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3G iPhone in Japan?

CanuckInJapan said:
A few questions about sending and receiving overseas SMS messages to and from a Softbank iPhone.

1) Info on the Softbank web site indicates that sending rates for SMS - Varies by Area/Local Carrier.
So, how much does it cost to send one SMS to a phone in Canada or the US?
Is there any charge to receive SMS from overseas?

2) What is the character limit for SMS? According to the SB site:
Attempting to transmit SMS messages over 670 double-byte characters will cause a system error.
Then it also says:
When sending SMS messages exceeding 70 double-byte characters, message may be divided and received in multiple parts.
I think the 70 char. limit may refer to people on Orange, Simple, or Blue plans, but it's not too clear.

And, just to clarify, by SMS I mean sending to just the phone number of an overseas phone - not an e-mail address.

TIA
Click to expand...

Not sure if this will be much help to you but, I've just returned to Japan from the UK where I used SMS and e-mail sparingly for a few emergency messages.
All communication was between my Softbank iPhone in UK to my wife's SoftBank iPhone in Japan through Softbank via VodafoneUK.
Breakdown:- SMS; sent messages 4
SMS; received messages 7
e-mail; sent messages 6
e-mail; received messages 9

At "MySoftbank" login lists the following short term billing info:


２０１０年４月１１日 ～ ２０１０年５月１日

■ご利用料金プラン
ホワイトプラン　家族割引（家族回線）

音声通話料 0円
メール通信料 0円
国際メール通信料 600円
３Ｇ国際パケット通信料 1,524円
パケット通信料 7円
 
sushi said:
Anyone in Japan with an iPhone visit the states and use roaming service?

I'm trying to figure out the cost/charges but am confused.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the confused club. I have not used mine there, but I am pretty sure it is 100 yen to send an SMS message while in the US. I am not sure of the receive charge. Ask the SB people what the data roaming charge is because that is what everyone says is crazy. But I believe they have a policy that they will send you an email when you reach something like 50,000 yen in charges.

Edit: On my latest bill, the packet charges were 75,000 yen for not a lot of use IMO. If I did not have the unlimited plan, life would suck. My best guess is that when overseas, which is not covered under unlimited, this would all get tacked onto my bill. Be careful!
 
PJT thanks for the info.

PJT said:
But I believe they have a policy that they will send you an email when you reach something like 50,000 yen in charges.
Click to expand...
How nice of them. :rolleyes:

PJT said:
Edit: On my latest bill, the packet charges were 75,000 yen for not a lot of use IMO. If I did not have the unlimited plan, life would suck. My best guess is that when overseas, which is not covered under unlimited, this would all get tacked onto my bill. Be careful!
Click to expand...
My most recent bill was 146,000 yen for what I thought was minimal use.

That's why I am concerned if I using roaming in the states, even for a very limited period.

BTW, visited my local SB shop today. Still confused. Received some info to look over. Hopefully it will help.
 
Just don't do it.

PJT said:
Welcome to the confused club. I have not used mine there, but I am pretty sure it is 100 yen to send an SMS message while in the US. I am not sure of the receive charge. Ask the SB people what the data roaming charge is because that is what everyone says is crazy. But I believe they have a policy that they will send you an email when you reach something like 50,000 yen in charges.

Edit: On my latest bill, the packet charges were 75,000 yen for not a lot of use IMO. If I did not have the unlimited plan, life would suck. My best guess is that when overseas, which is not covered under unlimited, this would all get tacked onto my bill. Be careful!
Click to expand...

As convenient as it would be to use your iPhone back home, I'd advise against it (unless you've got yours unlocked and want to swap out the SIM -- in which case you'd probably not be able to get a data plan anyway). Just rent a phone there. I got killed on this -- they did send me a message at 30,000 yen, at which point I reduced my use to what I thought was a minimal level, but I still got killed. Oh, and don't forget that the GPS function uses Google for its maps, and is thus a big data hog. Call-only (no data) roaming is much less damaging but I'd say you're still better off renting there (or doing an SIM swap-out as noted above).
 
BiginJapan said:
Call-only (no data) roaming is much less damaging but I'd say you're still better off renting there (or doing an SIM swap-out as noted above).
Click to expand...

