before they sell them.

The two main prepaid players are now vodaphone and KDDI (Docomo has pulled out of the market)

here's vodaphone Japan main English page
http://www.vodafone.jp/scripts/english/top.jsp
...if you can get past the drool worthy contract phones, you'll see a button on the right for prepaid plans and the much less sexy J-sa06 phone on the prepaid plan. You can also look at the linear programming nature of contract rate plans.

Here's KDDI's english page
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/index.html

[spyder]

Yeah I know it wont work in Australia - that's cool tho

.... However the condition is that I want an awesome phone - to keep

"Awesome phones" almost never will work back home