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cangel
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Jeonju, South Korea
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 Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:44 am Post subject: Can I use a Japanese Iphone in the U.S.? |
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| I live in Japan and am thinking of purchasing a new Iphone. Actually, I can get it for free (Softbank points). Anyway, I might be leaving Japan in a month, heading back to the U.S. Is it possible to use this phone in the U.S.? Is there a modification that could be done? Thanks |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| My softbank phone needs to be unlocked before it will accept non-softbank sims. I'm guessing an iPhone from softbank will be no different, but otherwise it shouldn't matter whether you got it in Japan or Kowloon; it should still work back home. |
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Hoser
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 694
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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| So you're going to sign up for a contract for two years knowing that you're going to be leaving in only a month and in essence steal a phone thereby screwing over the rest of us living here? Have I got that correct? |
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cangel
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Jeonju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| No. You are 100% incorrect! I have been a Softbank customer for 5 years thus accumulating enough points to secure an iPhone for free. Secondly, by breaking the contract, I will incur a Y10,000 penalty. I plan to pay that money. Nobody is getting screwed here but thanks for your pessimism. |
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slodziak
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 143
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:12 am Post subject: |
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If you buy an iPhone from Softbank the only way you can use it in the US is on the Softbank plan and this would, of course, be ridiculously expensive. Most carriers lock the phones into their networks and you can't get out of them unless.... you jailbreak the phone. Probably jailbreaking would be ideal for you because you have no intention of coming back to Japan and using the phone here so you won't feel you are missing out on what Softbank has to offer.
For more information about taking an iPhone out of Japan see this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=402787&page=41
For more information about jailbreaking see this:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=551236 |
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cangel
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Jeonju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the information. I really appreciate it. I can't imagine buying a product, such as a cell phone, and then no being able to use it ouside the country of purchase, particularly when the very same product is available in the second country. Sounds like one heck of a scam.
Another person, not on this board, mentioned possible difficulty in obtaining a proper US (Apple) SIM card for the phone. Anyone have any thoughts?
The downside of getting an iPhone in Japan is that I will have to pay Y10,000 for breaking contract and the possibility of not being able to get it to work in the US.
The upside to getting the phone here is that it's free (minus the Y10,000 for breaking contract).
I should, in a perfect world, be able to go into any Apple store in the US and tell them I bought the phone in Japan and then have them make the proper changes to the phone and NOT have to buy a new phone! |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Probably jailbreaking would be ideal for you because you have no intention of coming back to Japan and using the phone here so you won't feel you are missing out on what Softbank has to offer.
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What is the difference between jailbreaking a phone and just the standard unlocking process that is done by the provider or a phone hacker? Unlocking a phone doesn't do any damage to how your phone runs. So it doesn't matter whether you stick a softbank sim in after or one from a different service provider back home, it should still work perfectly as long as its a sim compatible with the iPhone.
Softbank offered to sell me an unlock code for my phone so I don't see why they wouldn't sell you the code for the iPhone too. And yes, the codes to unlock them do exist if they insist otherwise, because all UK service providers gladly sell them for about �20 (�14.69 if you got yours from o2) if you own your phone.
We tend to use the hackers when its either cheaper or when a new phone is exlusive to a provider (so new that they start stamping their feet if you even hint that you want to use it with another provider even if you do own the phone). |
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slodziak
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 143
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| What is the difference between jailbreaking a phone and just the standard unlocking process that is done by the provider or a phone hacker? |
"Jailbreaking" is a term unique to the iPhone, I think. The difference between jailbreaking and unlocking is that jailbreaking gives you complete control of your iPhone as opposed to only releasing you from a single provider as with unlocking. So, for example, with a jailbroken iPhone you can control the length of the vibration mode, you are not restricted to apps from iTunes, you can use Docomo, Softbank or AU and you can change the sim when you go abroad.
I haven't jailbroken my iPhone but I know some who have and by and large they seem to believe it is worthwhile. |
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slodziak
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 143
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| cangel wrote: |
| particularly when the very same product is available in the second country |
Only some iPhones are available unlocked in the US. I'm pretty sure you won't be able to get any of the latest iPhone 3GS models unlocked but the earlier 3G models are probably available now.
