Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Want cell service abroad? Try a cheap local phone

Travel Aug. 07, 2009 - 05:55AM JST ( 10 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

10 Comments

0

DeepAir65Aug. 07, 2009 - 08:07AM JST

that's a shame - someone telling Americans the secrets so now there will be no SIMs to rent at the airports in Europe :-(

When I bought my last AU phone the lady tried to "help" me by offering me a global phone so I could use it abroad and when I told her what I do (pretty much described above) she was amazed and thought it was a great idea!
0

gaijintravellerAug. 07, 2009 - 08:13AM JST

When I changed my mobile in Japan, I was offered phones that worked overseas.

"Where do you put the SIM card?" I asked. "What is a SIM card?" was the reply.

I have a phone I use overseas. I purchased a used one. When I go to a foreign country, I purchase a SIM card for less around 500 yen. It works well in that country. The only thing that doesn't work is sending SMS text messages to Japanese phones such as Au's, but that is not because my cheap overseas phone does not work. It is because many Japanese phones cannot receive or, for that matter, send SMS messages.

Forget roaming. Buying a phone that works in other countries is a much better option. Roaming is just a huge rip-off.
0

Pukey2Aug. 07, 2009 - 08:37AM JST

Another one of those US-centred articles which doesn't even mention the word 'Japan'.

It is because many Japanese phones cannot receive or, for that matter, send SMS messages.

One reason why, everytime I have to top up my voip account, I have to get them to send an SMS message to my sister's mobile abroad, phone her up, ask her what PIN she received in the text, enter the PIN to activate payment to voip, and make sure this is all done within one minute.

All these years, I've had to explain to friends abroad that they can't send text messages to me because Japan is 'different'.
0

HimajinAug. 07, 2009 - 08:42AM JST

I got the AU Global Passport last year. I had been renting phones as I was going to the US only once every few years. I now go an average of three times a year, the rental charges aren't worth it. With a Global Passport you change the settings and pick up a local network, AT&T or T-Mobile. It wasn't until I actually used it overseas that I found it doesn't display the numbers of people who call you! What the hell? My husband's DoCoMo phone does, as well as a friend's AU phone (different model) so why am I locked into a 2-year contract for a phone that doesn't do what it should? What use is the phone if every number comes up 'unknown'? My MIL has Alzheimer's, can't remember that there's a 13-hour time difference and sometimes in her confusion she keeps the phone ringing all night long. I can't shut off the phone, God forbid she took a spill, had a stroke or something and the hospital needed to call me...and , sometimes important calls come in from people who don't know I'm overseas. With the Global Passport I can't screen calls. If I could see the numbers I could take MILs first call of the night and then not take the rest, but as it stands I have to take every damned call, whenever they come in.

In the US I bought a pre-paid phone and use that.
0

taisho999Aug. 07, 2009 - 11:02AM JST

As a person who travels to Japan once or twice a year, I have a AU prepaid handset which I recharge to the hilt every time I go there. Unfortunately, unlike a few years ago, it was easy to buy a prepaid phone in Japan even if you were there a few weeks. Now you have to show a residency card or some other proof that you live there unless you have a girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, or relative that can buy one for you. Of course you can rent cell phones at the airport, but their daily rates are high, on top of what you have to pay for the air rates. It's such a bureaucracy now.
0

aeliethAug. 07, 2009 - 11:54AM JST

My cell phone is world capable, and I had to pay for that capability, $800 worth of it! Not an iPhone either. Nokia makes great phones for use around the world and I do have a couple of SIM cards I use in it and also have multiple languages installed. I text my girlfriend in Japanese, for free! Japanese phones use full e-mail addresses as their text messaging, so I have an e-mail account specifically for corresponding with others via e-mail instead of American SMS, though it can send and receive both.
0

pawatanAug. 07, 2009 - 03:34PM JST

What does this article have to do with Japan, anyway?

I keep 2 mobile phones, my Japanese one and an old Sony that works in the rest of the world (minus parts of the US with their antiquated systems). Just buy a SIM and off you go. I got a pile of old SIM cards from around the globe, it's the modern equivalent of stamps on the suitcase.
0

stirfryAug. 07, 2009 - 06:11PM JST

my phone works perfectly in advanced countries in asia...when i go to japan, however, i just use a mobile that my office keeps for business travellers, or, and here's a novel approach: i don't carry a phone at all. I just make plans on a land line and we all meet at the correct time and place. Just like things worked before mobiles took over the planet. Believe me, its much less stressful.
0

KyotoChrisAug. 07, 2009 - 08:08PM JST

taisho999:

Same sad thing in India when I go there with my wife when she visits home (but they did find proof train bombers and taj attackers used Indian mobiles to coordinate so they get tougher after that happened)