Job Discussion Forums

junk'n · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 12

I've had a keitai for about six months now and hardly ever use it. I admit that on occassion it can be very handy but for the most part I feel like I'm throwing away 4000 yen each month. I also have a landline which is really great for talking to friends back home and cheaper than calling with my keitai. I'd be happy to get a prepaid keitai and cancel my plan but from what I've seen these phones need you to buy credit of 3000 or 4000 yen every other month. Does anyone have any prepaid keitai setup that they are happy with.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I think it's pretty much a universal thing that prepaid cellphone credits expire after 2 or 3 months, whether you live in Japan, N. America or Europe. The amount of time you get depends on the company.

I used to have Tuka prepaid. Outbound calls were 100Y/min but inbound was free and I could send/receive e-mail (I forget the price).

The phone cost me 10,000 yen but it came with a 3,000 credit on the first prepaid card. 3,000 yen cards expirea after 2 months (I believe) and 5,000 yen cards after 3. Then, pos-expiry, whether you've used up the minutes or not, you have an additional month (I think) to RECEIVE calls.

If you don't make many outbound calls, it's not such a bad plan as long as you keep remembering to add minutes every couple of months.

JD

P.S. With Tuka, 3,000 yen cards have 33 minutes and 5,000 yen cards have 55 minutes, so you actually get a small bonus by purchasing the larger card.

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

I just bought a prepaid with Vodaphone. It cost 3000 yen for the phone and you buy 3,000 yen at a time on the cards. The card is good for 2 months, but it is easy to use these cards up. The rate is 60 yen/minute and if you make a 5 second call it will cost you 60 yen. I'm happy with it, great for emergencies especially since my wife is VERY pregnant at the moment and it is good piece of mind.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

space · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 44 Location: japan

I used to have a preca J-Phone. It doesnt exist anymore, I think its part of vodaphone now.

The one bad thing was that it originally cost 11000 yen and came with 30 outgoing minutes or so. Just like other plans, It had free incoming calls from anywhere, so it was worth it just for that. And if you run out of minutes, the phone number was still good for incoming calls for 8 weeks, iirc. And you keep ahold of the number for a year. And of course, they sold recharge cards at many conbini's with different amounts of minutes on em.

Personally, I wouldnt go with one now, but that is becuase I use my phone for about 120 mins a month. If you need your phone for business, or make any outgoing calls for the purpose of conversing even for 5 mins, then you will certianly be charging this thing up quite a bit.

Can't you find a keitai plan that could replace your landline well enough? Maybe you recieve most your calls anyway so the prepaid...

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

cell phones are most useful if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse.
When you don`t it is less useful.
In Tokyo, a cell phone is useful for busy people.

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Look you just got the keitai! In time, you will realize life without a keitai is unbearable. Trust me have a lied to you before? You won't be able to get a date and if you are in the job market you won't be able to get a job!

A keitai in Japan is worth more than having a computer or even a car!

Rorschach · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 130 Location: Osaka

I remember my first three weeks in this country with no telephone and it was pretty difficult to organise things with friends to do stuff because most apartments don't come with a telephone. The humble keitai is a bog part of my life at the moment, I use it for everything. It keeps me in touch with people all over the world.

ERINJK · Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 25 Location: In Gifu-ken, Japan

Well, I went 2 1/2yrs without a phone in Japan. The only reason I have one now is because my school required me to have a phone...which comes in handy when my car breaks down or my classes are cancelled. But I rarely use it. In the year that I have had it, I have spent more money paying the bills when I could have been spending it on other things!!
If you have a house phone then I would say, you don't really need the keitai! But if you don't have a house phone, then I would suggest keeping the keitai!