UK iphone 4S in Japan

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Feb 3, 2013, 11:12 am

FlyingDentist

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: mostly London

Programs: BA Gold - so flying too much again... plus AA, LX, VS and too many hotel programmes to mention

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UK iphone 4S in Japan

Apologies if this duplicates information elsewhere but I cannot find an exact answer via the search tools or my mobile phone provider's website.

I have an unlocked UK iphone 4s 32GB. Bought from Apple, currently has my O2 pay monthly SIM installed.

Will this work in Japan?

I last visited Japan in 2009 with my old iphone 3S which refused to work at all.
Would prefer this not to be the case when I go this week!

Thanks in advance

Feb 3, 2013, 1:58 pm

ksandness

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA

Programs: UA, NW

Posts: 3,752

I don't know about unlocked UK phones with someone else's SIM, but my regular US iPhone 4 did work in Japan, although at sky-high roaming rates. You may be able to rent a Japanese iPhone SIM, but foreigners without residence visas are not allowed to actually buy phones or SIMs.

I know, regrettable policy instituted about eight or ten years ago.

Feb 3, 2013, 4:13 pm

FlyingDentist

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: mostly London

Programs: BA Gold - so flying too much again... plus AA, LX, VS and too many hotel programmes to mention

Posts: 594

Thanks - I'm not planning to make a lot of calls.

Probably will leave it switched off most of the time and switch on to pick up urgent messages from time to time.

I will try to get an iPhone SIM though - thanks for the tip.

Feb 3, 2013, 7:02 pm

msb0b

Join Date: Jan 2005

Programs: Dirt

Posts: 949

Yes it will work. NTTdocomo and Softbank both operate on UMTS2100, same as UK.

You can buy a data SIM as described in the data SIM thread. With a data SIM you can still make phone calls with VOIP apps like Skype. Be mindful of Japan's vastly different manners regarding mobile phone usage though.

Feb 3, 2013, 8:45 pm

beep88

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: YYZ

Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL

Posts: 3,008

beware that the 300kbps data SIM card does not support VoIP. You have to get the high speed one.

Feb 4, 2013, 9:19 am

msb0b

Join Date: Jan 2005

Programs: Dirt

Posts: 949

The 1 GB card would work too. Probably better than the bitrate cards. From what I have read about the bitrate cards, they have many restrictions and filtering in place to keep you from using streaming services.

Feb 4, 2013, 4:13 pm

beep88

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: YYZ

Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL

Posts: 3,008

I have used both and can confirm that the 1GB card works with VoIP including Skype.

VoIP(among other things) is specifically forbidden on the 300kbps card.

Feb 4, 2013, 4:27 pm

ksandness

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA

Programs: UA, NW

Posts: 3,752

If it's Internet access you want, that works fine on wi-fi, which is becoming more common in the cheaper hotels but not in the expensive ones. Since I stay exclusively in cheap hotels, I don't bother with a data card.

Feb 4, 2013, 4:33 pm

FlyingDentist

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: mostly London

Programs: BA Gold - so flying too much again... plus AA, LX, VS and too many hotel programmes to mention

Posts: 594

Thank you all for the advice.

I think I will try to rent a pocket wifi device from these guys

http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html

If I do I will report back on how it works

Thanks again

Feb 5, 2013, 6:22 pm

#10

FlyingDentist

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: mostly London

Programs: BA Gold - so flying too much again... plus AA, LX, VS and too many hotel programmes to mention

Posts: 594

Update

I should have mentioned - we are going on a wildlife photo trip that will involve the monkey park at Jigokudany then on to Hokkaido, staying in Rausu, Lake Kussharo and Tsurui.

The hotels we will stay at have no internet access, according to the tour organisers.

Looks like there is no wifi coverage with the device I mentioned above in those areas, so I probably will not rent one.