Docomo P651ps prepaid phone

Hi,
A friend of mine gave me his prepaid Docomo phone to use when I go to Japan however, its been so long since he used it, he doesnt know what I need to do in order to get it working again as in, do I need to buy docomo prepaid phone cards or SIMs or..I don't know how to make sure this phone will work when I get to Japan. Can I buy the cards online? Any help?

When you let the service lapse on a prepaid phone you give up the rights to the phone's phone number. The service provider's will not let you reactivate the phone with a new number. Looks like your only choice to travel with a cellphone will be to rent one.

Do you know when your friend used the phone for the last time?

The credit on the phone usually get's cleared two months after the last recharge or so, whereas the phone number will stay active much longer.
Mine is valid for about a year after the last credit recharge.

So maybe if you're lucky, all you need to do is get a credit recharge. I don't know how this is with Docomo, with Softbank you can do this online by credit card. Maybe this way you can also check if it is still valid.
You can also buy prepaid cards in most convenience stores.

I don't know if it's possible to be issued a new number for the phone by the phone company. Maybe for some fee.

Have you checked if Docomo have an english website and an english contact form?
Softbank even has english user manuals. :)

Hi thanks to you both.

Its been at least five years since he's used it so I'm sure there's no way its still working. I found the number on it but there's no way I'll know if its still usable...I guess I'll just rent a phone to avoid the hassle. I've noticed a few Japan phone rental sites here and there but which ones are the best? That people have had few problems with or accepts paypal as well as credit cards?

hi

DoCoMo is nolonger offering pre-paid cell phone service. There are some rental phone service that you can pick it up at airport in Japan.

http://www.pupuru.com/foreign/en/index.html
http://www.rental-mobile.com/en/domestic/index.html
http://rental-phone.jp/e/nrt/narita.html
http://www.air-s.biz/Rental%20Cell%20Phone.html
http://roaming.nttdocomo.co.jp/index.html
http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/index.php

and there are more so you can serch whoever give you the best deal. I wonder what is DoCoMo's plan for using your own phone number thing is... hmm(-_-)�U�J