I agree not using would be better. I actually just get a Net 10 phone from the first store I go to. Or order from the web and have one waiting for me. I get the cheapest phone which comes with minutes and mail it to the recycle center as I leave. Renting could be better, depending on the amount of calls one makes.

Perhaps another option is to pull the SIM card and only let the phone connect via wifi, is that possible? This would avoid charges. And according to the SB site, one can turn off MMS and still check for messages via their MMS app. (I don't currently use the app.)
 
wounded buffalo

I got an iPhone 3G(S) a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to work out how much it actually costs to use, as the information in the brochure was not very clear (added to that, the woman at the SB counter told me that there were 11 bytes in a packet).

Given that there are 128 bytes in a packet, and that a packet is 0.084 yen, 1 MB costs 656 yen. Furthermore, the minimum monthly charge for 3G data use is 12,250 packets or just over 1.5 MB.

Any arguments about these numbers?

If they're right, holy cow, that's pretty expensive. I watched a 3 minute youtube video and it used 2.5 MB (1630 yen); a speedtest check used about 2 MB (1300 yen).

I'm a pretty thrifty guy (my mates have other adjectives!) and was hoping to use the phone 'normally' without maxing out the packet use. But it seems that to keep 3G data use down you have to hobble it (push/fetch, location services OFF) and be careful about what you do away from WIFI areas.

And that's a shame, IMHO as it's a really fun phone to use.

PS it pales in comparison with a 146,000 yen bill - ouch.
 
Don't you have the 4410yen unlimited plan? (in which case you're not in danger of getting a 140000 yen bill).

(Yeah, I know how it 'ramps up' from the standard required 3G fee- 1000 yen or so I believe? - to the 4410 yen but if you're not going to use the iPhone for all its features what's the point?)
 
Shirotai said:
PS it pales in comparison with a 146,000 yen bill - ouch.
Click to expand...
If you are referring to my comment above, I may have misled you.

On the bill it shows x packets for 146,000 yen. However, I am capped at 4,410 yen max per month. So as long as the cap is there, no worries. If there wasn't a cap, I would be in the poor house rather quickly. :eek:

I am thinking of using my iPhone 3GS while on a short vacation in the states. If I head back for a week or so, I would find using my SoftBank issued iPhone more convenient to use as long as the cost was not too high. Now a longer vacation, and I will get an alternative because roaming costs are high. Currently I am trying to get a feel for how much my bill would be based on current usage.
 
sushi said:
I am thinking of using my iPhone 3GS while on a short vacation in the states. If I head back for a week or so, I would find using my SoftBank issued iPhone more convenient to use as long as the cost was not too high. Now a longer vacation, and I will get an alternative because roaming costs are high. Currently I am trying to get a feel for how much my bill would be based on current usage.
Click to expand...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/704423/

This is another user's experience of roaming; from this and threads out there, it sounds pretty xxxy.

Back to my post - no, I didn't choose the 4400 yen maximum 3G data option. Is that what most of you guys have done?
 
Shirotai said:
Back to my post - no, I didn't choose the 4400 yen maximum 3G data option. Is that what most of you guys have done?
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that you can get an iPhone without one of the Unlimited Packet Discount plans. My recommendation is that you look into it. When SB began to offer discounts on the monthly packet rate, charging as little as 1,029 yen per month and maxing out at 4,410 per month, I asked a clerk how much do I have to download to reach the 4,410 amount. She said, "one song". For me, I just built the 4,410 into my monthly budget, and into my frame of mind, and then never think about trying to minimize my usage. My wife doesn't use hers out and about as much as me, not even close, but I think even she usually reaches the cap amount each month.
 
PJT said:
I wasn't aware that you can get an iPhone without one of the Unlimited Packet Discount plans.
Click to expand...

I had a choice of two plans. One was fixed at 4,410 yen for unlimited use, the other had a minimum of 1,029 yen but capped at 5,985 yen. I chose the latter.
 
sushi said:
I am thinking of using my iPhone 3GS while on a short vacation in the states. If I head back for a week or so, I would find using my SoftBank issued iPhone more convenient to use as long as the cost was not too high. Now a longer vacation, and I will get an alternative because roaming costs are high. Currently I am trying to get a feel for how much my bill would be based on current usage.
Click to expand...

