Softbank iPhone 3GS 16GB Black

Softbank iPhone 3GS 16GB Black, originally uploaded by osakacchi.

My current main screen.

Couldn't hold the temptation to get an iPhone. So I decided to break up with the Japanese phone and go with an iPhone. Some different abilities of the 2 phones:

KDDI AU Sony RE
cost: ¥0 (had to subscribe to a few services, like insurance, music, navigation service, only for 2 months, and free to cancel afterwards) + charger is a separate ¥980-ish
internet highest cap: ¥4410
monthly plan: ¥980 (includes around ¥1000 free local call)
speciality 1: Felica, take most trains in Tokyo with just your phone, in Osaka, it's limited to JRs
speciality 2: Oneseg, ability to watch digital TV from phone, signal could be bad, depending on location
pros: ability to merge with the Japanese system... =/ the way it takes QRcode is awesome, even when it's very very small.
cons: inability to sync with my Macbook, have to use Windows to manage the music on the phone, have to pay to get new ringtones
idols: Arashi <3, Nakama Yukie
requirements: gaijin card prove, passport, bank book

Softbank iPhone 3GS
cost: ¥480 x 24 = ¥11520 (until 30 Sep 2009, was ¥2400 x 24, full front price = ¥57600)
internet highest cap: ¥4410 (until 30 Sep 2009, was ¥5985)
monthly plan: ¥490 (for students)
speciality 1: Appstore
pros: ability to sync with Macbook, that is awesome, camera spot focus to where you touch
cons: no Felica, no Oneseg, camera focus is worse at some point
idols: SMAP, Ueto Aya
requirements: student card, health insurance card, bank card

New Contract / Cancellation related cost
MNP (Mobile Number Portability) = ¥2000-ish
KDDI DaredemoWari (Monthly discount for everyone -- those who cancels 2 year contracts) = ¥9000-ish
Softbank のりかえ promo (move from another provider) = using MNP, 5 months of free basic cost (¥490 for me), for students, additional 5 months free = -¥4900

My parents was letting me get iPhone nonetheless, so I started asking starting from a nearby shop. But they sold out. Next, Namba's Bic Camera, also sold out. After leaving Bic Camera, we had to go home to pick up mom's passport. And at the same time I took my student card and train tickets that I left behind (this is important!). Afterwards, I went to ask at another store in Ebisubashi, they have it!

I was expecting to pay full front, as I've read on internet. The lady started by asking me my passport and gaijin card. Then she asked my health insurance and student card, and my bank card for payment. And then she said, since I have the student card and health insurance card, it's possible for me to pay 24x!!! Instead of the ¥57600 full front! Even though my visa is currently expiring next March!

Such a nice lady. The shop seems to be gaijin friendly too. There was a gaijin talking to the shop's hmm... a gaijin manager? Not sure. After awhile, there were other gaijin coming too. Was there for 1.5 hours. They had to do those paperworks and transferring of my number. And also applying for credit card, which hopefully will arrive soon, I need it. Mom was complaining while I was all smiley. orz

So there I went with my new phone. Note that the MNP process was pretty fast. So my AU phone was rendered useless at that spot. Though I didn't try it after the process. It now sits on its box nicely. Anyone interested getting it? Hehe. But I guess it won't work outside Japan since it has that weird Japanese only network...

Softbank iPhone (in short)

Found the 16gb iPhone 3GS in stock at the 3rd Softbank store. Took it rightaway. Managed to get away with 24x plan. So now I'm done with Japanese phone. I've used mobile Suica in Tokyo, so I'm pretty satisfied. Bye bye 1seg, bye bye Felica phone. Will write in details at a later date. Is pretty busy till tomorrow afternoon.

edit: Mobile Suica is really nice actually, you can charge it easily from a nearby Newdays/Family Mart, which is always near JR stations. I tried charging it through the mobile banking but it never worked, strangely. I wish they have such system here too. But well, I have iPhone now.

Updates

Sorry for not updating for a long time. Been busy with this and that.
To summarize quickly.

I failed my 2nd attempt for University Entrance exam. Different exam, but, fail is fail. Was very depressed for more than a week. I'd go for my last attempt for university entrance exam next year.

Went to Tokyo to accompany mom and friend. Gundam really sooth me, even though it was in the middle of typhoon. The movement's crude, but still awesome. AWESOME. Wish they put it there forever.

I turned 24.

Attended HAL Taiken Nyuugaku. Was fun. I do think I should have a backup plan. One is not enough for Japan. It's really tough here. But I will survive somehow. If I give up here and go back home, I'd definitely regret it my whole life. So yeah, I should somehow find a way to cheer up. I wish I can give something back to the kind people around me. I feel so guilty for failing.

Gonna start applying for a scholarship. But yet again, I feel so bad for applying for it. But I couldn't say no if they offer me one. Why not take it?

