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?

I swear Softbank really makes their plans difficult to understand, or at least their plans make no sense.

you need to sign up to D+White plan, but you can cancel it as soon as you get it,
you should sign up to iPhone for everyone plan which is free, or else you have to pay 480+1000en extra a month.

what is this ********? are they trying to make it sound like a good deal?, who isn't going to do this....?

Isn't there a telecommunications watch dog in Japan that can crack down on these stupid plans, make the fine print a lot easier for the average Joe?.
I remember the watchdog cracked down on this in Australia, as the plans made no sense at all at one stage, they forced all companies to simplify their contracts as they were becoming a joke.

....then again Softbank does have a watchdog at the Omotesando store, his white, and sits at the front.
 
funkdis said:
I swear Softbank really makes their plans difficult to understand, or at least their plans make no sense.
Click to expand...

Know what you mean. It's occurred to me that the confusion is intentional and devious. Even sales reps at different Softbank shops seem to have their own spin on what the plans actually mean...:confused:

funkdis said:
Isn't there a telecommunications watch dog in Japan that can crack down on these stupid plans, make the fine print a lot easier for the average Joe?.
Click to expand...

Would that be the Telecommunications Ministry dudes who whoop it up with telecom industry bigshots in hostess bars?;)
 
funkdis said:
I swear Softbank really makes their plans difficult to understand, or at least their plans make no sense.
you need to sign up to D+White plan, but you can cancel it as soon as you get it,
Click to expand...
I encountered the same line of bull yesterday when I stopped into a Softbank shop to reserve the 3GS. It didn't help that I got one of the over-eyeshadowed 20 yr girls that was in training. She was fine at reading out what's printed on the standard forms, but forget about asking questions.

I had to confirm about 4 different things in the process (so the manager ended up standing right behind her), one of which was the mandatory sign-up for the Double White plan. If it can be canceled after the 1st month, what's the point? The answer to that was 申し訳ありません, the usual brush-off.

After going through all this rigamarole just to reserve a ruddy phone, I was asked for either my credit card, or my bank debit card.
WTH? Last year all you had to do was give them your name. In response to this they said that this was to avoid all the confusion etc. that ensued last year.
And, by reserving, the purpose for doing all the BS procedures was that when you actually did get the phone, the bulk of the paperwork would already be done. I guess I can see the merit in that, but I was not prepared to give any credit details before the fact so I told them it was all just too much bloody trouble, canceled the reservation and said cya.
 
funkdis said:
I swear Softbank really makes their plans difficult to understand, or at least their plans make no sense.

you should sign up to iPhone for everyone plan which is free, or else you have to pay 480+1000en extra a month.

what is this ********? are they trying to make it sound like a good deal?, who isn't going to do this....?
Click to expand...

"iPhone for everyone plan" is available to new and old iPhone customers.
By signing up iPhone for everyone plan, you will be agreeing on an extra 2 year of contract with Softbank, and it will renew it self at end of contract.
If you cancel it other than the renewal month, you will have to pay extra ETF.

This plan is good if you stay as a iPhone customer, but if you upgrade your handset to anything other than iPhone within your 2 year contract, then you will have to pay that ETF. Saving around 1000en/ month might sounds a lot, but if you look at that close to 10,000en/ ETF. That 1000en saving per month might not sound that great.
 
Tensakun said:
Would that be the Telecommunications Ministry dudes who whoop it up with telecom industry bigshots in hostess bars?;)
Click to expand...

:p your on the ball son.... these dogs are well watching the wrong thing :rolleyes:


CanuckInJapan: That's what i Get, but the staff I deal with at Omotesando always agree it sounds stupid. My mate and I have gotten many vouchers from them over the last few months, complain about softbanks stupid system.
a few 5,000en coupons is a sweet deal, its like going to my kickboxing session each week.

Joshieboi: thats where softbank get you, the cancellations will kick you in the ass. Unless you really want the same number, usually its cheaper to get a new line, and just leave your old one running, cancel as much of the options as you can, (i know on iPhone its impossible, but at least pay minium charge for the internet use).
 
