Roaming in Japan • Non-Gaming • Travel • Eurogamer.net

Grump 16 Jan 2006 14:51:33 1,208 posts
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Does anyone know if I'll be able to use my Nokia 5140i in Japan?

ssuellid 16 Jan 2006 14:54:28 19,142 posts
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Grump wrote:
Does anyone know if I'll be able to use my Nokia 5140i in Japan?

Nope. no GSM( unless someone has started one recently). You can hire a phone over the web and pick it up at the hotel.

edit. Or pick a hire phone up at the airport.

Edited by ssuellid at 14:56:11 16-01-2006

GingerMagician 16 Jan 2006 14:55:44 3,011 posts
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You'll need to hire a phone out there - no GSM network.

Think there is limited support for 3G, though I'd check it out properly if it's an option for you.

Grump 16 Jan 2006 14:56:19 1,208 posts
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Thanks. How would I go about hiring a phone? Is there a particular website you recommend?

ssuellid 16 Jan 2006 14:58:33 19,142 posts
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I don't have any to recommend - never kept track of names companies people use. Hundreds pop on google tho - or just pick one up at the airport when you land.

Grump 16 Jan 2006 15:00:58 1,208 posts
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Does anyone know of any phones available here that can be used in Japan?

ssuellid 16 Jan 2006 15:01:32 19,142 posts
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Not a recommendation but these also do call forwarding so people phoning your UK number will get through: -

http://www.cellhire.co.uk/services/japanese/japaneseplus.htm

ssuellid 16 Jan 2006 15:03:06 19,142 posts
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Grump wrote:
Does anyone know of any phones available here that can be used in Japan?

What network? Orange and Vodafione sell 3G phones that work in Japan. Not sure about the other networks.

Grump 16 Jan 2006 15:04:35 1,208 posts
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ssuellid wrote:

Grump wrote:
Does anyone know of any phones available here that can be used in Japan?

What network? Orange and Vodafione sell 3G phones that work in Japan. Not sure about the other networks.

Orange. Pay monthly. but not on 3G

ssuellid 16 Jan 2006 15:05:29 19,142 posts
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3G is your only option apart from hiring a phone.

Flightrisker 16 Jan 2006 15:21:34 18,139 posts
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Can I come with you?

Onegaishimasu!!!!

Grump 16 Jan 2006 15:24:19 1,208 posts
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Flightrisker wrote:
Can I come with you?

Onegaishimasu!!!!

Only if you're a beautiful blonde who kicks ass on XBox Live.
ie. my wife.

On another note. I've checked on the Orange website and it seems that I can use my Motorola V3 out there. Confused now since everything I've read says that no GSM phones should work.

Edited by Grump at 15:30:33 16-01-2006

uiruki 16 Jan 2006 16:35:28 5,975 posts
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Vodafone's 3G network's easy to get onto with a 3g phone, but it's utter shit for reception. Go into a building on the first floor (not underground) and you lose a couple of bars of reception, go in too far and don't expect to actually receive any calls. This isn't in the sticks either, this is central Tokyo.

So rather than fucking around with something that will work in england but will a) cost loads and b) not work properly, just rent a docomo phone. It'll look crap and you won't be able to play sega rally on it, but on the other hand, it will work properly when you're outdoors. And indoors. Oh yeah, in my second floor apartment, there are several 'dead spots' of reception too.

So as not to sound like I'm completely bitter about vodafone, the sharp 903 is a nice phone and I got it for cheap, and the line rental's pretty reasonable by japanese standards. Oh yeah, and it worked fabulously on my recent trip to seoul, using SK telecom's 3G service - 4 bars of reception, even underground.

Flightrisker 16 Jan 2006 17:00:21 18,139 posts
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Grump wrote:

Flightrisker wrote:
Can I come with you?

Onegaishimasu!!!!

Only if you're a beautiful blonde who kicks ass on XBox Live.

Well I'm half way there!

Just need to improve my Xbox Live skills now...

Grump 16 Jan 2006 18:48:01 1,208 posts
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Won't even a quad-band phone work?

Ginger 16 Jan 2006 18:53:51 7,256 posts
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Grump wrote:
Won't even a quad-band phone work?

Not if it doesn't support UMTS (3G) no. There is no GSM coverage in Tokyo (at least there wasn't in November 2004 when I was there)

Listen to everyone, hire a phone from the airport - or you could even buy a pay as you go phone out there. Not sure if they do them though - if you made sure it was 3G then when you bought it back you'd have a phone no-one's ever seen before... However, it'll be in Japanese