Snowblind, would you mind commenting on the "etc." Did you just argued that they did not informed you or were there any further arguments that make them move?
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3G iPhone in Japan?
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Snowblind, would you mind commenting on the "etc." Did you just argued that they did not informed you or were there any further arguments that make them move?
Joshieboi,
I am not sure whether a high data usage put them into alarm. Anyhow, it worked for five months without problem. And comparing my bills for the last months, the data usage was not so different then before.
On the APN-question. I just don't know. My iphone was activated in Thailand with my Japanese non-iphone-Sim card. So I guess it just use the APN given by the SIM card? I have no opportunity to see the APN as it is not a jailbroken phone. At least I don't know how. If there is a way, please let me know.
I still wonder what might have changed in june. Could it be that a network reset or a complete reset changed something so that Softbank was able to recognize my iphone as such? But I am not sure whether I did anything like that. I remember that I had trouble after trying out the application Find!Tokyo that blocked my iphone completely but I don't remember what I did to restart.
Well, technically GSM lives as they 3G service which is the successor of it but of course doesn't bother to be backwards compatible due to the cost involved for the carrier since they never really had now legacy 2G GSM but 2G CDMA (in the Softbank/ Vodafone/ JPhone case).. 2c
iPhone has different official partner throughout the world. There is something called "carrier bundle" that allows each carrier to localized its iPhone for their domestic market needs. When you input a say, Softbank SIM, iPhone will loaded up Softbank's carrier bundle and its settings. carrier bundle can have wide range of setting tweaks, things like allow editing APN settings, enable MMS, record greeting message for visual voice mail, Tethering... the list goes on and on. There is a way to modify your carrier bundle without jailbreak your iPhone. However, to do so you need to have some commend line knowledge, other wise it can really mess up all your iPhone settings.
From your post there are two possible out comes.
1. When you insert your Japanese non-iPhone SIM, iPhone just use SIM card's APN setting for internet. (There might be a way to help you out)
2. When you insert your Japanese non-iPhone SIM, iPhone recognized it as Softbank SIM, and load the preset APN setting in your iPhone.
If what happened was situation #1, then here is what I think happened.
Probably, in recent month's there are more and more Softbank's customer in similar situation as you are. In order for Softbank to prevent customer from using lots of internet access resources, they can setup computers to flag accounts with regular cell contract but high level of internet usage. Once the computer flag your account, they can have people to take a look in details. Things like the type of cell phone you purchase along with your SIM card, and type of internet price plane can quickly lead them to know if you are using a regular Japanese cell phone or Smart Phone. (Smart Phone has better web browser that allow you to view PC base web link, which can occur tons of internet packet.)
Here is my recommendation, if what happened was situation #1, then you can try to call Softbank and enroll yourself in one of the internet access plan for their X-series phones (Softbank's Smartphone line up). If they wouldn't let you, try to tell them that you purchased a used handset from Yahoo auction and the previous owner purchased it from Softbank. If everything all goes well, you should end up with your non-iPhone SIM, and a new data plan that does not flag your account with high internet usage. (Because until now, I still don't think Softbank can tell wether you are using a iPhone or other smart Phone base your internet data usage.) All of this was just my speculation, try it at your own risk.
If what happened was situation #2, then you are out of luck. Because Softbank have different sets of APN setting for iPhone and their other non-iPhone handsets. Softbank will know which set of APN setting your phone use to access their internet service. With this, they will know exactly if you are using a iPhone from over sea or not.
** Softbank does not sell their iPhone specific SIM card without an iPhone. so if you still want to use your own iPhone with Softbank, you might want to look into this**
Go to Softbank, upgrade your account to a new iPhone 3G contract, sell the handset on Yahoo auction, keep your owned SIM card with your current SIM free iPhone.
(There are lots of iPhone 3G at very heavy discount currently, you look around)Actually, they can. Each phone model has unique ID. Whether they are using this info is in a live scenario or offline is another question. I remember before OS 3 I would tweak SwirlyMMS identifying as an X02HT to get it to work. Anyway, the new situation sucks.