This is what I will do on my next trip.
Always keep data roaming off, no matter what.
My phone is on and works in the US by default. This means that I can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, check visual voicemall, all at the very high international rates (from what I can tell, the only free thing is to receive text messages). So...
If I want to go the absolute safest route (other than leaving the phone home when traveling abroad). Turn on Airplane Mode, which shuts off cellular and wifi connections, then in Settings, turn back on wifi. I will not be able to make or receive calls, send or receive messages, or check visual voicemail. But when on a wifi network, I can check mail, use google maps, skype, etc.
If I want to use the cellular phone when in the US. Turn OFF MMS messaging in Settings:Messages, and turn OFF Visual Voicemail in Settings:phone:Softbank Mobile Services. This will limit my cell charges to only calls/SMS I make or receive. (MMS Messages are stored for up to 30 days on the server, so all missed messages will download to your phone when you return. I found that the SB app for checking MMS only works over 3G so I have no idea why I would ever use it.)

This is the plan I will try.
 
PJT said:
But I think under the current promotions, the standard plan also caps right now at 4,410. So that will be good for you.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone_en/price_plan/standard_price_plan/
Click to expand...
Agree.

The old plan was something like ¥1,029 but capped at ¥5,985.

Then Softbank ran with the 1,029 but capped at ¥4,410 plan.

I hope that this aggressive pricing remains the same or decreases when it's time to renew.

PJT said:
<snip plan> This is the plan I will try.
Click to expand...
It looks good to me and what I am thinking of doing. Roaming off. Airplane mode. Manually turn on WiFi when needed/desired.

In the states there are many free WiFi spots are available so WiFi should provide decent access. Plus I will carry my AirPort Express with me to plug into LANs that don't have open/free WiFi.

I had thought about using 3G for emergency data use. However, after reading the article below, no way I'm doing that as I don't want to end up in the poor house.

Shirotai said:
For what it's worth, this article about overseas iPhone charges may be interesting.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100513a2.html
Click to expand...
Yikes!

Thanks for the article. :)

As an alternative, I am also thinking about this plan. I had been thinking of getting an iPad 64GB WiFi model for around home and work. However, now I'm thinking of getting an iPad 64GB 3G model. Then using a T-Mobile or AT&T micro-SIM while in the states. A monthly fee of $30 for unlimited seems like a great way to go.

And based on the articles cost estimates, it wouldn't take long to save the cost of an iPad. :)

I just need to make sure that I can purchase a 3G model here and use it in the states with T-Mobile or AT&T. If not, then I'll just purchase a stateside model since I only plan to use WiFi in Japan.
 
Current 3G data plan options

PJT said:
But I think under the current promotions, the standard plan also caps right now at 4,410. So that will be good for you.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone_en/price_plan/standard_price_plan/
Click to expand...

I changed plans this afternoon (the SB clerk took responsibility for giving me the wrong information, which was fair).

She said that this plan had been discontinued earlier this year, however. So as I mentioned before, there is a fixed fee all-you-can-use plan for 4,410 yen and a sliding scale which starts at 1,079 yen and tops out at 5,985 yen, which, unless you want an iPod-touch-with-a-phone, is not such a useful option.
 
PJT said:
Welcome to the confused club. I have not used mine there, but I am pretty sure it is 100 yen to send an SMS message while in the US. I am not sure of the receive charge. Ask the SB people what the data roaming charge is because that is what everyone says is crazy. But I believe they have a policy that they will send you an email when you reach something like 50,000 yen in charges.

Edit: On my latest bill, the packet charges were 75,000 yen for not a lot of use IMO. If I did not have the unlimited plan, life would suck. My best guess is that when overseas, which is not covered under unlimited, this would all get tacked onto my bill. Be careful!
Click to expand...

My bill for data is always around the ¥200,000 mark! I do use a lot of data though!
 
I would wait to buy one, they have some things to work out, including the AT&T EDGE 'G2' service, which is much slower than EDGE 'G3' service..!!! Also battery is not user replaceable, among other issues...
 
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