Suddenly have the urge to get an iPhone. Did lots of research online and off. Was thinking of getting iPod Touch instead, but I reckon combining the phone into 1 is not bad, much lighter bag. Initially I decide to get it if I pass the exam. But I didn't. And yet my parents still let me get it. But I cant forgive myself for getting one after failing an exam. Maybe they let me because I'm so so so depressed with the exam result. I think the last time I felt like that was 10 years ago-ish.

It'd cost me 9900yen-ish for canceling my AU. And since my current visa has less than 1 year remaining, I'd have to pay full front, 57600yen for 16GB. Then if I do a 2 year contract, I'd be discounted for 1920yen monthly for 24 months (from the bill, excluding the basic white plan thingy). That's what I figured out so far. Some people say about having credit card/bill and gaijin card, they'll let them pay monthly. But I don't have utility bill under my name nor a Japanese credit card (another gruesome journey for that). Since the local Softbank sold out the iPhone, will try again tomorrow at another branch.

Apparently Softbank's having a promotion of discounting when we transfer from another provider with MNP (keeping your phone number). But MNP costs 2700yen. And the discount that I was interested was for 5 months of free white plan fee. That'd still save me like 2000yen ish. Worth it. My phone number's not that important, but why not, I guess.

So yeah, basically, I'm just so hyped for iPhone. That keep me alive for now.

1seg (ワンセグ)

<3<3<3<3 Roy

I was on the train when they air Hagaren. So I watched it on the train. I forgot that I can watch it on my phone until some minutes past. Then, I forgot to plug in my earphone until halfway. Ahh. And I spent sometime to rotate this screen. Somehow it wouldn't rotate... orz

It was descent. It was slightly glitchy towards the end, no signal. But overall, not bad. I love 1 seg. It's complete with special tv menu and subtitle! GPS is also awesome. But I figure I don't need navi that much so I cancelled the 210 yen/month service, saves money.

Noww... I still haven't got the chance to use Osaifu Keitai (mobile wallet).

EZNabiWalk

The nice GPS function on my phone is the EZNabiWalk. You pick a point where you want to go to, and then say you want to go there from your current position. It will adjust the direction where you're facing is automatically. Though... if you're at a round place with lots of street branches, and it looks all the same, you won't know that you're going the wrong way until after awhile. It updates fast, but not too fast at some times. See the blue dots? It tracked me from GPS and that's where I went out of the path... ^_^;

Love it. Costs 210 yen per month. Maybe I should continue it if I plan to walk around a lot.



Well, the station was very quiet and there were barely people. Pretty confusing.

Run & Walk (KDDI AU)

One feature that I find interesting when browsing for mobile phones was this one. It's like iPod x Nike thing, I guess. Monitoring where you run and measure the distance through GPS. I doesn't seem that good, I seem to be going through buildings... =_=; But not bad. I almost got lost this morning. It was raining and I didn't feel like checking the map. Haha...

You can check your jogging (or cycling, if you pay monthly fee) from the phone or from PC. From the PC website, you can replay your running track. It's fun to see. Actually, I decided to run because I got this feature on my phone =d I forgot to take the pics from the phone. Will add them later.

And luckily, I found a really nice pair of shoes. Puma. Original price was 8800yen. I got it for 3990. I really like it XD

There's another feature that uses GPS that I find cool. Will blog it when I use it again next time. It's not like all of the features are only available in Japan, but still, my phone was much less hi-tech than this, hehe.

AU Mobile Phone

Next thing after getting a bank account, is to get a mobile phone. After visiting Docomo shop and AU shop (didn't see a phone I like from Softbank except iPhone and they're expensive), decided to go for the free phone from AU. So I visited the shop the next afternoon after I got my bank account.

It was quite a pleasant experience. Everything Japanese and contracts and plan explanations... I only need to bring passport, bank book, alien registration proof and money. I chose Sony Ericsson's RE since it's the most advanced phone out of the free ones. To get it free, what I had to do was to enroll in extra services. So I had to pay for an extra of 5000 yen ish. I couldn't understand the detail fully, but sort of 2500 extra for 2 months. It seems reasonable, so I took it. It still costs less than 10,000yen, and it has GPS, 1seg, Osaifu Keitai, which are what I want.

So the lady there explained it to me one by one. One of the services I had to apply was either a manga/music shop or a credit card. I thought it wouldn't be too bad to get a Japanese credit card. So I chose the free credit card. But apparently I couldn't have one since I haven't got my actual alien card. But... if I actually got my card already, seems like it's so easy to get a credit card here... o_o;; I can cancel those extra services next week.


I was there for more than an hour I guess. It does take time. I only have to paid 945 yen for the AC adaptor. Weirdly, they sell adaptors separately. All AU phones have same adaptor I guess...? My bill will then be deducted from my bank account. But I will need to pay the first 1-2 months from konbini since it takes time to process. Oh, you can choose your last 4 digits by paying an extra 300yen. Nice! And off I go home with my new phone and some little bonuses from the shop. That blue thing is an odor cleaner? The mickey is a phone sticker? And not sure what's in the orange box.

