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3G iPhone in Japan?

re: advice from other Japanese iphone3G users

I am currently in Japan and want to ask a couple of quick questions:
1. For those who can sign up with Softbank to get the iphone local plan pricing, is it possible to get it without the data plan? From what I've seen from other users on white plan, it looks like you need the data plan to go with it.

2. If you sign up for say a 24 month contract, what happens if you have to cancel the contract after 12 months?
 
fustyler said:
I am currently in Japan and want to ask a couple of quick questions:
1. For those who can sign up with Softbank to get the iphone local plan pricing, is it possible to get it without the data plan? From what I've seen from other users on white plan, it looks like you need the data plan to go with it.
Click to expand...

The 5980 yen per month unlimited data plan is mandatory, unfortunately. I would have gotten one by now if not.

2. If you sign up for say a 24 month contract, what happens if you have to cancel the contract after 12 months?
Click to expand...

Well on top of any cancellation fees which I'm not sure about I know you would immediately become responsible for the remaining balance of the TOTAL cost of the phone. In other words, if it is the 16GB model you would owe the total balance of the 87840 yen price. Softbank funds a little more than half of the list price for existing Softbank customers but the only way to get that money back is by 1920 yen deductions from the 3660 yen (x24) monthly payments on each month's bill. If you cancel early you will be required to pay the full remaining balance immediately. After 12 months that would 43920 yen for the 16GB.
 
Which voice plan?

Hmmm...

Seems the "Double White" plan is a fair deal at 2000yen/month - you get free calls to other SB users but 20yen/minute to others.

Or the "Simple Orange L" - 2300yen/month and only 10 yen/min to everyone...

What plan are you all using?
 
Anybody else confused with all the different plans?

joshmentzer said:
What plan are you all using?
Click to expand...

I was going to get the normal Whiteplan with the optional plan (voice mail/call waiting/etc).

But what is the difference between the Whiteplan and double Whiteplan? It just seems excessively confusing: whiteplan, goldplan, blueplan, orangeplan... blah, blah, blah...
 
tony-in-japan said:
But what is the difference between the Whiteplan and double Whiteplan? It just seems excessively confusing: whiteplan, goldplan, blueplan, orangeplan... blah, blah, blah...
Click to expand...

The regular white plan (980 yen/month) costs 40 yen/minute to call non-Softbank phones, free to family members (on a family plan) 24/7 and free to all other Softbank users except 9PM to 1AM when it is the same price as calling non-Softbank numbers. For an additional 980 yen/month fee the double white plan halves the cost to call non-softbank phones (20 yen/minute) and other Softbank users between 9PM-1AM.

See here for more info.
 
SaSaSushi said:
The regular white plan (980 yen/month) costs 40 yen/minute to call non-Softbank phones, free to family members (on a family plan) 24/7 and free to all other Softbank users except 9PM to 1AM when it is the same price as calling non-Softbank numbers. For an additional 980 yen/month fee the double white plan halves the cost to call non-softbank phones (20 yen/minute) and other Softbank users between 9PM-1AM.
Click to expand...
To add...

The break even point is around 47 talk minutes per month to non-Softbank phones. So if you talk more than 47 minutes each month on average, the Double White Plan will save you money. And if you talk less than 47 minutes, then the White Plan will save you money.

Here are some cost comparisons.

30 minutes per month, or 1 minute per day:

WP --> 2,240 yen

DWP --> 2,590 yen

60 minutes per month, or 2 minutes per day:

WP --> 3,500 yen

DWP --> 3,220 yen

150 minutes per month, or 5 minutes per day:

WP --> 7,280 yen

DWP --> 5,110 yen

Bottom line, is that Softbank is marketing a pricing structure that will encourage friends to use them as the cell phone provider. I have a feeling that this plan is going to work well for them.
 
sushi said:
To add...

The break even point is around 47 talk minutes per month to non-Softbank phones. So if you talk more than 47 minutes each month on average, the Double White Plan will save you money. And if you talk less than 47 minutes, then the White Plan will save you money.

Here are some cost comparisons.

30 minutes per month, or 1 minute per day:

WP --> 2,240 yen

DWP --> 2,590 yen

60 minutes per month, or 2 minutes per day:

WP --> 3,500 yen

DWP --> 3,220 yen

150 minutes per month, or 5 minutes per day:

WP --> 7,280 yen

DWP --> 5,110 yen

Bottom line, is that Softbank is marketing a pricing structure that will encourage friends to use them as the cell phone provider. I have a feeling that this plan is going to work well for them.
Click to expand...
Very useful info - thanks for doing the math on this! :D
 
oftheheavens said:
how much is it for the optional visual voicemail, call waiting thing?
Click to expand...

