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+--- Thread: Smartphones and SIMs (/thread-8873.html)
Smartphones and SIMs - zigmonty - 2012-01-06
I'm buying a new phone soon and there's a complication: in 8 months, i'll probably be transferred to japan for a year. So my plan is to buy it outright and put a japanese SIM in it when i get there.
But I've heard that most of the telcos over there are pretty hesitant to give you a SIM without a handset. Is this true? Any advice?
Smartphones and SIMs - rich_f - 2012-01-06
Buy it unlocked and it shouldn't be a problem. Make sure the smartphone you get is compatible with the Japanese networks (most are), and you should be fine. I took my Nexus One over there, slipped in a B-Mobile data-only SIM, and I had no problems using the DoCoMo network. (Well, a few at first, but nothing major.)
Then again, I bought my SIM at Yodobashi Camera, and didn't have to deal with cell company people, who I've heard can be quite thick.
Check out the Softbank Sucks blog for lots of *really* useful info on that sort of thing, and some good alternatives. (There are voice plans you can get and avoid having to deal with Softbank/DoCoMo, etc.)
http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/
Also, you can check the howardforums as well for info. Howardforums is general cell phone info, but it's where a lot of propellerheads hang out, if you're not sure that your phone will work with Japan's networks.
http://howardforums.com/
Whether it's iOS or Android, I always prefer buying the phone outright to getting it on contract (if you're doing GSM), because you can generally walk away whenever you want without a penalty. (Naturally, there are rapacious companies that are exceptions.)