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Softbank Japan and iPhone 3G (Merged Thread)
- Thread starter Podgy
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i'm waiting on the plans that softbank will do for the iphone, their current smartphone data houdai plans (not the regular 3g ones) are a little too expensive for me.. something like 9800 without calls (not that many people call in japan)
luckily in shikoku there is coverage where i am with softbank just hoping good deals were organised. i really want to get the iphone and also try out this mobileme to see if i want to get that as well (nice for the webhosting)
luckily in shikoku there is coverage where i am with softbank just hoping good deals were organised. i really want to get the iphone and also try out this mobileme to see if i want to get that as well (nice for the webhosting)
ホワイットプラん？
A lot depends on the usage plans Softbank offers indeed.
Softbank has a HUGE opportunity with the iPhone...
Will they blow it by offering expensive plans or think smart
and offer a reasonable plan and rake that yen in....
I need to KNOW!
P.S. If anyones already got an iphone and is buying one in Tokyo in August, let me know when you've finished with it?
;o)
A lot depends on the usage plans Softbank offers indeed.
Softbank has a HUGE opportunity with the iPhone...
Will they blow it by offering expensive plans or think smart
and offer a reasonable plan and rake that yen in....
I need to KNOW!
P.S. If anyones already got an iphone and is buying one in Tokyo in August, let me know when you've finished with it?
;o)
FarSeide
macrumors 6502a
I will be bring that one back from Japan so I wont be able to leave it for you as a gift. 🙂
FarSeide
macrumors 6502a
I wonder if its going to be same OS as the US version. I wonder if the menu will be in Japanese instead of English.
?? All iPhones can have their interfaces changed to any of the supported languages.
What I want to know is if the Japanese kana keyboard will include emoticons and icons. These are essential for daily communication.
What I want to know is if the Japanese kana keyboard will include emoticons and icons. These are essential for daily communication.
Softwank
Well, just back from the Softbank shop.
They dont know anything regarding pricing/plans.
They could state that right now(yeah right) theres no reservations
makable for the iPhone in the store I went in and that the iPhone will
fall into one of the existing usage plans...He wouldnt/couldnt say if that meant the white plan.
Do I take the 11th off and trundle to the Softbank shop to find out its ridiculously over-priced and/or sold out because they started taking reservations but told me otherwise?
Frak this...
Well, just back from the Softbank shop.
They dont know anything regarding pricing/plans.
They could state that right now(yeah right) theres no reservations
makable for the iPhone in the store I went in and that the iPhone will
fall into one of the existing usage plans...He wouldnt/couldnt say if that meant the white plan.
Do I take the 11th off and trundle to the Softbank shop to find out its ridiculously over-priced and/or sold out because they started taking reservations but told me otherwise?
Frak this...
8GB model - 23000Yen, monthly charge 980Yen , Data Plan 5985Yen
So that works out to be about: ($US)
8GB model - $215 , monthly charge $10 , Data Plan $55
So that works out to be about: ($US)
8GB model - $215 , monthly charge $10 , Data Plan $55
U and me both! maybe we wont find out till we have already signed the contract lol
sweet! about twice what i'm paying with AU currently (for the plan) but hey, it's the iphone. i actually thought it was going to cost a lot more as most things here do. i can't wait until the 11th!
adamerr
macrumors 6502a
it'll be - - -
1) here's the iPhone
2) sign here
3) by the way, we are charging you $1,000 per month to make 1 call....
to which i reply " LEG IT!!!! "
Hm. Supposedly the iPhone doesn't support MMS, yet you have to pay for a basic S! (MMS messaging) package. I'm confused.
And call me a dork, but I really want to know if emoticon support is included, or if my messages will be full of geta symbols.
And call me a dork, but I really want to know if emoticon support is included, or if my messages will be full of geta symbols.
Stuff THIS !!!
Ok OK - I understand that 980 yen is really cheap (white plan) so maybe they have to add on a 6000 yen surplus charge to make money (from using the net) but what about if you're not on that plan ???
It states on the softbank page (rough translation sorry) : In addition, Web FURUBURAUJINGU, as well as video services and map services, telecommunications charges without having to worry about new services available to as "straight-line full packet" (5,985 yen per month)"
So i guess its for unlimited packet data eg: GPS and youtube download - which I'll probably won't use at all unless I have access to free Wi-fi.....
But currently my base rate is around 4,500 yen so Im not paying a stupid 6000 yen extra bull$%^& charge....just to surf the internet !
