SIM Cards

Can you hook up these phones to a laptop to get access to the
internet anywhere?

If your operator provides data communication roaming in Japan, yes.
But it will be so pricy.

Do they also have WiFi hotspots over there like they do here in
California where you can get internet access with a laptop.

Yes in big cities. But most WiFi providers require registration or contract in advance.

Yes 3G phone like the Motorol-A1000 uses "USIM". However, a normal prepaid SIM works with the A1000 on the WCDMA networks and it works in Japan with the services provided by DoCoMo ( NTT ). I've tried it and it works both USIM and Pre Paid SIM. It works at least with the prepaid "Hi-Card" from SINGTEL. Good luck

However, a normal prepaid SIM works with the A1000 on the WCDMA
networks and it works in Japan with the services provided by DoCoMo (
NTT ).

Note that some, if not many, prepaid SIMs do not support international
roaming.

Also note that not all foreign 3G W-CDMA phones are compatible with
DoCoMo's network. Motorola phones are known to be somewhat compatible,
but others may not.
All W-CDMA phones should be compatible with Vodafone Japan's network.

Here are lists of inbound roaming partners of DoCoMo and Vodafone.
http://roaming.nttdocomo.co.jp/operators/index.html
http://www.vodafone-rental.jp/en/pdf/roamingpartners.pdf

Hello!
Does anybody know if there is wireless internet available to foreigners in Japan? And if so, what are some of the more popular companies?

Thanks in advance!

one thing about the sim/usim issue remains unclear to me.

prepaid sims brought to japan obviously work in japanese mobile phones in the japanese network.

but what if i wanted to use a japanese mobile phone (one from vodafone japan that uses usim cards) and wanted to use it in european networks with european sim cards. is this possible? (apart from the simlock which i assume can somehow be disabled)

See this thread.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+18307

but what if i wanted to use a japanese mobile phone (one from vodafone
japan that uses usim cards) and wanted to use it in european networks
with european sim cards. is this possible? (apart from the simlock which
i assume can somehow be disabled)

Yes if you unlock it (except 802N).

To Meringue and Stuart,

Can you tell me what UMTS actually is (yes I know it stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service, or something like that).

The Motorola that Stuart mentions is GSM tri-band plus UMTS (this is on the specs that I see when I look it up on the net).

I can only assume that UMTS covers 3G and WCDMA which means that if I have one of these unlocked handsets I can roam in Japan, using my GSM carrier or any other pre-paid or contracted carrier that I wish to use.

I have read the posts about the difficulty in getting a Japanese pre-paid sim, and I will be interested to find out if and when any of the Japanese handsets become unlockable and how they can be possible used worldwide using local sims in different countries.

Thanks

If you cant use your GSM sim you can buy a japanese phone with the WORLDWING feature that allows for overseas usage. More info here http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/p_s/world/roaming/faq/foma.html#top
I dont believe there is a monthly charge but I could be wrong. You have to pay a roaming fee of 125 Yen 1.25'ish.

Vodaphone allows for GSM SIM cards to be put into a GSM-SIM card compatible phone for use over the WCDMA network they have. It's not that you're using standard GSM frequencies or networks, only that you're pulling contacts/plan data off the SIM, but running off the WCDMA network they use over there.

So, don't expect that any GSM phone wil work in japan.

---

however, these phones that do accept GSM SIM cards are typically designed to be able to roam outside japan on the GSM networks, so they are GSM/WCDMA compatible. But, this does not mean GSM frequencies are active or used in japan.

---

Nokia 6650 is one of their current phones which have GSM + WCDMA capabilities. You can also rent this from Vodafone Rentals Japan when you arrive in Japan for use with your GSM SIM card, but your plan must also have international roaming agreement and capability turned on in your plan beforehand. See Vodafone Rental agreement list for providers of plans outside Japan that can roam in Japan.

---

Thus, it's still a pain to have a cell phone in japan and elsewhere. Even if you buy the Nokia outside japan, you still can't use it inside Japan unless a provider such as Vodafone activates it for use over their WCDMA networks (ie. you still can't bring in any ol' Nokia 6650 phone and expect it to work inside japan).

I have an iMate JAMmobile Pocket PC... I'm going to japan next april, is there any chance I can use it in Japan?!

Now... different situation:

I already have a japanese phone that takes USIM cards (Vodafone 903 SH) and I wonder if it's possible to just make a contract in japan WITHOUT buying a cellphone+SIM package but just the (U)SIM card.

Any information about that?

Hello everyone. If I buy a Japanese nokia 7600 it'll work with a non-japanese USIM? I'm Italian and I wonder if I buy one and I use it with an italian USIM I'll be able to use the 7600 also in Italy. I'm looking for a mobile that can display and that can write in kana & kanji. Thanks

I'l be working in japan for over a year so i'll have a working visa and perminant address and a japanese bank account will it be possible for me to bye a phone.

I know this might have been asked already, but I lived in Japan for 4 months and purchased an AU cell phone. When I was leaving, they asked if I wanted a chip/card put in it so that I could use it back home (in America). I declined at the time and my AU service was stopped. Is there a company in the US that could provide service to this phone?

I just want to know if I could turn this dead phone into a living phone with an American service provider. Would I be paying for a Japanese International service? Or could the American company provide an appropriate chip so I could use this phone? Thanks!

I already have a japanese phone that takes USIM cards (Vodafone 903
SH) and I wonder if it's possible to just make a contract in japan
WITHOUT buying a cellphone+SIM package but just the (U)SIM card.

If you are qualified to make a postpaid contract (for example, you have
an address in Japan), you can do it. But IMO you should have no reason
to stick to a SIM only contract because you will be able to buy another
decent phone for 1 yen with a new contract.

If you mean a prepaid SIM, you can't. Prepaid SIM cards are not sold in
Japan.

Hello everyone. If I buy a Japanese nokia 7600 it'll work with a
non-japanese USIM? I'm Italian and I wonder if I buy one and I use it
with an italian USIM I'll be able to use the 7600 also in Italy. I'm
looking for a mobile that can display and that can write in kana & kanji.
Thanks

Yes. Japanese Nokia 7600 is not locked to any carrier. You can use it
with a non-Japanese (U)SIM almost anywhere in the world.

I'l be working in japan for over a year so i'll have a working visa
and perminant address and a japanese bank account will it be possible
for me to bye a phone.

You can probably.

I know this might have been asked already, but I lived in Japan for
4 months and purchased an AU cell phone. When I was leaving, they asked
if I wanted a chip/card put in it so that I could use it back home (in
America). I declined at the time and my AU service was stopped. Is there
a company in the US that could provide service to this phone?

Some AU phones use a USIM card while many others don't. Which is your
phone?

It sounds to me that your phone doesn't and they asked if you wanted to
switch to a USIM-based contract so that you could put your AU USIM into
any other GSM phone to be used in US (with int'l roaming charges). That
is, I think they asked you if you'd keep your CONTRACT alive, not your
PHONE.

I just want to know if I could turn this dead phone into a living
phone with an American service provider. Would I be paying for a
Japanese International service? Or could the American company provide an
appropriate chip so I could use this phone? Thanks!

The only way to use your AU phone in US is to make a contract with AU
again and use the phone with int'l roaming charges.

The only way to use your AU phone in US is to make a contract with AU
again and use the phone with int'l roaming charges.

This applies if your phone is "Global Passport" phone. Most AU phones can't be used in US.