(SoftBank Japan) MMS and SMS tutorial please

[patent10021]

I don't need a tutorial on what the acronyms stand for. I know what they are but am not clear on the details. SMS (short messages phone number<->phone number) is for users on the same carrier and it's plain text and free. I get that. The part that I'm not clear about is MMS. It's basically like regular email long email and you can send videos/photos etc. Why does SoftBank have their regular _@i.softbank.jp addresses and also their _@softbank.ne.jp address? I know that the _@i.softbank is the regular extension for mobile phones and that _@softbank.ne.jp is for their MMS (which you can also check online using a PC), but MMS is not free (even when you have the unlimited data plan). You have to pay for every MMS if you're sending to people who aren't using SoftBank mobile phones. Which means there is no reason for them to have the _@softbank.ne.jp address. Why would anyone use that _@softbank.ne.jp extension when it costs money for each MMS message and when you can use SMS (messages via phone number) with people on the same SoftBank network. Even when you're sending to other SoftBank users MMS costs $$ when you send photos/videos so why would you use it when you can just send images and photos via regular iOS Mail app (_@i.softbank.jp)? ** As a side note, I can check my _@i.softbank.jp mobile email via OS X Mail app on my iMac no problem. I just entered in the IMAP details and bingo. If I'm away on holidays etc I can check my emails sent to my mobile phone which negates the need for MMS even more. Lastly, if we're paying 4,00 yen / month for unlimited data shouldn't all MMS messages be free? A bit confused.

 

[plasticparadox]

I don't need a tutorial on what the acronyms stand for. I know what they are but am not clear on the details. SMS (short messages phone number<->phone number) is for users on the same carrier and it's plain text and free. I get that. The part that I'm not clear about is MMS. It's basically like regular email long email and you can send videos/photos etc. Why does SoftBank have their regular _@i.softbank.jp addresses and also their _@softbank.ne.jp address? I know that the _@i.softbank is the regular extension for mobile phones and that _@softbank.ne.jp is for their MMS (which you can also check online using a PC), but MMS is not free (even when you have the unlimited data plan). You have to pay for every MMS if you're sending to people who aren't using SoftBank mobile phones. Which means there is no reason for them to have the _@softbank.ne.jp address. Why would anyone use that _@softbank.ne.jp extension when it costs money for each MMS message and when you can use SMS (messages via phone number) with people on the same SoftBank network. Even when you're sending to other SoftBank users MMS costs $$ when you send photos/videos so why would you use it when you can just send images and photos via regular iOS Mail app (_@i.softbank.jp)? ** As a side note, I can check my _@i.softbank.jp mobile email via OS X Mail app on my iMac no problem. I just entered in the IMAP details and bingo. If I'm away on holidays etc I can check my emails sent to my mobile phone which negates the need for MMS even more. Lastly, if we're paying 4,00 yen / month for unlimited data shouldn't all MMS messages be free? A bit confused.

You have unlimited MMS to all other SoftBank customers.

As an iPhone user, you were also required to sign up for the 4410yen/mo unlimited data plan. This data plan covers all data, including mail to and from all carriers.

Basically every mail you send or receive with the phone, be it with the i.softbank.jp address or the softbank.ne.jp address is covered by your plan.

The main difference between the two email addresses you have is that the i.softbank.jp handles HTML mail and the messages are easier to scroll through, while the SMS mail address uses the annoying chat bubbles interface and it doesn't do HTML mail.

Enjoy your phone and don't worry about the data. As long as you have the data plan, you are covered.

 

[patent10021]

You have unlimited MMS to all other SoftBank customers.

Of course but does this include sending photos/videos?

As an iPhone user, you were also required to sign up for the 4410yen/mo unlimited data plan. This data plan covers all data, including mail to and from all carriers.

What do you mean required? I don't remember not having the choice to refuse the plan. At any rate, one would be crazy not to sign up for it.

...the i.softbank.jp handles HTML mail and the messages are easier to scroll through, while the SMS mail address uses the annoying chat bubbles interface and it doesn't do HTML mail.

Not so fast. Japanese prefer SMS because it's quick and is "instant mail/chat". Those chat bubbles, a la iChat, are much quicker than waiting for regular emails. They've had SMS since the dark ages and prefer it. Using the iOS Mail app IS like regular online HTML mail but the iOS Mail app alerts are actually slower than receiving a SMS message. iOS Mail app also requires the opening of the iOS Mail app which Japanese don't like doing because...it takes more time (especially when you use message threads [2 UI levels deep]). I talk to my Japanese friends all the time about this while their texting at the bars.[/QUOTE]People on Japanese forums say that even with the 4100yen unlimited plans every MMS from SoftBank to Docomo & AU costs money. A few of my SoftBank friend's (and my wife's) monthly bills are much higher than mine and they like to use MMS). Could this be why theirs are higher?



.

 

[alfmil]

Looks pretty easy to understand:

White Plan (i) covers unlimited SMS/MMS use (SMS:up to 670 double-byte characters per message, MMS: up to 300Kb message) within Japan with no additional fees.

The latest software (iPhone OS 3.0 or later) is required to use MMS.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone_en/mail/sms.html

 

[gimmerice]

It seems that you are confused about how the mobile phones in Japan works.
Overseas (meaning outside of Japan) uses SMS for texting and can usually txt to other mobile carriers.
However, in Japan, there are SMS texting, but they can only be sent within the same network. ie softbank w/softbank, au w/au, docomo w/docomo etc
In Japan, most people prefer to use MMS texting which uses an email address provided from the carrier. They do cost money to send, and are way more expensive compared to SMS, but most people in Japan are have the unlimited data plan which covers internet usage and MMS usage and rarely uses the SMS that are slower to send.

