Job Discussion Forums

[Sadken]

I'm taking a laptop with me and I wondered if there are any Freeserve type dial-up Pay As You Go internet providers, or has anyone got any experience of broadband or open WiFi networks?

[Gordon]

Japan has some of the fastest broadband connections in the world. I don't kow about pay as you go, but Yahoo BB is a good choice, not cheap though.

For WiFi, I recommend bringing a wireless router with you and then you can surf anywhere in your apt/house and not pay extra charges for it.

[Eleckid]

A Japanese friend of mine who lives in Tokyo is using yahoo BB, recently it just stopped working, she said the service is not so good, but I'm not sure myself cuz I don't use it. I think it should be very good cuz yahoo is big.

I'm using the adsl service from NTT, and it's pretty good. I signed up for a phone line (rental), so I got a 3 months free discount package when I also signed up for their internet service at the same time. I think there was some discount each month. Since NTT is a really big company, their internet service is pretty reliable, very fast too. All the net connection here are really fast.

There's a 'pay-as-you-go' service for the wireless connection for laptops, but the wireless connection is not as fast, & can be very pricy too (depends how much you use).

[Gordon]

[lajzar]

Unless your internet usage is very low (think about 5 hours a month or less) and you have no intention of downloading large files, you will be better off getting a broadband connection. I don't think freeserve7s stlye of internet has caught on here anyway.

I am not personally aware of ANY internet service in Japan that can be set up wholly online anyway. Every one I have seen requires going into a shop and filling out forms.

[Gordon]

[J.]

If you use NTT's Flets Adsl ( Broadband) and you use OCN as the IP and you know something about setting up the modem, and you already have a telephone line to your home ( or you can also arrange to rent one at the same time), you can do it all by phone/mail. You call the English service of NTT and the operator will help you set it up with NTT. ( You can fax anything they ask for.) You don't need to go in and they don't need to come in your house unless they need to set up internal wiring. You only need one regular phone line and it can be rented. They send you the modem and software to set up OCN in the mail very shortly. It's in Japanese, though. But all you really need is the sheet with your settings on it and you can use the Windows wizard for set up. I don't read Japanese really and I figured it out. The bill can be sent to your home and you pay at convenience stores if you don't have a bank account yet or prefer to do it that way.

[worldwidealive]

If you want more information on YahooBB you can get information and sign up in English at www.bbapply.com

I have had the service for almost 4 months with no problems at all and the Internet phone feature that is included is a huge plus. Not sure where you are from, but I can call friends and family in the USA for 2.5 Yen a minute - about US$1.50 an hour. This alone, for me, makes it a great value.

The one problem is that YahooBB does not offer true English support in any way, but the guy (Jimmie) that runs www.bbapply.com, does a pretty good job of helping out where he can. I speak very little Japanese and have been able to make my way along with no problems thus far.

WWA

[melirae]

if you have a wireless card and don't mind a little exploring, there are numerous frespots (I'm actually sitting on the sidewalk right now because the cafe is closed- it's a Sunday night- but I am picking up a signal and quite a FEW ODD LOOKS! ).

I am signed up for the service J. mentioned. Just a note on that, they do ask for your ARC (alien registration card) but it takes up to a month to get depending on where you are, so ask for a certificate to use in the mean time and NTT will accept that. But I am having to wait about 2-3 weeks for the service.