It's 498Y for the pack including call waiting, three-way calling and visual voicemail, IIRC. Not a terrible deal, especially when you consider that on the iPhone, all three are actually useful and easy to use (unlike with other phones) ... ;)
 
Good news...

Okay, seems like they have some stock of 16GB iPhones in my area (Saitama/north of Tokyo)... but only in white.

I was wanting a black one, but I think I will go for the white one instead of waiting. Besides, my wife wants a white one but wants to see mine first, so if she does decide to get one in the future, she can get a black one and we can just exchange the coloured backs (I assume it is easy to take apart) if I really want black.

Saying that, I heard the white looks pretty nifty and is less prone to being a finger-mark magnet! Well, doesn’t really make much difference to me as I have ordered an Vaja iVolution case to go with it.

Will keep others updated if I experience any problems with using it in Japan.

One thing I am on the lookout for the iPhone is a good English-Japanese dictionary. I wish the Leopard OSX dictionary was available for the iPhone. It is great as it has Japanese support.

Anybody else have good recommendations for Japanese learning apps (now or upcoming) on the iPhone?
 
mavis said:
Very useful info - thanks for doing the math on this! :D
Click to expand...
Glad to help.

One thing that I didn't mention, is that I calculated the WP and DWP into the figures above.

I thought that it might be nice to see the overall cost, not including the iPhone cost itself, breakdown.

From the Softbank web site:
¥ 980 - White Plan (i) basic monthly charge
¥5,985 - Packet Flat-rate Full fixed charge
¥ 315 - S! Basic Pack (i)
¥7,280 - Total (not including iPhone cost over 24 months)

Again, with 47 minutes of talk time per month to non-Softbank phones is the break even point.

Here are some cost comparisons.

30 minutes per month, or 1 minute per day:

WP --> 8,540 yen
DWP --> 8,890 yen

60 minutes per month, or 2 minutes per day:

WP --> 9,800 yen
DWP --> 9,520 yen

150 minutes per month, or 5 minutes per day:

WP --> 13,580 yen
DWP --> 11,410 yen

Again, these figures do not include the iPhone cost which can be prorated over 24 months.
 
sushi said:
I thought that it might be nice to see the overall cost, not including the iPhone cost itself, breakdown.

From the Softbank web site:
¥ 980 - White Plan (i) basic monthly charge
¥5,985 - Packet Flat-rate Full fixed charge
¥ 315 - S! Basic Pack (i)
¥7,280 - Total (not including iPhone cost over 24 months)
Click to expand...

Yeah, too rich for my blood. :confused:

I found a great deal online on a 16GB iPod Touch and just took delivery of it this afternoon.

In the end I just decided that I am really most interested in the apps and the net connectivity, e-mail, etc and the 3G, phone, GPS and camera etc in no way make up for the monthly fees.

I also considered waiting until September when the next iPod Touch revision is rumored but I don't even need 32GB much less the 64GB people are expecting. I guess the prices may drop and some new features (GPS??) may be included but whatever. I pulled the trigger.
 
sushi said:
Glad to help.

One thing that I didn't mention, is that I calculated the WP and DWP into the figures above.

I thought that it might be nice to see the overall cost, not including the iPhone cost itself, breakdown.

From the Softbank web site:
¥ 980 - White Plan (i) basic monthly charge
¥5,985 - Packet Flat-rate Full fixed charge
¥ 315 - S! Basic Pack (i)
¥7,280 - Total (not including iPhone cost over 24 months)

Again, with 47 minutes of talk time per month to non-Softbank phones is the break even point.

Here are some cost comparisons.

30 minutes per month, or 1 minute per day:

WP --> 8,540 yen
DWP --> 8,890 yen

60 minutes per month, or 2 minutes per day:

WP --> 9,800 yen
DWP --> 9,520 yen

150 minutes per month, or 5 minutes per day:

WP --> 13,580 yen
DWP --> 11,410 yen

Again, these figures do not include the iPhone cost which can be prorated over 24 months.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the breakdown.

And shucks. There's no way I'll be able to afford the iPhone. Potentially 9,520 yen/month WITHOUT the cost of the phone included.

