richarddd
Jan 8, 04, 12:32 pm
Is there GSM coverage in Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto). If not, what's the alternative?
How's the GSM coverage in China (major cities)?
How's the GSM coverage in China (major cities)?
Travel Technology - GSM cellphone in Japan/China
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kanebear
Jan 8, 04, 1:02 pm
No GSM coverage in Japan but T-mobile and some other GSM carriers (not sure about AT&T wireless) now offer GSM roaming in Japan with your SIM using a 3G handset (http://www.tmobilerentals.com/japanese_only.htm) (which they rent) on the J-phone network.
NickP 1K
Jan 8, 04, 1:03 pm
China has both GSM and CDMA networks. You should have NO problems using GSM in nearly all populated areas in China. Ensure your network operator has a roaming agreement with a Chinese carrier.
For Japan, you cannot use a standard GSM phone. Japan supports PHS, custom variants of CDMA2000 (KDDI) and WCDMA (Vodafone Japan/J-Phone and NTT DoCoMo FOMA). What you should do is check with your network operator if they support roaming on Vodafone Japan/J-Phone, if they do all you need to do is upon arrival in Japan rent a special handset, put your GSM SIM card in it and you will have an English lanquage handset that will roam your account like a GSM handset would. See: http://www.vodafone-rental.jp/en/phones_roam.htm The other option is to buy a Japan pre pay kit, you can get English lanquage pre pays on some Japan networks.
For Japan, you cannot use a standard GSM phone. Japan supports PHS, custom variants of CDMA2000 (KDDI) and WCDMA (Vodafone Japan/J-Phone and NTT DoCoMo FOMA). What you should do is check with your network operator if they support roaming on Vodafone Japan/J-Phone, if they do all you need to do is upon arrival in Japan rent a special handset, put your GSM SIM card in it and you will have an English lanquage handset that will roam your account like a GSM handset would. See: http://www.vodafone-rental.jp/en/phones_roam.htm The other option is to buy a Japan pre pay kit, you can get English lanquage pre pays on some Japan networks.
richarddd
Jan 8, 04, 1:31 pm
Thanks. I have t-mobile, so I should be ok, other than that it charges $1.99/min in Japan and $2.99/min in China.
Next question is whether I'll be able to get a blackberry to work in Japan. Edit: my IT people say no.
iPass has dial-up internet numbers in both countries. Any issues with phone systems in either country?
[This message has been edited by richarddd (edited Jan 08, 2004).]
Next question is whether I'll be able to get a blackberry to work in Japan. Edit: my IT people say no.
iPass has dial-up internet numbers in both countries. Any issues with phone systems in either country?
[This message has been edited by richarddd (edited Jan 08, 2004).]
NickP 1K
Jan 10, 04, 5:09 pm
No blackberry support in Japan, even though T-Mobile lists Japan as a GPRS roaming country. It *IS* a data roaming country with J-Phone if you use your T-Mobile SIM with the Nokia WCDMA handset, however no blackberry device supports this today.
I actually carry a Pocket PC with a VPN client when in Japan and use a Japan handset for network access. It's clunky but it's the only way to access corporate email.
I actually carry a Pocket PC with a VPN client when in Japan and use a Japan handset for network access. It's clunky but it's the only way to access corporate email.