My girlfriend is about to travel from the USA to Japan for about three weeks. She would like to rent an iPhone here in the US for a month and then use it in Japan. Is there any way for her to do this? Thanks in advance!
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Rent an iPhone in US for use in Japan?
- Thread starter Xtreambar
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Any good alternatives? Primarily, she wants to have an iPhone in Japan so that she can use Google Maps and with the iPhone it just works. Next best idea?
Any 3G phone will support google maps. Windows Mobile phones support google maps, so do Nokia S60 phones.
Hell, a plain ol' featurephone will support google maps.
Hell, a plain ol' featurephone will support google maps.
LOL, that's quite an amazing statement since every 3G phone in the world, bar those for NA and a few other select regions, has UMTS 2100. The 'rare' devices are those that support the 850/1900 that NA uses.
Best Iphone And Sim Rentals In Japan
Lived in Japan many years and the main thing you need to be concerned with is coverage. There are three main service providers - which NTT DoCoMo is the largest. Softb*** #3 sells the iPhone in Japan, but their coverage is
in some city areas (especially buildings) and worse outside the metropolitan areas. If your within the city expect coverage.
NTT DoCoMo is by far the best cellular network in Japan. If you can get your hands on a sim rental provided by JCR CORP www.jcrcorp.com you can't miss with your unlocked iPhone. You can also tether if you've got the experience. If you don't have an unlocked iPhone, JCR can also rent you a Japan iPhone w/Unlimited Data for about $60 a week although this is on the Softb*** network . Look very carefully, when selecting you rental phone or sim card. Some companies have hidden fees which will be billed later, or do not indicate which network their using. Also, ask about the call rates - most likely VOIP rates, which you can make yourself via SKYPE.
Good hunting!
Lived in Japan many years and the main thing you need to be concerned with is coverage. There are three main service providers - which NTT DoCoMo is the largest. Softb*** #3 sells the iPhone in Japan, but their coverage is
in some city areas (especially buildings) and worse outside the metropolitan areas. If your within the city expect coverage. NTT DoCoMo is by far the best
cellular network in Japan. If you can get your hands on a sim rental provided by JCR CORP www.jcrcorp.com you can't miss with your unlocked iPhone. You can also tether if you've got the experience. If you don't have an unlocked iPhone, JCR can also rent you a Japan iPhone w/Unlimited Data for about $60 a week although this is on the Softb*** network . Look very carefully, when selecting you rental phone or sim card. Some companies have hidden fees which will be billed later, or do not indicate which network their using. Also, ask about the call rates - most likely VOIP rates, which you can make yourself via SKYPE.Good hunting!
I know this is a little late...
...for your girlfriend's trip. But I was looking for the same thing for the same reasons for an upcoming trip to Japan (Google Maps/GPS functions). Tokyo is one of (if not) the most confusing cities in the world to navigate, and you need as much help as you can get. And "war-walking" for open WiFi APs on an iTouch/iPad is waaaay more difficult than one would think, as most Japanese homes/hotels/businesses either use wired Ethernet or lock their APs.
Sorry, I'm rambling.
I guess it's now possible to rent an iPhone 3GS in Japan for use in Japan through "Global Advanced Communications". If you have a jailbroken iPhone, they also rent SIM cards, 3G high-speed data cards, and pocket cellular WiFi hotspots. Pick up and drop off are available at the airport, and return can be by prepaid mail.
Also, like alohamark mentioned, JCR rents iPhones (4 or 3GS), or Android phones (blyech), but their rates seem really high to me. They rent SIM cards too, but from the way it looks, only for non-jailbroken phones (honestly, their fine print is pretty confusing, so I may be getting that bit wrong). Delivery is available at the airport (fee) or at your hotel.
Hope this info is useful for anyone on their way to Japan.
Cheers,
Mike
...for your girlfriend's trip. But I was looking for the same thing for the same reasons for an upcoming trip to Japan (Google Maps/GPS functions). Tokyo is one of (if not) the most confusing cities in the world to navigate, and you need as much help as you can get. And "war-walking" for open WiFi APs on an iTouch/iPad is waaaay more difficult than one would think, as most Japanese homes/hotels/businesses either use wired Ethernet or lock their APs.
Sorry, I'm rambling.
I guess it's now possible to rent an iPhone 3GS in Japan for use in Japan through "Global Advanced Communications". If you have a jailbroken iPhone, they also rent SIM cards, 3G high-speed data cards, and pocket cellular WiFi hotspots. Pick up and drop off are available at the airport, and return can be by prepaid mail.
Also, like alohamark mentioned, JCR rents iPhones (4 or 3GS), or Android phones (blyech), but their rates seem really high to me. They rent SIM cards too, but from the way it looks, only for non-jailbroken phones (honestly, their fine print is pretty confusing, so I may be getting that bit wrong). Delivery is available at the airport (fee) or at your hotel.
Hope this info is useful for anyone on their way to Japan.
Cheers,
Mike