Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

3G iPhone in Japan?

Thanks for translating. I'd like to have MMS to send pictures once in a while to my friends on docomo and AU, as sometimes they can't get the pictures that I send as email attachments using the i.softbank.jp address. They often can't see my emoji either, but I'm not sure if adopting MMS on the iPhone will fix that.

Also, the i.softbank.jp email is not push. My phone only gives me a visual reminder when I get a new email, and it doesn't buzz or ring. I have to manually download the email too, and sometimes the server is slow. So I'm looking forward to having MMS again like a typical Japanese cell phone.
 
Best way for existing Softbank iPhone 3G users to upgrade

For those of you that got a Softbank iPhone 3G in 2008 and are making payment by installment, ITmedia has an article on upgrading to the 3G S.
I do not have time to translate the article, but in conclusion, this is what the reporter has to say:
基本的には残金を支払って機種変更をした方がお得
"Basically, you're better off just paying out the remainder and going for a model change"
 
Thoughts on iPhone 3G after one full year

I'll be moving back to Tokyo after an 11 year absence and will almost certainly be getting an iPhone 3GS. After one full year of the iPhone being available in Japan, I was wondering if some of you could summarize your experiences with the device, both good and bad. Also, how will the new features of the iPhone 3G address any shortcomings of the 3G?

Thanks in advance.
 
What is the fuss about compass features in iPhone 3G S?

In Japan there are many phones supporting the GPS services, what makes the compass special?

J
 
JabbaII said:
What is the fuss about compass features in iPhone 3G S?

In Japan there are many phones supporting the GPS services, what makes the compass special?

J
Click to expand...

Yes, I was wondering the same thing. It's being touted as such a big deal.
 
JabbaII said:
What is the fuss about compass features in iPhone 3G S?

In Japan there are many phones supporting the GPS services, what makes the compass special?

J
Click to expand...

The compass allows directionality (such as in giving turn-by-turn directions). Currently the GPS in the iPhone (and many others) can only show you where you are, not what direction you're heading in. So you have to walk a bit to get your bearings -- see which way the cursor dot moves. Not so with a compass -- it can reorient the map based on what way you're facing. It's no huge advance, but it'll be convenient.
(It's a magnetic compass, so it operates independently of the GPS system, too.)
 
BiginJapan said:
The compass allows directionality (such as in giving turn-by-turn directions). Currently the GPS in the iPhone (and many others) can only show you where you are, not what direction you're heading in. So you have to walk a bit to get your bearings -- see which way the cursor dot moves. Not so with a compass -- it can reorient the map based on what way you're facing. It's no huge advance, but it'll be convenient.
Click to expand...


Watch the keynote - The compass works together with the GPS to not only show you where you are, but which way you're facing. It updates in realtime showing you what you're looking at and allowing for far more accurate GPS than any phone I've seen here in Japan. Not to mention how accurate this will make the turn by turn route finding software Tomtom are developing...
 
fender101 said:
Watch the keynote - The compass works together with the GPS to not only show you where you are, but which way you're facing. It updates in realtime showing you what you're looking at and allowing for far more accurate GPS than any phone I've seen here in Japan. Not to mention how accurate this will make the turn by turn route finding software Tomtom are developing...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I meant. Sorry if my convoluted grammar obscured my meaning. & by "currently" I meant "previous to this 3G S iPhone".
 
Another positive point about upgrading to 3GS.

Remember how with other models of cell phones, when you got a new model you could keep your old one even though it was basically worthless? I would give mine to my kids and they'd use it for an alarm clock, data bank, camera, and played with whatever games were on it. Well if I upgrade to the iPhone 3G S one of those same kids (older now) would be very happy to get my old iPhone which obviously would not be as worthless as those old phones! It's basically just a fat iPod Touch, right? Everything should work, right? WiFi connection, apps etc. Of course none of the Softbank related functions would work but everything else works, right? And it's mine! Softbank surely couldn't try to keep it! Anyone have any experience with this? Anyone Jailbreak one?
 
Nikuman said:
It's basically just a fat iPod Touch, right? Everything should work, right? WiFi connection, apps etc. Of course none of the Softbank related functions would work but everything else works, right
Click to expand...

that's correct - I had a 2G iPhone working in Tokyo last summer over WiFi no problem and was happy to have the bonus camera :cool:

lucky kids! :p
 
SoftBank taking reservations for iPhone 3G S from June 18 - 25

SoftBank announced on their Web site today that they will be taking reservations for the iPhone 3G S from June 18 - 25. One phone per person. Reservations will be valid until June 30. The Omotesando store will be opening at 7 AM on June 26 for those of you that have to get one first. They advise getting a reservation beforehand (not clear if that means in the order people show up or not). Perhaps someone can call them up and confirm.
For the fine print, check out the SoftBank page.

- In other news, the existing iPhone 3G (not "S") 16GB model can be purchased on the "iPhone for everybody" campaign for the reduced price of Y240/month (24 months, data and calling costs etc. not included).
iPhone for everybody page
 
im still paying out the rear end for my iphone. I bought it out here on like the 2nd day and am still paying full price per month which comes out to like 650$ over the course of 2 years.... not very happy about that. That is what i get for being an american trying to buy at a japanese speaking only location i guess. i return to the states in Jan 2011 so i will wait till the 2011 iphone to get a new one.
 