Now, there are 'free' phones that don't have a monthly costs, aren't there? Like the older models or something.
 
total cost of ownership for 16gb iphone in Japan

I believe following is the breakdown for cost of 16gb iphone plan:
3360Yen iPhone installment
5985Yen data plan
315Yen S-Basic Plan
980Yen White Plan (i)
6Yen Universal Service

-1920Yen monthly discount

TOTAL: 8726Yen per month (x24months = 209,424yen)

Anyone know what the cancellation cost is if the plan is terminated after a year?
 
fustyler said:
I believe following is the breakdown for cost of 16gb iphone plan:
3360Yen iPhone installment
5985Yen data plan
315Yen S-Basic Plan
980Yen White Plan (i)
6Yen Universal Service

-1920Yen monthly discount

TOTAL: 8726Yen per month (x24months = 209,424yen)

Anyone know what the cancellation cost is if the plan is terminated after a year?
Click to expand...
I believe that your cost estimate is correct for the 16GB phone.

That is assuming that you do not make any phone calls to non-Softbank phones. Otherwise, you will incur that additional phone call cost that I described above.

I am not sure about the cancelation fee. Common sense would indicate that you would have to at least pay for the cost of the phone remaining on the contract.

What you need to find out is if you pay the full price or the discounted price. My bet would be on the full price of the iPhone.
 
sushi said:
What you need to find out is if you pay the full price or the discounted price. My bet would be on the full price of the iPhone.
Click to expand...

The FULL cost of the iPhone. For example, even if one wanted to pay up front for the whole cost of the phone you'd need to pay the 87840 yen list price and then you would just get the subsidized "deductions" back each month on your bill in 24 installments. There is no other way and cancellation of a contract also cancels the subsidy leaving the customer liable for the remaining balance in full.
 
SaSaSushi said:
The FULL cost of the iPhone. For example, even if one wanted to pay up front for the whole cost of the phone you'd need to pay the 87840 yen list price and then you would just get the subsidized "deductions" back each month on your bill in 24 installments. There is no other way and cancellation of a contract also cancels the subsidy leaving the customer liable for the remaining balance in full.
Click to expand...
I see. That makes perfect sense. Thanks.

The iPhone is definitely for those who have money to spend.
 
tony-in-japan said:
Okay, seems like they have some stock of 16GB iPhones in my area (Saitama/north of Tokyo)... but only in white.

I was wanting a black one, but I think I will go for the white one instead of waiting. Besides, my wife wants a white one but wants to see mine first, so if she does decide to get one in the future, she can get a black one and we can just exchange the coloured backs (I assume it is easy to take apart) if I really want black.

Saying that, I heard the white looks pretty nifty and is less prone to being a finger-mark magnet! Well, doesn’t really make much difference to me as I have ordered an Vaja iVolution case to go with it.

Will keep others updated if I experience any problems with using it in Japan.

One thing I am on the lookout for the iPhone is a good English-Japanese dictionary. I wish the Leopard OSX dictionary was available for the iPhone. It is great as it has Japanese support.

Anybody else have good recommendations for Japanese learning apps (now or upcoming) on the iPhone?
Click to expand...

lingolook japan is a decent english to japan app
 
Can you check your bill/statement via the iPhone?

oftheheavens said:
lingolook japan is a decent english to japan app
Click to expand...

I agree. It is pretty basic but good for beginners travelling to Japan for a short stay.

Maybe a good option for me is to use a English-Japanese dictionary via the web-browser instead.

About the iPhone via Softbank, is it possible to check your current total bill at anytime including how many calls you have made and the cost of these calls? Or do you only discover the final bill amount at the end of the month?
 
And do any of those prices that you guys have been quoting, do they include any kind of data package, or is that extra?

Is the 5985Yen data plan for unlimited data?
 
sealab2021 said:
And do any of those prices that you guys have been quoting, do they include any kind of data package, or is that extra?

Is the 5985Yen data plan for unlimited data?
Click to expand...
The 5,985 yen cost is for the mandatory unlimited data plan. You cannot get he iPhone without it.

You cannot get the iPhone without it.

You also need a phone plan, which is the White Plan (980 yen, no free minutes to non-Softbank phones, each minute costs 42 yen) or the Double White Plan (1,960 yen, no free minutes to non-Softbank phones, each minute costs 21 yen).

There are other plans as well, but Softbank is pushing the White and Double White plans.
 
sushi said:
The 5,985 yen cost is for the mandatory unlimited data plan. You cannot get he iPhone without it.

You cannot get the iPhone without it.
Click to expand...

That is so true. You know, within 4 days of my usage have racked up to 126MB and total cost of data packet is skyhigh 194,000 yen. I was shocked when I checked my current estimated bill that I called softbank immediately to see what is up with that.

But rest assured that they said the unlimited data plan is already active and will be only apply at the end of the month. I hope there are no more surprises like this :eek: I can't take it.

Now checking the free AirMe app, which can send 2MP photos directly to your flickr account. I can already see I will end up using more then a GB per month easily.
 
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