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) support now available on the iPhone

Not sure if this is common knowledge, but Softbank announced yesterday that SSL will now be supported on the iPhone (3G and 3GS, regardless of the OS version). Settings can be made for your xxx@i.softbank.jp address.

There does not seem to be any info available in English, but if you follow the settings using the icons I think you can figure it out.
Download the Japanese PDF of the graphic below here.
 

Attachments

  • l_st_ssl.jpg
    l_st_ssl.jpg
    189.6 KB · Views: 101
I don't need the new iPhone right away (I have lived with a Toshiba brick for 4 years) but I know I'll end up buying one sooner or later. I use the bicycle every day and I get lost in Tokyo's streets more than I would like to >_< The compass + gmaps will be great on many occasions! I barely call people and will use the phone as an iPod and for internet surfing. I wonder if I should wait a few more months to see what Softbank has to offer once the current campaign has expired. Do you guys think the new campaign starting in September will offer better deals? My guess is Softbank is trying to milk the fans for the release of the new phone and if they don't sell enough, end up lowering the price of the phone or giving better plans with the release of the new campaign... what do you think? We all know Japanese are not too crazy about the iPhone (my wife included).

I went over 3 different shops this last weekend (2 Yodobashi and one Softbank shop) just to find out how much would be to get the 32GB 3G S and believe it or not, I'm still clueless as of how much will be the damn phone when I buy it... I got the plan price down (short off) but I'm not sure if we will be able to pay 23,040 yen for the phone up front or that's just the price you "end up paying" after the 24 month contract period, which by the way is not true because the 1,920 yen discount does not start after the 3rd month... So my guess is 69,120 yen (don't need to keep my current phone number or info) just for the hardware, correct? I would like to pay the price of the phone at the beginning and not paying through the 24 month contract period. Softbank is making this a hell of an experience!

As a funny side note, have you guys even bother to mention tethering to any of the Softbank people? XD First, they don't understand what you mean. After some more explanation, they think you want to hack the phone and after telling them this is something Apple is allowing legally with the new 3.0 OS they just raise their hands making the X and repeating: "iie, iie, iie, iie...!!" giving you an ugly look, everything at the same time. hahaha!! No word on tethering from Softbank, right? Good we have w00kie's step by step guide.
 
American iPhone in Japan

I've been reading these boards for some time, but have never had anything to contribute nor any worthwhile questions to ask until now... Or perhaps I still don't. :) I know this may not be directly related to this thread, but it's certainly the best place.

I'm considering moving to Japan for a year or so, and am curious about the possibilities of using my iPhone 3G over there, or potentially a 3GS. I know I could obviously use the AT&T international plan, but that would get way too pricey for my budget, so I'm interested in any of a number alternatives I can imagine. I'm curious about the Japanese iPhone and any pricing plans (particularly for only a year, if possible); possibly unlocking my phone (though I've resisted to this point, and would like to avoid it) and any details that would involve; or perhaps getting an alternate phone and using my iPhone more as a Touch, relying on wi-fi (if it's available). I know I have a lot of questions, and I haven't organized them in the most coherent way, but If anybody can give me any info, I'd be extremely appreciative.
 
mavis said:
Welcome to Japan. ;)

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't count on SoftBank working with you AT ALL in getting that bill down to something reasonable. To use the iPhone + data, you have to be on a smartphone plan. And since they don't backdate, you're basically screwed. :(

I've been dealing with J-Phone/Vodafone/SoftBank for seven years, and the experience you described doesn't surprise me in the least. That's why I mentally prepare myself to bend over and grab my ankles whenever it comes to dealing with them - at least if you're ready for it, it won't come as a total shock.
Click to expand...