One more idea before you upgrade!

Well I have taken things a step further and am very happy how it turned out so far. Since I will be giving my son my old iPhone when I upgrade, I decided to try something before the upgrade. My mute switch/manner mode button broke off a few weeks ago. (I don't know how it happened. Really! Just one day it wasn't there and the only way to switch it was to use a small sharp instrument to switch it back and forth. Seems to be a common problem...) I checked at my local Softbank branch and they looked at it & told me I could turn in my old iPhone and get a new one at no cost. So I did just that and everything worked out flawlessly! You know how it takes forever to back-up your iPhone and you come to hate how long it takes? That back-up function becomes a great thing when you have to restore your phone. (It took like 8 hours to do it!) My new iPhone 3G successfully restored to be exactly what my old one was: Every single app & every note, even saved games and scores! Now I'm ready to upgrade and the iPhone I'll give my son to use is a brand new (refurbished?) fat iPod Touch (+camera! -Good point Chinarut!)
 
Since i work near Omotesando store, I might pop down there and reserve a phone, My contract expires 29thJune, so it would be perfect.

So from what I gather:
3G - 8gig: 0en
3G - 16gig: 250en
3Gs - 16gig: 500en
3Gs - 32gig: 1000en
roughly for handset charges.

People may remember 5/6years ago when phones were 0/1en, gone were those days, then VF3G & FOMA introduced subsidized prices on phones over a 2year contract just like most networks around the globe.
2 weeks ago i popped into the softbank store, all Japanese phones (not sure about the disney range) were once again 0en, and no subsidized prices just the obvious heavy penalties for contract cancellations.

I think these prices are pretty decent, it may convince most japanese that emoji isnt worth the 28956748en a month.
 
So whats the deal with those of us that are on contracts signed last summer and are paying our 2000 to 3000 odd yen per month for our 16GB's - do we get any kind of a reduction?

Also, if we want to upgrade to the 3GS how would we go about doing it?
 
Why penalize the early adapters? We're the best advertisement!

Does anybody know if the Softbank monthly data plan cost for the new iPhone 3GS will be the same as the more expensive data plan for the original iPhone 3G or will it be the cheaper current one that people now get when they get a new contract for the old iPhone 3G? I imagine it's the same old, same old --the early adapters get the shaft and have to pay more.
 
Email enhancements, finally!

I'm happy to report that under 3.0, the Softbank email visual notification is finally accompanied by sound! This is without the jailbreak hack. It's still not push email, but at least the notifications are audible now. It will play whatever sound you have set for MMS.

MMS, by the way, is working too. iPhones now have a softbank.ne.jp MMS address in addition to the IMAP i.softbank.jp one. However it's one of those random messy default addresses. I assume they'll let us assign an alias tomorrow via their website when 3.0 is publically released.

I'm happy to finally have keitai email again.
 
I thought 3.0 was still 8 hours away?

regardless, glad to hear about the improvements! Softbank mail is terrible. Is there improvement in the lag between the notification pop-up and the actual push of the mail to the phone?

And I still can't belive it took SB 6 months to finally get the emoji working with all carriers... ridiculous.
 
Minna don't know Nihongo

Out of curiosity, which SB Shops have English speaking staff?

Ropongi? Omotesando?
 
lordpx said:
I thought 3.0 was still 8 hours away?

regardless, glad to hear about the improvements! Softbank mail is terrible. Is there improvement in the lag between the notification pop-up and the actual push of the mail to the phone?

And I still can't belive it took SB 6 months to finally get the emoji working with all carriers... ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Actually, the lag time seems to have improved a bit. But I could be just imagining that. It seems to download into the inbox faster once I check it. The connection hasn't been hanging lately.
 
thewhitehart said:
iPhones now have a softbank.ne.jp MMS address in addition to the IMAP i.softbank.jp one. However it's one of those random messy default addresses. I assume they'll let us assign an alias tomorrow via their website when 3.0 is publically released.
Click to expand...

Actually, you can change it now! Login to My Softbank using your computer (I didn't try it directly from my iPhone) and it will let you change it. Just don't forget to specify a custom "From" name as well, for those times when you send MMS to a 'PC Mail' address ... ;)
 
mavis said:
Actually, you can change it now! Login to My Softbank using your computer (I didn't try it directly from my iPhone) and it will let you change it. Just don't forget to specify a custom "From" name as well, for those times when you send MMS to a 'PC Mail' address ... ;)
Click to expand...

Great! I changed it. Was that option on the My Softbank page all along? Or did it just appear there for iPhone owners?
 
Successful 3.0 Update!

I just updated my iPhone 3G firmware to 3.0 early this morning here in Japan and everything is working fine! Copy and paste rocks! When my friends wake up I will try out MMS. New badges appear for "Messages" instead of "SMS" and "Voice Memos" instead of uh... no voice memos. Sleepy but anxious to play around with other stuff. All went fairly smoothly. I'm sending good vibes and positive thoughts of good health towards Steve Jobs and all the good people at Apple.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back