In Hong Kong it is possible to get an unlocked phone of any type. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:12 am Post subject: |
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Simply never heard the term jailbreaking... US perhaps. But I'm guessing to get that much control over the iPhone is done by taking advantage of the security flaw that is present in the the previous OSs (jailbreaking seems to work best if you haven't already updated to the latest from what I've been reading).
So the question is; does giving you the ability to control the vibration length actually mean compromising your phone security and making it easier for 3rd parties to hack your phone? If so, I'd rather stick to standard unlocking if you just want to be able stick in any sim.
Same for being allowed to use non iTune approved apps. If you install something dodgey that either messes up you phone or worse, Apple is going to turn around and tell you have only yourself to blame.
Whilst unlocking (since they can't prove whether you did it legit through your service provider or a hacker) shouldn't affect your warrenty.
I'm actually considering an iPhone with softbank. I intend to be around for a bit, so the 2 year contract thing doesn't bother me. And they've worked out that based on how I use my current phone it's only going to cost me about 400yen extra per month if I go with the getting the phone free option and that my bills would be even lower than they are now if I pay upfront for the phone.... decisions, decisions  |
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cangel
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Jeonju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| I have also heard that the iPhones shipped after Oct '09 can't be unlocked or be jailbreaked-something to do with fixing the 'hole' in the previous phones. If this is true, it's just a matter of time, I guess... |
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slodziak
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 143
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
So the question is; does giving you the ability to control the vibration length actually mean compromising your phone security and making it easier for 3rd parties to hack your phone? If so, I'd rather stick to standard unlocking if you just want to be able stick in any sim.
Same for being allowed to use non iTune approved apps. If you install something dodgey that either messes up you phone or worse, Apple is going to turn around and tell you have only yourself to blame.
Whilst unlocking (since they can't prove whether you did it legit through your service provider or a hacker) shouldn't affect your warrenty. |
I agree. That's why I don't feel comfortable jailbreaking. But, as I say, those people I know who have don't seem to be encountering those problems. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 10:24 am Post subject: |
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| slodziak wrote: |
| I agree. That's why I don't feel comfortable jailbreaking. But, as I say, those people I know who have don't seem to be encountering those problems. |
Perhaps not so much yet, but it's the same as the internet: 10 years ago we didn't have half as many security issues as we do today. If you give these people the opportunity, there will be a criminal who finds away to makes use of it eventually. iPhone hit the headlines just last year with the major security flaw in the OS that was allowing 3rd parties to take control of the phones, which is what the updated OS was released so quickly to prevent.
| cangel wrote: |
| I have also heard that the iPhones shipped after Oct '09 can't be unlocked or be jailbreaked-something to do with fixing the 'hole' in the previous phones. If this is true, it's just a matter of time, I guess... |
I've been reading that they are much harder to jailbreak due to the enhanced security of the new OS which should be coming as standard on new phones soon. The fact that softbank even say on there on site info that you need to update the OS when you get the phone suggests there are some being sold with the older one still.
But I've been reading info that says there are ways to get around the new OS security though and jailbreak the phone still.
As to not being able to unlock the phones... highly unlikely with phones not created by the service provider. Infact O2 in the UK only started selling unlock codes to customers for iPhones November just gone. And our hackers simply use a piece of hardware hooked up to your phone to find out what the unlock code is, or in worst case senarios (like with one of older phones when it had just been released) saved all my phone data on a memory card then wiped the phone to restore it to the state it left the factory (i.e before it was sold to the providers and locked) before readding my data. Shouldn't be any different with the iPhone. |
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Hoser
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 694
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| cangel wrote: |
| No. You are 100% incorrect! I have been a Softbank customer for 5 years thus accumulating enough points to secure an iPhone for free. Secondly, by breaking the contract, I will incur a Y10,000 penalty. I plan to pay that money. Nobody is getting screwed here but thanks for your pessimism. |
You have 50,000 yen worth of points after only 5 years at Softbank? Sounds like I'm with the wrong keitai provider. |
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