Arrived!

I'm starting my first day living in Japan! I've registered for Alien Registration. I've got a bank account @ UFJ. Got an AU brochure, but not sure which phone to get.

After a loooong transit, I took the midnight plane and arrived in Osaka in the morning. Was a bit worried with the health check thing, since I suddenly has a sore throat (must be the durian's fault). We were given a form in Bali, asking whether we contact any US/Canada/Mexico citizen or have fever and stuff. Wore the mask before we got down the plane, like 1/3 of the people wore them. No problem whatsoever in the custom. Was picked up by a friend. Since they don't wear the mask, we put them off. All of the employees wear masks, but not many people on the street wear. But it does seem important as my friend feels the need for a box of them. They're so so so so nice, we'd be so lost without them.


They picked us up and helped us with our big luggage. We arrived at the apartment around 1-2 hours later. The car doesn't look new, but the GPS is awesome, she used it everywhere she's driving. There, 2 people from the apartment were waiting for us to send the goods for living (maybe a bit expensive for 10,000 yen, but saved us from buying frying pan and stuff). Though I don't really get what use is kettle when we have an electric boiler. For tea maybe? Might as well use it. You know, like in manga, they serve tea to guests... lol. I've always been a bad host.

Anyways. After unpacking those goods, we left our baggage and went to the City Hall for Alien registration. Nothing too difficult. Got my 4.5x3.5cm photo from back home already. Oh, the certificate sent by the uni was eaten at the custom, no more need for it I guess. I just needed to fill up a simple form which also says I'm the head of my own family... which was a bit weird. And remember not to put the name opposite way. Family name first.


Then I was asked to get the health insurance. It was weird that we thought no payment necessary, but apparently, I'll have to pay the insurance when it's mailed to me. After that we picked up the proof of alien registration, which costs 150yen each. Made two, just in case someone decided to keep it. I'll need to pick the ID up at the City Hall 3 weeks later.

After that, bank. The closest to my apartment is UFJ. So we went there. My friend talked to the bank asking to let me open a bank account without inkan. After a long talk, we were asked to go to another branch of UFJ nearby. o_o; And there, I can open an account with just my signature. Another stupid thing was that I had to record a phone number. But I can't get a phone if I don't have a bank account. See? So the bank then recorded my Indonesian number and my friend's number. I don't know what I'd do without her... x_x;

Apparently it's not necessary to register the inkan you use. And it can be dangerous to register your inkan as that means anyone with that stamp can act as you. She said only if I want to buy a car, then I need to get a registered inkan. If not, a normal inkan is just a replacement for signature. The bank employee said that I'll need to get my name in katakana/alphabet in the inkan. Not sure what she said finally, it was confusing. Once I get my inkan, then I can change my signature to an inkan. And since I'd be staying for awhile, it's better to have an inkan. And seems like my unofficial chinese name stamp won't be useful at all. Agh, inkan. Funny system, it's cute but so complicated.

We then pass an AU store on the way back and asked for a brochure. There are a few phones that can be get for free. The CA001 that I want costs 48000yen in that store. And the next candidate, the exilim one, was 35000. Premiere 3 was 45000. Other new Panasonic/Sharp/etc ones were also 40000 yen up. It might be better if I get a Docomo one. But Docomo phones are expensive! Prolly like 20000yen different? So if I don't get the exilim, then I'd get the free one. And maybe change to an iPhone in the future. Not sure if they'd let me get the 2 year plan with just a 1 year visa.

No home phone here. And it'd be quite useless, might as well my parents call my mobile. Home phone would probably cost an extra 3000 yen a month. It's be more expensive to have one unless my parents call me like 10 hours/month. And we also have Skype, if she remembers how to use it. And I don't need to have home phone for internet. It's there already. And most Japanese youngsters don't have home phone, too. Oh well.

Had lunch at a Italian fastfood, called Se-- something. Pretty cheap. Should've gotten the spaghetti, seems yummier. Had the Risotto, but not cheesy enough for me =d The 180yen all you can drink-drink was awesome, too. Only it smelled cigarettes, though not that bad. And this thing... is all ice cream!

Then we went to a drugstore nearby. As usual, they are so wonderful. I didn't check whether they got mask or not, haha. Got an Omron electrical brush. Braun's one was too expensive. And Lion doesn't seem to be that reliable. It runs with a battery and so thin! Agh, remembering thin. I'll really aim for 50kg by this end of year!! Got a point card, since it's prolly useful. Will get soap and stuff from there in the future, too, since it's closeby. Not sure how it works, though.

And PS. My apartment includes electricity bills etc. How 便利!