My students were saying today that the Japanese Iphone has a special chip relating to Softbank....Anyone know about this ??? I wonder if its going to be hard to jailbreak here....
Ok OK - I understand that 980 yen is really cheap (white plan) so maybe they have to add on a 6000 yen surplus charge to make money (from using the net) but what about if you're not on that plan ???
It states on the softbank page (rough translation sorry) : In addition, Web FURUBURAUJINGU, as well as video services and map services, telecommunications charges without having to worry about new services available to as "straight-line full packet" (5,985 yen per month)"
So i guess its for unlimited packet data eg: GPS and youtube download - which I'll probably won't use at all unless I have access to free Wi-fi.....
But currently my base rate is around 4,500 yen so Im not paying a stupid 6000 yen extra bull$%^& charge....just to surf the internet !
My students were saying today that the Japanese Iphone has a special chip relating to Softbank....Anyone know about this ??? I wonder if its going to be hard to jailbreak here....
Damn ! Im being drawn to it by the hype !!
Should I pay almost 10,000 yen ??? ummmm - the data plan is unlimited....but i hope that "unlimited" doesnt have a limit....!!!!
Evil Boy - Great thread by the way - just what I needed....
Your blog states......
"There is a special USIM (SIM card) for iPhone. Customers who change their SoftBank phone to iPhone will be required to exchange their SIM card. Moreover, dedicated iPhone USIM (SIM card) can not be used in other phones. That prevents iPhone to be used with regular SoftBank price plans and additionally locks the device."
SO the USIM is being used to keep the device locked - I wonder if its the same in other countries ??? Is the sim card the same as normal phones or Are softbank trying to lock it into their network ??? Also since S!mail cant be used - what will happen if a jailbroken phone (if it can be unlocked) is used here (no mail it seems ?)
Should I pay almost 10,000 yen ??? ummmm - the data plan is unlimited....but i hope that "unlimited" doesnt have a limit....!!!!
Evil Boy - Great thread by the way - just what I needed....
Your blog states......
"There is a special USIM (SIM card) for iPhone. Customers who change their SoftBank phone to iPhone will be required to exchange their SIM card. Moreover, dedicated iPhone USIM (SIM card) can not be used in other phones. That prevents iPhone to be used with regular SoftBank price plans and additionally locks the device."
SO the USIM is being used to keep the device locked - I wonder if its the same in other countries ??? Is the sim card the same as normal phones or Are softbank trying to lock it into their network ??? Also since S!mail cant be used - what will happen if a jailbroken phone (if it can be unlocked) is used here (no mail it seems ?)
1) It looks like it will be locked to the new USIM, so you can not use it with regular plans (standard regular sim) skipping hefty data plan price tag
2) jailbroken iPhone will have a hard time in Japan - unless you already have one of those "you name it (i)" plans you won't be able to access new mail server
You mean an unlocked phone, right? Jailbroken means that you can run 3rd-party applications on it, while unlocking it would allow you to use it with other Softbank plans & other carriers.
Evilboy, could you provide a source for this USIM stuff? I assume this is just a device-based lock on the Softbank network that will eventually be able to be unlocked through hacks for use in other countries with other services.
I doubt Softbank will provide an unlock code when I end up leaving the country a year or so from now, but I want to be sure that the hardware isn't different, or special. I want to use it in the USA so I plan to unlock it at some point in the future.
I meant unlocked of course, sorry
Here is the special USIM announcement directly from the official SoftBank press release:
Also, I don't think Japanese iPhone hardware is any different.
That being said unlocked Japanese iPhone could be used with different SoftBank plans (BUT - @i.softbank.jp mail won't work as it comes with the iPhone plans) as well as different carriers. It is worth to notice that current X series phones support standard S!Mail (special Windows Mobile mail app), so in theory it would be possible to write iPhone mail application for S!Mail...
Here is the special USIM announcement directly from the official SoftBank press release:
Also, I don't think Japanese iPhone hardware is any different.
That being said unlocked Japanese iPhone could be used with different SoftBank plans (BUT - @i.softbank.jp mail won't work as it comes with the iPhone plans) as well as different carriers. It is worth to notice that current X series phones support standard S!Mail (special Windows Mobile mail app), so in theory it would be possible to write iPhone mail application for S!Mail...
tbohlsennswssrg
macrumors regular
Here's an English translation of that press release:
"iPhone 3G USIM will be a dedicated and model changes (further buying) case, USIM dedicated to the need to switch. In addition, the exclusive USIM, iPhone 3G is not available in other models."