Pre-paid cell phones for use in Japan
Mar 3, 2004, 9:10 am
#1
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Pre-paid cell phones for use in Japan
I have several trips to the Tokyo area scheduled for the next few months. Are there pre-paid cell phones available for purchase? I would rather own than rent. I'm more interested in receiving calls and calling to the US/Canada and would want to have my own number that I can give out before traveling. Suggestions?
Mar 3, 2004, 11:28 am
#2
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Do you currently have cell service with one of the providers that offers GSM like AT&T, Tmobile, or Cingular? If so then all you need is a triband GSM phone (ebay has lots of them, and there is another thread here about them) and a SIM from your provider.
Mar 3, 2004, 11:32 am
#3
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cordelli:
Do you currently have cell service with one of the providers that offers GSM like AT&T, Tmobile, or Cingular? If so then all you need is a triband GSM phone (ebay has lots of them, and there is another thread here about them) and a SIM from your provider.
</font>
Do you currently have cell service with one of the providers that offers GSM like AT&T, Tmobile, or Cingular? If so then all you need is a triband GSM phone (ebay has lots of them, and there is another thread here about them) and a SIM from your provider.
</font>
Incorrect.
Japan doesn't use GSM so a tri-band phone will be useless there.
Mar 3, 2004, 11:35 am
#4
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Mar 3, 2004, 11:11 pm
#6
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MIABarry:
I have several trips to the Tokyo area scheduled for the next few months. Are there pre-paid cell phones available for purchase? I would rather own than rent. I'm more interested in receiving calls and calling to the US/Canada and would want to have my own number that I can give out before traveling. Suggestions?</font>
I have several trips to the Tokyo area scheduled for the next few months. Are there pre-paid cell phones available for purchase? I would rather own than rent. I'm more interested in receiving calls and calling to the US/Canada and would want to have my own number that I can give out before traveling. Suggestions?</font>
I don't know how you'll get the number before traveling though, as it comes in the box and you can't get the phones outside Japan (because they're paperweights anywhere else).
Mar 4, 2004, 9:02 pm
#7
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You can purchase a J-Phone in the US if you are willing to pay a premium price at: http://www.cellularabroad.com/japancellphone.html
You will then have the number before you leave.
You will then have the number before you leave.
Mar 6, 2004, 5:34 pm
#8
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i guess I dont see a reason to buy rather than rent. rentals are pretty cheap. also if you have tmobile for instance, you can rent a WCDMA phone through tmobiles japanese partner and use you tmobile US number.
Mar 10, 2004, 12:57 pm
#9
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I'll be making 5 or 6 three to five day trips. Buying the phone seems to be better than renting since most of the rentals have a week minimum. The number will also remain the same.
Mar 10, 2004, 11:34 pm
#10
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MIABarry:
I'll be making 5 or 6 three to five day trips. Buying the phone seems to be better than renting since most of the rentals have a week minimum. The number will also remain the same. </font>
I'll be making 5 or 6 three to five day trips. Buying the phone seems to be better than renting since most of the rentals have a week minimum. The number will also remain the same. </font>