Job Discussion Forums

GreenEyes · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Japan

I`ve read what I can on the topic and welcome your advice. I`m one of those oddballs who knows nothing about cellphones, and so despite what I`ve been reading I still can`t make a decision. Here`s my situation ...

I`m in the beginning stages of teaching private lessons as my primary source of income. I need a cell phone, but I don`t understand the minutes business and the plans options. Having to sign a contract kind of worries me because of all the horror stories I hear about them, but that`s what I`ll gladly do if I can reach a point of understanding how this stuff works.

Plans, minutes, monthly bills, sign-up fees, contracts, ahhhhhhh!!!!

The prepaid option appeals to me because it makes me feel like I have more control over the expense of having a cellphone. But it doesn`t seem like the best option for someone needing to be available to potential clients. Am I right?

Students have told me that an average plan will cost about 5,000 yen. But they lost me when talking about minutes. I did read a recent thread about prepaids and visited some websites ... Softbank, etc ... but I appeal to you, Mighty Tech Whizzes, for a little nudge in the right direction. I managed to get a decent college education, but the one class I neglected to take was Cellphone Mania 101.

Thanks.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

You need to decide how much you will use the phone. How long will you be in Japan? Students can contact you on a prepaid just as well as a regular phone, either way it is free to receive calls. Prepaid is expensive/minute. Softbank charges 90 yen/minute.

GreenEyes · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Japan

Prepaid does seem expensive. I`m hoping to be in Japan for a good long while ... maybe a few years. So it`s free to receive phone calls, regardless of the plan? And most plans offer free minutes each month?

In the States I know companies offer free phones. Is it the same here? I`m concerned about the start-up costs.

JonnyB61 · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 216 Location: Japan

Greeneyes,

If you live anywhere near Kumamoto then I have a perfectly good AU pre-paid phone that I no longer use. It's less than a year old and perfectly good for making and receiving calls if that's all you want to do. If we can arrange a meeting I'll give it to you along with my best wishes.

JB

Shimmeringstar · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Kagoshima, Japan

Check out the Softbank White Plan.
My plan has free incoming calls from anywhere. To make calls to other softbank users during the day is free. Calling to other phones like AU or Docomo is reasonable.
I pay between 3000 and 4000 yen/month and that's with making several international calls.
I did a lot of looking at different options before I settled with what I have, and I'm very happy with it!
Good luck!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

GreenEyes · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Japan

Well, I`ve just had several university students recommend Softbank. The White Plan mentioned above sounds good. JB, thank you for your offer of the prepaid phone. I`ll PM you about that. Do prepaid phones have contracts. From what I`m understanding they don`t, but this cellphone stuff is like a slippery fish. You think you know and then POOF ... what you thought you knew is out the window and floundering on the pavement.

Razz

Shimmeringstar · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Kagoshima, Japan

GreenEyes · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Japan

Anyone want to be my friend, then? Razz

I need to first make sure that I`m in a secure job. I`m between jobs and hope to get things figured out soon. And yet to find work I`ll need a cell phone so I can speak to prospective employers/clients. So maybe a prepaid with no contract is best?

Thanks!

rebecca432 · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Osaka, Japan

I went with Softbank when I got here in January. I didn't know how long I was going to be here so I went with their 6 month contract with the white plan. Hard to believe that the time is almost here and I have no plans of leaving yet Smile

The phone, which is not the greatest phone but still better than what I had in the US, cost me 12000 yen or so. My friend got the most expensive phone at around 30000 yen because he wanted a better camera.

For the first month, my bill was about 6500 yen because of their start up fees. Since then, my bill has wavered between 1500-2000 yen a month, mostly because all my friends have Softbank, I text more than I talk, and I use Skype for international calls.

I am very happy with their service and glad I went with the plan that I did instead of having to go through the pre-paid business. Even with having to buy the phone, I'm still paying less than what I had to pay in the states (around $50-$70 a month) but that's because my usage is minimal.

Consider how much you use the phone and what you will be using it for and then go with the plan best for you.