I am not sure about all the implication of the new telecom law coming into force 2010 but it might have some provisions for such provider behaviours as it exactly deals with opening up the Japanese phone market.
Actually what mmulin said was correct. I just learn today that all carrier can actually identify your type of phone set with IEMI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). When a user's cell phone is connected to a cell phone signal, IEMI is automatically transmitted to carrier.
Yes. The carriers store all this information for troubleshooting/planning/capacity/etc. I think the difference is that Softbank chose to go after those users who are not using Japan authorized devices; or whose cell phones don't match the ones purchased with their plan. It's just a matter of what query they are using on their database. The data usage is irrelevant since a) we purchased a "smart phone" capable of web browsing, video streaming email and other things and b) we purchased the "unlimited data" bundle with the double white.
Now I'm not sure if they really know whether or not it was purchased outside Japan or not but it is trivial for them to determine that we did not have a phone that matched the device we purchased with the plan.
The fact that Softbank can change their pricing model depending on what phones people can connect to their network is really something that annoys me. But then here I am gaijin...
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I just confirmed with customer service that SoftBank will not give discounted data pricing to people using iPhones purchased overseas. They are identifying these iPhones by IMEI and do not care if the iPhone is factory unlocked - non-Japanese iPhones will not qualify for any discounted data pricing. Considering that my pre-discount data use averages between $10,000 and $20,000USD every month (and I'm not a particularly heavy user) I'd really suggest being careful if you're doing anything 'creative' with your account.
I just confirmed with customer service that SoftBank will not give discounted data pricing to people using iPhones purchased overseas. They are identifying these iPhones by IMEI and do not care if the iPhone is factory unlocked - non-Japanese iPhones will not qualify for any discounted data pricing. Considering that my pre-discount data use averages between $10,000 and $20,000USD every month (and I'm not a particularly heavy user) I'd really suggest being careful if you're doing anything 'creative' with your account.
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Not much, actually. My iPhone says 400MB received, 18.1MB sent. That covers about 3/4 of last month's billing period, because I restored my phone the first week of July.
UltraNEO* said:
Not much, actually. My iPhone says 400MB received, 18.1MB sent. That covers about 3/4 of last month's billing period, because I restored my phone the first week of July.
I sure hope your companies pays for it cause that's a fair whack if it's taken from your pay check!! Isn't it.
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No, I pay for it myself, but it's capped at $55/month. That's the thing - they're no longer capping data charges for people who bought their iPhones overseas. Their new, unannounced policy is Japan-purchased iPhones ONLY, so people with unlocked iPhones have suddenly been receiving HUGE phone bills, without any warning whatsoever. Welcome to Japan, eh?
UltraNEO* said:
No, I pay for it myself, but it's capped at $55/month. That's the thing - they're no longer capping data charges for people who bought their iPhones overseas. Their new, unannounced policy is Japan-purchased iPhones ONLY, so people with unlocked iPhones have suddenly been receiving HUGE phone bills, without any warning whatsoever. Welcome to Japan, eh?
That is so Japanese.No, I pay for it myself, but it's capped at $55/month. That's the thing - they're no longer capping data charges for people who bought their iPhones overseas. Their new, unannounced policy is Japan-purchased iPhones ONLY, so people with unlocked iPhones have suddenly been receiving HUGE phone bills, without any warning whatsoever. Welcome to Japan, eh?
Regarding your $55/month amount. I assume you are referring to the ¥4,410 rate. Correct?
Seems like a good deal right now since SoftBank has reduced the max charge for the data plan from ¥5,985 to ¥4,410 for a savings of ¥1,575 (or about $16) per month savings. Not bad at all.
I asked the local SoftBank store if there was a limit on the data transferred. Their answer was you can do as much as you want 24/7. Note, I did not specifically ask about tethering. Not sure if I would try that.
