Job Discussion Forums

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

I think yellow earth is probably getting a nice big bill because he/she signed up for one of the higher end plans, so tons of minutes, or unlimited something or other...

Yellow earth, no, I don't think the electronic stores will have them. You probably have to go to one of the company stores and ask for them.

Also, if you're in the tokyo area, some of the softbank stores have english speakers for assistance.

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject:

Yeah you're right, he posted just before me so I didn't see that he had responded with the answer already.

I had a Japanese native with me who didn't speak much English, but enough to tell me that I wouldn't need a lot of the things that I was being offered. Softbank was even trying to get me to insure my phone for an extra 1,500/month. My bill would be even cheaper if I wasn't on the plus plan (I don't often make enough non-Softbank or peak time calls to benefit from the lower charges), but I really am not paying much as it is but I'd rather pay a little extra now and not run the risk of being hit with much larger bills when I am making other calls.

projectrook · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 45

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Ugh. This sounds terrible. Unlimited mails? Why is that even a factor?

In the states, my family pays about $50 US for unlimited internet. For phone service, we're all on a family cell phone plan. My bill is usually less than $30 US per month.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You realise that means unlimited cellphone emails, Shiggy? SMS is not much used here, people tend to use their cellphone's email function instead.

We pay 2,000 yen per month for unlimited internet at home, so way cheaper than the US, but that has nothing to do with cellphone emails.

As for the people with two phones, I would say many/most of the people projectrook were seeing would have had a work cellphone and a private cellphone, not two cellphones for private use. Lots of people who need to contact their company while out and about for their jobs carry a company cellphone, but they can't use it for private calls/emails.

redcard26 · Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Posts: 2

I have a softbank prepaid phone. You can put 3,000/5000 yen a month. Unlimited email for the month costs 300 yen. Its really the best deal for anyone wanting to live frugal.

snowdays · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

It seems like a lot of new teachers choose the Softbank path... the iPhone deal is really tempting.

As cool as Japanese handsets are, has anyone found one that is as easy to use for GPS etc as the iPhone?

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:18 pm Post subject:

Japanese phones are far more advanced than the phones we are used to back home. Even my cheapo phone has GPS. I saw a new phone scheduled for release by Sony soon that should give the iPhone a run for it's money. The good thing about it is that it can run and process standard programs and files.
In fact there are some services that the iPhone can't use out here but many cheaper J-phones can; like 1-seg TV.

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

projectrook · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 45

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Shiggy, you will actually probably have no choice but to find a new phone, since it's unlikely your aging Motorola is compatible with the Japanese cellphone network, which is apparently different from other countries' networks. It's not just a matter of changing the SIM/unlocking the phone. I'm not an expert on this so I may be wrong, but I hear that newer 3G phones are compatible with the Japanese networks- the problem is you need to sign a contract with a Japanese carrier, who usually want you to use their phones.

Someone with more knowledge on the topic please correct me if I'm wrong.

@projectrook, I am not saying that some people don't have two phones because of better deals for different functions, obviously you know people who do so I can't question that. What I am questioning is that you say you would see 5-10 people a day on the trains apparently either holding two phones or switching between phones, and you are sure that most of them must have the two phones for the better deals.

I personally don't know anyone with two private cellphones, and I only very occasionally see people holding two phones or switching, and in many of those cases one of the phones is obviously a company phone as it has a sticker on it with a number/the company's name.

You really do see 5-10 people on the trains with two phones pretty much every day, and you can tell they are not company phones? 5-10 just seems a lot. How long is your commute?

projectrook · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 45

@Apsara:
I dont deny that there are many people who have a business ketai and a personal one. I just know that there are others who own two and neither are for where they work.

My daily commute was from Koganei-shi to Yotsuya Station on the Chuo-sen. This was Monday-Friday, and then on my off time, I rode the Chuo and the Yamanote. So I was on the trains just about every day. Now when I said 5-10 people per day, that may have been slightly high, however I could with all honesty say that I saw at least one person a day with two keitai (usually a young girl, anywhere from 16-25 years old). Now while I cannot say with 100% certainty that one was not for work, it would be a good guess depending on the time of day, what she was wearing, and where she would get off.

After the first few times I saw people with multiple keitai, my curiousity got to me and I asked my gf at the time (who is Japanese) why I saw this. She was the first to tell me about the differences in prices in service between the mobile providers in Japan. Then I asked her best friend at a later time (who did at the time own 2 keitai) and she told me the same thing. After that I asked a few others, and for the most part I got the same response. However, a few people told me (and this is what I agree with the most) that owning two keitai is mostly just for fashion but they tell themselves that it is for the better deals. Now that is not to say that there is not a difference in prices between the providers when it comes to actual phone calls and email, however when compared to the cost of buying a second keitai along with the additional monthly bill, one does not wash the other out.

So in conclusion, I am not suggesting anyone else do this nor am I saying that it is a good idea. Also, I am not saying that there are not people who dont own two, one for business and one for personal. What I am saying though is that both instances exist and one is practical and the other is not IMO

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

projectrook, thanks for your answer. Interestingly enough, I make an almost identical commute from a Chuo line station to Kanda several days a week. Will keep an eye out for people with more than one keitai!

I used to teach private lessons to two women who worked as hostesses in Ginza- they had two keitais, one for their friends and a separate number (and name) to give to their bar's customers. People have different reasons for wanting two I suppose, but I can't imagine them saving much.