Job Discussion Forums

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I was wondering if I can bring or should I bring my cordless 900 mhz phone.
I saw someone else on the forum had posted this question, but everytime I try to look at the thread I get an error: DEBUG MODE along with some other stuff.

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

Oh gosh, YEAH! If you have room to pack it -- by all means. That's one of the things I'm bringing back with me when I go home to Canada...

Phones here are EX-PEN-SIVE!!!!! I'm bringing my Siemens 2.4G with basestation, extra handset and pro-quality hands-free headset... I really miss that stuff from back home and I ain't about to pay the ridiculous prices here to get what I already have back home...

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

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I heard it has something to do with the frequency.

I was just concerned because some frequencies might interfere with other frequencies making them illegal.
I read that someone about bringing in stuff like portable phones.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

Generally, non-Japanese mobile phones will not work in Japan.

However, while state of the art Japanese phones are indeed expensive for the handsets, it is usually quite easy to find last years model on sale for one yen. Unless you absolutely need the latest gizmos, mobile phone handset prices will not be an issue in Japan.

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

Thanks for the info.

I meant portable phone like a regular house phone only it's wireless.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

bzakka · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Santiago, Chile

cell phones are so excellent and potentially dirt cheap in japan that you'll bring it with you wherever you go. And there is no way you won't get a cell phone if you're in Japan. Don't bother bringing a phone from home.

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

David: Cheap?? You're kidding, right? Obviously I must have better ways to spend $150-$200 than on something I could bring with me free from home.

bzakka: Maybe there's still some confusion regarding the difference between a cellular phone and a cordless phone. A cordless phone is a home telephone -- just without cords to get in your way.... It's not a cellular phone!

bzakka · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Santiago, Chile

Jimbo,

What makes you think I don't know the difference? What i said was that cell phones are cheap, that's all. It makes no sense to have an expensive land line only in your home when you can have a cheap, reliable cell phone on you at all times, does it?

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

Bzakka: Quite simply, you seem to insist on providing an irrelevant answer even after the OP clarified what he/she was looking for.

That's would be like someone asking: "How much does a flight ticket cost to China?" and someone answering, "Well, a flight ticket to London is $1200."

Besides, it makes perfect sense to have a land line if you are planning on getting ADSL Internet or if you make many overseas calls. The cost difference between a type I and type II phone line is quite small. As for reliabiliy, there are plenty of people (myself included) whose cellular coverage at home is sketchy at best. I constantly get disconnected and have artifacts on the line. Not good if you want to have a decent conversation with someone. As for expense, I guarantee you that on my land line I pay HALF of what I pay on my cellular bill. My monthly land line bill including high speed internet is about 7,000 yen. My cellphone bill is about 11,000 yen. Do the math.

Finally, if you revert to name-calling in trying to insult me (my name isn't Jimbo), it really doesn't say much for your reading comprehension, much less your ability to answer someone's question.

bzakka · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Santiago, Chile

JimDunlop2: Well, it would appear that our experience with phones is quite different. This forum is about posting different points of view, but I'm sorry if mine didn't agree with you.
No insult intended in the Jimbo... he's my favorite character on the Simpsons.

Dominique: I stand by what I said. Don't bring a phone from home. You won't use it.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

Whether you're bringing a cellphone to Japan or out of Japan, soem brands will work in other countries, some won't.

Best to check with your dealer, and have a friend double-check in the other country.

If you're comign TO japan, though, it's worth considering that cellphones here are generally given away free as part of signing up for a phone contract (with the guarantee that you won't quit the contract any time soon).

This is a good idea because aside from a few expensive phonecalls a thief could make on your phone, there's no point in a thief stealing & trying to resell your phone. I'ts got no street value, because everyone knows they can get the phone for free from the dealer when they sign up.

On the other hand, maintaining a cell phone in Japan is EXPENSIVE. Note that the most expensive real estate is corner shops, which are all too frequently CELL PHONE companies. You can easily spend upward of 3,000 yen ($30 USD) per month on just basic service, all the way up to 8,000 ($80) for basic service.

I paid about $30 a month for basic service, but my bill rarely dipped below $70...despite the fact that I didn't use the phone much. I got tired of paying so damned much for the rent on someone else's corner store, and cancelled my phone contract.

These days, I use e-mail from my home PC instead, but I get teased mercilessly by friends who wish I'd get hooked on the cellphone addiction again.

Fooey.

Well...those're the facts as I see'em. The decisions are yours.