The Japanese and Koreans are pretty much the same. They only sell their services to their own people:rolleyes: The rest of the Asian countries should do the same to the Japanese and Korean tourists when they come to their countries and not allow them to buy unlocked sim cards:rolleyes:
 
jsut got my 32g from omotesando (mine was reserved), my 2 other friends last minute decided to also pick one up for each other after playing with it for a few minutes, they both got 32g white. plenty of stock avail. roppongi has no 32 left.

just a heads up.
 
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3GS (White, 32GB): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

funkdis said:
jsut got my 32g from omotesando (mine was reserved), my 2 other friends last minute decided to also pick one up for each other after playing with it for a few minutes, they both got 32g white. plenty of stock avail. roppongi has no 32 left.

just a heads up.
Click to expand...

Lame. None of the four shops near my house have any 32GB phones in stock. My wife wants to get one so I keep checking but so far, nothing.
 
Just curious if anyone who has purchased the iPhone 3GS in Japan is experiencing problems with overheating as described in this PCWorld article.
BTW, I called a couple of Softbank stores here on the outskirts of Yokohama today, one store had only one 16GB black model, and another had "some" of each model (PM me if you want the store location).
 
funkdis said:
Anyone set up tethering on their iphones yet? is it working? Softbank caught on to it yet?
Click to expand...

Tethering working on Softbank iPhone.:D I'm waiting until the end of billing cycle to check if all usage will be bill under the packet houdai plan.

Please note, I am only using tethering with iPhone capable service. (Internet web browsing)
 

Attachments

  • photo.jpg
    photo.jpg
    72 KB · Views: 58
Has anyone here purchased the 3GS with Softbank's 2009 Summer campaign?
I was aware of the "norikae" (MNP) campaign that gives you a choice of a Y5,000 voucher, or the large talking dog toy, but this seems to be something else (see below).

img_campaign01.jpg


It seems that you get a 2GB micro SD card, some Otoh-san goods, and Y2,000 worth of Softbank coupons.
It seems that it may be a parallel campaign. If so, I'm taking the Y5,000 voucher. If anybody can shed some light, please do so - thx.

2009 Summer campaign details here:
http://onlineshop.mb.softbank.jp/ols/html/campaign/2009summer.html
 
joshieboi said:
Tethering working on Softbank iPhone.:D I'm waiting until the end of billing cycle to check if all usage will be bill under the packet houdai plan.

Please note, I am only using tethering with iPhone capable service. (Internet web browsing)
Click to expand...


How did you activate this? was it on teh help.benm.at site?, if so, there are 2 softbank profiles: ai@softbank and another one.
Please let us know how it goes, I dont think I'll be taking full advantage of this as I have an emobile usb card for mobile internet. but would be nice for those emergencies where i forget to bring the usb stick.
 
funkdis said:
How did you activate this? was it on teh help.benm.at site?, if so, there are 2 softbank profiles: ai@softbank and another one.
Click to expand...

Do not use the profiles with: ai@softbank. The official setting of iPhone's
APN is the one begin with smile.world

if you use the wrong APN setting, there is a possibility that Softbank will not give you discount toward the internet usage !!! (No upper limit for the internet packets)
 
joshieboi said:
Do not use the profiles with: ai@softbank. The official setting of iPhone's
APN is the one begin with smile.world

if you use the wrong APN setting, there is a possibility that Softbank will not give you discount toward the internet usage !!! (No upper limit for the internet packets)
Click to expand...
Yeah, when I used to tether my 705SH using ai@softbank, it cost a freakin' FORTUNE ... Be careful, guys.
 
funkdis said:
How did you activate this? was it on teh help.benm.at site?
Click to expand...

I just try to install mobileconfig file from help.benm.at site, for some reason i don't see tethering option under network setting anymore. :eek:

The mobileconfig file i'm currently using is made by iPhone configuration utitlity then I added some line to enable tethering. :)

And since i'm using the same APN setting as the Softbank iPhone, i don't think softbank has a way to tell if i'm tethering or not. The only thing they might be able to do is monitor your packet usage, and type of port.
 
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