Mick Rich 78 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I’m in the market for a new phone as my 2 year contract has just expired and someone recently described my keitai as “dasai”, which I took to mean uncool!! I currently have a basic, Softbank flip-phone and am looking to upgrade to something with internet access so I can check my emails, transport options and of course SJF, when I’m out and about. I reckon I won't use the internet much during the week as I have access at work and home, so it's mainly going to be for weekend use BUT I’m really put off by the monthly bills that I hear people are paying, so thought I’d see what you're all spending on here, if you don't mind dishing the dirt!? Whilst I’m at it, any thoughts on whether I should go for a smartphone or stay with a flip-phone? I know that the new iPhone 5 is due out soon [ http://www.snowjapan...21994-iphone-5/ ] but would like to watch YouTube, which I understand you can’t do on the iPhone. & I have no objection to switching networks, which I think I can now do without incurring a penalty charge. Cheers guys! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 My iPhone 4s bill is about I think 9450 yen a month. But, that includes the cost of the phone itself split over 12 months - so I have nearly finished that up - and the unlimited data thingy. The cost of the actually phone bit isn't that much. As discussed elsewhere, it's just so sleek to use and it is a thing of beauty, I really love it. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 My AU smart phone bill is just a shade under 10,000 / month, which includes up to 4000 yen of free calls / unlimited email / internet access, but this also includes the monthly fee for the actual phone split over 2 years. All of the contracts now are either 1 or 2 years terms! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 iPhone 4... just under 10,000 yen. Youtube not a problem in fact it comes as a standard app. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I don't have a smartphone but have looked into it, and if you change provider and get a free phone, I think you're looking at 3500-4000 extra a month compared to a Japanese dasai mobile, which on a family plan can be under 3000 a month. If you stay with the same provider, they'll make you pay for the handset, so you get the cost of one of them on the top, say 45,000 divided by 24 months. Very fast home internet is cheap in Japan but unfortunately smartphones aren't. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Its about 6k a month now after paying off my handset cost. 5k for unlimited wimax and internet etc. 1k for basic plan that gives me about 1hr of free calls a month I use an HTC Evo 3d because I can use it as mobile wifi hotspot for my devices such as the PS Vita and tablet. Moreover, the android o/s provides me with a lot of flexibility with what I can do with it. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Can you tether off it too MiJ? If tethering/smartphone-as-mifi works well, you can ditch your home internet and the smartphone pays for itself. More money for snowboarding! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Yep, I sometimes use it at home but mostly on my journey to work and home again. We use the internet at home for a plethora of devices (TV, IP phone, Wife's computer) so we can't really ditch it. Good idea though. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Is it fast enough? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 After recently doing the same thing and giving up my Willcom tin cans and string for an iPhone 4S my bills are only just over 6k. That covers everything.......free emails, Internet pack and free calls to designated friends n family AU phones. I'm always online, using Facebook, BBC etc etc. it took me a long time to get on the smartphone wave but I love my iPhone Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I like the "Dark" version of the mobile theme for these here SJF. Raku desu ne. As much as I like it and being "online" when I want, nothing compares to a bigger screen/mouse kind of combi for being able to do things quick. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Yeah that's true......having to zoom into pages all the time could be a pain in the ass at times Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I was thinking more of folks living alone on not so much money. Like I did when I were a lad A lot of the videos I want to watch on my ipod touch won't play on it. They just don't come up on a search. Its mainly songs that I want to hear through our speaker dock in the kitchen. It sounds like a fair few videos on youtube aren't available to mobile devices. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Have you found the "Mobile (dark)" theme, Tubby? Bottom left under Change Theme. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 A lot of the videos I want to watch on my ipod touch won't play on it. They just don't come up on a search. Its mainly songs that I want to hear through our speaker dock in the kitchen. It sounds like a fair few videos on youtube aren't available to mobile devices. Flash. That is still really very annoying. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 While some vids on youtube are not available on mobile most if you search for the alternate ones. If you use the youtube app that automatically only finds and plays ones that are for mobile. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 There are many many videos online that are not youtube. Whatever, it's a bother and annoying. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Thanks for all the replies guys! I have to pop into Tokyo tomorrow, so may drop by one of the Softbank stores with English-speaking staff and see what they can offer me. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Go to AU Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Go to AU Do you know of any branches with English-speaking staff? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 So what is the cheapest these days for a dasai flip-top dumb phone, that does nothing more than phone, e-mail and the occasional snapshot? Softbank seems way too expensive for what one gets (i.e., marginal signal and frequent disconnects/scramblings/etc.). (I like flip-tops, because less likelihood of accidentally hitting a button while carrying them.) Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Fliptops are the future, Captain Kirk will use them. As documented in Star Trek: The Original Series. And, ipad things with styluses to sign things. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 So what is the cheapest these days for a dasai flip-top dumb phone, that does nothing more than phone, e-mail and the occasional snapshot? Softbank seems way too expensive for what one gets (i.e., marginal signal and frequent disconnects/scramblings/etc.). (I like flip-tops, because less likelihood of accidentally hitting a button while carrying them.) If I only send sms/texts to other Softbank users between the hours of 1am and 9pm (or thereabouts), I pay 980Yen a month, the phone being free. Invariably I go over that but on average I reckon I've been paying 1,100yen/month for the past 2 years. Beam me up Scotty! Link to post Share on other sites
griller 9 Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 980 yen a month! Wow that is cheap. Mine is about 6500 now that I have paid up for the machine, that included unlimited data though. I think it's worth it. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 So what is the cheapest these days for a dasai flip-top dumb phone, that does nothing more than phone, e-mail and the occasional snapshot? Softbank seems way too expensive for what one gets (i.e., marginal signal and frequent disconnects/scramblings/etc.). (I like flip-tops, because less likelihood of accidentally hitting a button while carrying them.) With au you have to pay more for actual e-mail. I think its 300 a month basic plus packets. Their own c-mail thingy is free, I guess, but is only between au users. Mine and my missus are on the same bill so I don't know the split, but I think mine comes to 2000-2500 yen.That's unlimited calls to her and email. Emails with big attachments do not reach dasai au phones. They get bounced with no warning given at the phone. Sometimes I get to my desk and notice a work email that couldn't get redirected to my mobile. Link to post Share on other sites
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