Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
It was like this for phones ever since I've been here... almost 25 years now. The difference is that there are several different carriers. In the past it was only DoCoMo that handled mobile phones. Today there is SoftBank, Au, KDD, and Willcom. On the other hand, it seems that you can do more with Japanese mobile phones than can be done with western carriers. Even iPhone has different app for Japanese phones that aren't available in other languages.
Easiest must be Thailand. Walk into any convenience store, mom-and-pop shop or any place that sells phones and buy a sim card (choice of numbers and carriers) stick it in your phone and walk out. You then have the option of refilling that number later or buying a new card with a new number. NO contracts, no registrations. If one DOES want month-to-month billing instead, that's available too.
Stitchawl
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You can only choose the phones or tablets that a partcular operator carries. If you want an iPad you're forced into a Softbank contract etc. You couldn't buy an iPhone (unlocked) and then install a DoCoMo SIM. It just baffled me. In Sweden consumers would never accept a setup like that, but the Japanese are kind of docile when it comes to things like this.
When I go over to Japan I always want to buy a SIM card, stick it into my own phone and load it up with a few thousand yen, but it just can't be done. Very frustrating.