If I'm not wrong, the iPhone plan of softbank requires to have an unlimited data plan, so I don't think you will have to worry about the costs of MMS texting.

 

[patent10021]

The latest software (iPhone OS 3.0 or later) is required to use MMS.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone_en/mail/sms.html

What do you mean "is required to use MMS"? I think you mean that it's required to have MMS as an option.

It seems that you are confused about how the mobile phones in Japan works.

No I'm not. I said above that SMS is for people on the same carrier. SoftBank<->SoftBank | Docomo<->Docomo | AU<->AU = free SMS.

In Japan, most people prefer to use MMS texting which uses an email address provided from the carrier.

True...Japanese like either or. At least my friends do and so does my wife. MMS or SMS.

They do cost money to send, and are way more expensive compared to SMS, but most people in Japan are have the unlimited data plan which covers internet usage and MMS usage and rarely uses the SMS that are slower to send.

SMS isn't slower than MMS. Both use the same window and use the same progress bar.

If I'm not wrong, the iPhone plan of softbank requires to have an unlimited data plan, so I don't think you will have to worry about the costs of MMS texting.

I hope so too.

** NOTE. I've noticed that when you start a new SMS (SoftBank phone number <-> SoftBank phone number), then add a photo, it stays in SMS mode/window. This is perplexing because my SoftBank friend doesn't have a MMS _@softbank.ne.jp email address. I'm sending it to her SoftBank phone number which shouldn't be possible because SMS is text only.


.

 

[plasticparadox]

Of course but does this include sending photos/videos?What do you mean required? I don't remember not having the choice to refuse the plan. At any rate, one would be crazy not to sign up for it.Not so fast. Japanese prefer SMS because it's quick and is "instant mail/chat". Those chat bubbles, a la iChat, are much quicker than waiting for regular emails. They've had SMS since the dark ages and prefer it. Using the iOS Mail app IS like regular online HTML mail but the iOS Mail app alerts are actually slower than receiving a SMS message. iOS Mail app also requires the opening of the iOS Mail app which Japanese don't like doing because...it takes more time (especially when you use message threads [2 UI levels deep]). I talk to my Japanese friends all the time about this while their texting at the bars.People on Japanese forums say that even with the 4100yen unlimited plans every MMS from SoftBank to Docomo & AU costs money. A few of my SoftBank friend's (and my wife's) monthly bills are much higher than mine and they like to use MMS). Could this be why theirs are higher?

Yes, as I previously said, your e-mails are included in your plan. Data is unlimited, and video and photos count as data.

If you check out http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone_en/price_plan/ you will see that the words "required" appear beside the packet fees.

Not too interested in having a debate with you about the way Japanese people use phones, sorry.

 

[patent10021]

K, thanks for the info.

How come when I'm in SMS mode (using my phone number and friend's phone number) I'm able to send photos and video? I thought SMS was text only? I personally set up a MMS email address (_@softbank.ne.jp) and in SMS/MMS settings it shows my _@softbank.ne.jp address, but my friend doesn't have one yet. She doesn't have one listed in SMS/MMS settings. It's just blank. Does everyone get a MMS _@softbank.ne.jp address by default when they sign up? I can't remember if they ask you to decide on a MMS address at the store.

Do you personally use @softbank.ne.jp or do you only use @i.softbank.jp via iOS Mail app? You don't like the convenience of all the messages being in the SMS/MMS window?

The ONLY thing I don't like about SMS/MMS is I can't select a single word and copy it. It only lets you copy the entire text in the bubble.

Ah, one other thing. emoticons between carriers are different. Sometimes someone sends me a flower or something but it ends up as unko on my phone!


.

 

[plasticparadox]

Do you personally use @softbank.ne.jp or do you only use @i.softbank.jp via iOS Mail app? You don't like the convenience of all the messages being in the SMS/MMS window?

The ONLY thing I don't like about SMS/MMS is I can't select a single word and copy it. It only lets you copy the entire text in the bubble.

I mostly use i.softbank.jp because if I happen to lose my iPhone, or upgrade my iPhone, all my e-mail is backed up on the server and I can re-download it all from any device.

I use softbank.ne.jp when I register for certain Japanese sites which don't recognize my i.softbank.jp address as a keitai e-mail address.

Other than that I find the Messages program a bit weird and hard to use. Like you said, it's hard to copy and paste and HTML mail/custom emoji don't work as they should.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

Same here: i hate SMS (hate is a strong word; but for sure dislike)
I wish it would stop being used. No need these days anymore.

My wife is Japanese and is also never using SMS; even on the classical standard mobiles she used Internet mail. So do I on the iPhone.

One of the big reasons is that I setup the same mail account from my IP4 also on my iPad. This way whatever is closer to me I get the mail.

 

[patent10021]

Yeah and...you can set up your i.softbank.jp using your iMac/MacBook OS X Mail app in the settings window. Simple IMAP settings. When I'm back home in North America I can easily check my i.address on any Mac.

This further sort of negates the need for MMS @softbank.ne.jp email which you can check from a PC on MYSOFTBANK.JP.

However, I really dislike having to open iOS Mail app just to check a single email. For me, it's much quicker to click the SMS popup and SMS/MMS is also like live chat. Email is just email.

Too bad normal email isn't like live SMS. If the person isn't there you simply wouldn't get a live reply. If they are there, you can chat away.

Anywhoo as long as all SMS,MMS and regular emails are all free (in the 4100円 data plan) it's all good.