So close to taking the plunge on a iPhone 3GS Black 32GB model.
Indeed. I'm slowly becoming accustomed to this way of doing business - I don't know whether that's good or bad ...That is so Japanese.
You're right; it's ¥4,410 now, but used to be ¥5,985 ... It's hard to keep track sometimes. heh ... But I agree that the price is surprisingly reasonable for a Japanese carrier.
Yeah, I don't think that would be very wise. I have jailbroken my phone and installed 3G Unrestrictor, but I haven't yet had much of a chance to use it (Skype over 3G, etc) ... I wouldn't risk tethering, though. Not when there's a chance they could try to bill me for the entire $20,000 packet data amount.
Dude, DO IT. Seriously, this thing absolutely blows the 3G away - you can jailbreak, with ease (and with negligible performance hit, finally!) and dramatically improve the device in so many ways. I love my iPhone 3GS, I really do. This is exactly the phone I was hoping to get a year ago when the 3G was released; I'm finally able to use the phone the way I've always wanted to!
Wow. I definitely would not chance getting billed at those data rates. Yikes!I wouldn't risk tethering, though. Not when there's a chance they could try to bill me for the entire $20,000 packet data amount.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Being able to use Skype via the 3GS network is a nice work around.
Jailbreaking and the 3G Unrestrictor app may just be the ticket for me.
That sucks. I was just thinking of getting an unlocked 3GS from abroad. So, is it still possible to buy a 3GS through SoftBank without having to extend your contract for another 2 years?
hmmm
looks like my dreams of the iphone going to verizon might happen after all... Well i guess we all just have to wait and see how this one plays out...
looks like my dreams of the iphone going to verizon might happen after all... Well i guess we all just have to wait and see how this one plays out...
I believe that you are posting in the wrong thread. This thread is about the iPhone 3G/3GS in Japan were SoftBank is the provider.looks like my dreams of the iphone going to verizon might happen after all... Well i guess we all just have to wait and see how this one plays out...
Back on topic. Has anybody manage to use an unlocked iPhone with DoCoMo? If so, any issues?
SwirlyMMS
Hi mmulin -- I also am in JP on a SB *Prepaid* card. Using my iPhone 3.0 w SwirlyMMS. Swirly worked great with 2.x but it stopped working with 3.0... have you gotten it to work with 3.0 or since SB enabled MMS with the default OS app? BTW I can't get MMS to work either...
Hi mmulin -- I also am in JP on a SB *Prepaid* card. Using my iPhone 3.0 w SwirlyMMS. Swirly worked great with 2.x but it stopped working with 3.0... have you gotten it to work with 3.0 or since SB enabled MMS with the default OS app? BTW I can't get MMS to work either...
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No, I pay for it myself, but it's capped at $55/month. That's the thing - they're no longer capping data charges for people who bought their iPhones overseas. Their new, unannounced policy is Japan-purchased iPhones ONLY, so people with unlocked iPhones have suddenly been receiving HUGE phone bills, without any warning whatsoever. Welcome to Japan, eh?
I'm on Docomo.. I get high bills period.
I hate to think about how much I've spent (contributed) over the past 13-14 years to DoCoMo.I'm on Docomo.. I get high bills period.
I remember days of 15,000 to 20,000 yen per month. Now I am at around 4,500 per month. Like that much better. If I use an average of 10,000 yen per month, that's 1,560,000 yen! Yikes!
Still I am so tempted on getting a new iPhone 3GS 32GB.
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Have you caved yet, sushi?
sushi said:I hate to think about how much I've spent (contributed) over the past 13-14 years to DoCoMo.I'm on Docomo.. I get high bills period.
I remember days of 15,000 to 20,000 yen per month. Now I am at around 4,500 per month. Like that much better. If I use an average of 10,000 yen per month, that's 1,560,000 yen! Yikes!
Still I am so tempted on getting a new iPhone 3GS 32GB.
Have you caved yet, sushi?