Comments on: Purchasing Value: The iPhone in Japan http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/ Money saving tips and ideas for foreigners in Japan! Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:37:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Top 10 Frugally Wise Things To Do While Living in Japan | Frugalista Japan http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Top 10 Frugally Wise Things To Do While Living in Japan | Frugalista Japan Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:57:45 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-553 [...] while we’re on the subject, an iPhone would look great with that mac. The built in GPS will mean you never get lost in Japan again, especially now that you’ll [...] [...] while we’re on the subject, an iPhone would look great with that mac. The built in GPS will mean you never get lost in Japan again, especially now that you’ll [...]

]]> By: Plumber http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Plumber Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:38:19 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-479 Chill out guys! I recently renewed my Softbank contract and upgraded from my old phone to an iPhone 3GS. I have been paying my monthly bills through the bank. Although I have been here for more than 4 years, my remaining period of stay is less than 27 months. No questions were asked or credit card required. So I figure that if you are renewing your contract, have a good payment history (through a bank) and so accumulated their points, and want to upgrade to the iPhone, no questions will be asked. You will walk home with a new contract and a brand new iPhone. Chill out guys!
I recently renewed my Softbank contract and upgraded from my old phone to an iPhone 3GS. I have been paying my monthly bills through the bank. Although I have been here for more than 4 years, my remaining period of stay is less than 27 months. No questions were asked or credit card required. So I figure that if you are renewing your contract, have a good payment history (through a bank) and so accumulated their points, and want to upgrade to the iPhone, no questions will be asked. You will walk home with a new contract and a brand new iPhone.

]]> By: jamie http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-413 jamie Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:14:59 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-413 Sorry, I didn't have time to read the contract, since they pretty much just threw the iPhone at me. I had less than 6 months on my VISA. Maybe the problem is just that you dont have a credit card then - in which case, why not just get one? If you credit rating is so good as to get a big loan like that, I'm sure a little credit card wont be so hard? Sorry, I didn’t have time to read the contract, since they pretty much just threw the iPhone at me. I had less than 6 months on my VISA.

Maybe the problem is just that you dont have a credit card then – in which case, why not just get one? If you credit rating is so good as to get a big loan like that, I’m sure a little credit card wont be so hard?

]]> By: mark http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-411 mark Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:48:37 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-411 Jamie, hate to break your heart buddy but this is strictly with the IPHONE(campaign) only and its just as easy as taking candy from a baby to get a regular softbank phone. If you would read their contract before commenting you would have known. Also, there ain't no need to apply for a permanent residency cause all you gotta do is renew it every few years. Ain't no need for a credit card either. Its funny cause I was able to get over a million yen for a loan on a car but can't purchase one f***** phone... Been here for over 30 years with a steady job and no criminal records.... wonder what part of my life I need to get in order. Jamie, hate to break your heart buddy but this is strictly with the IPHONE(campaign) only and its just as easy as taking candy from a baby to get a regular softbank phone. If you would read their contract before commenting you would have known. Also, there ain’t no need to apply for a permanent residency cause all you gotta do is renew it every few years. Ain’t no need for a credit card either. Its funny cause I was able to get over a million yen for a loan on a car but can’t purchase one f***** phone… Been here for over 30 years with a steady job and no criminal records…. wonder what part of my life I need to get in order.

]]> By: jamie http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-410 jamie Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:56:55 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-410 Sorry to hear about your grievance with Softbank Mark, but this has nothing to do with an iPhone - you're making a new contract with them and they clearly dont trust you to pay every month. The very fact that you mention you want to pay for the phone upfront instead of the monthly payment plan along with your regular contract is pretty suspicious - it looks quite blatantly like you're going to get the phone then cancel your contract. Also, if you really have lived here for 30 years I'd have thought you'd have applied for permanent residency by now and gotten a proper Japanese credit card. I suggest you get your life in order before you get a shiny new phone. Sorry to hear about your grievance with Softbank Mark, but this has nothing to do with an iPhone – you’re making a new contract with them and they clearly dont trust you to pay every month. The very fact that you mention you want to pay for the phone upfront instead of the monthly payment plan along with your regular contract is pretty suspicious – it looks quite blatantly like you’re going to get the phone then cancel your contract.

Also, if you really have lived here for 30 years I’d have thought you’d have applied for permanent residency by now and gotten a proper Japanese credit card. I suggest you get your life in order before you get a shiny new phone.

]]> By: mark http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-409 mark Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:16:01 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-409 Howz it going everybody. A little incident with this Iphone3GS. They have a campaign going on till the end of Sep 09(its called Iphone for everybody)and let me warn you cause they got some special rules that apply to this campaign. First, your period of stay has to be at least 27months, If so you can probably purchase the 3GS on a monthly payment plan. Second, if you wanna pay for the phone all at once, you need a credit card for the monthy payment???? Is it me or does something sound a bit crazy with this. In my case, the period of stay is 21months and I do not have a credit card so I was basically F******! I have been living in Japan for over 30 years and I constantly renew my VISA but there ain't s***t I can do about the period of stay. Oh yeah, there is another way to purchase this phone. If you don't purchase through the campaign(you end up paying 1500yen more a month!)and have a japanese bank account you can purchase it( at least thats what the softbank guy said). But thats a rip off. To wrap this up, if your not japanese and you plan on purchasing the new Iphone 3GS, make sure you at least have over 27 months on your period of stay and also make you have a credit card(^^) Howz it going everybody. A little incident with this Iphone3GS. They have a campaign going on till the end of Sep 09(its called Iphone for everybody)and let me warn you cause they got some special rules that apply to this campaign. First, your period of stay has to be at least 27months, If so you can probably purchase the 3GS on a monthly payment plan. Second, if you wanna pay for the phone all at once, you need a credit card for the monthy payment???? Is it me or does something sound a bit crazy with this. In my case, the period of stay is 21months and I do not have a credit card so I was basically F******! I have been living in Japan for over 30 years and I constantly renew my VISA but there ain’t s***t I can do about the period of stay. Oh yeah, there is another way to purchase this phone. If you don’t purchase through the campaign(you end up paying 1500yen more a month!)and have a japanese bank account you can purchase it( at least thats what the softbank guy said). But thats a rip off. To wrap this up, if your not japanese and you plan on purchasing the new Iphone 3GS, make sure you at least have over 27 months on your period of stay and also make you have a credit card(^^)

]]> By: Jamie http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Jamie Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:39:20 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-376 Sory Haha, Japanese cellphone companies do not allow you just get a sim card and put it on their network, you have to get a phone from them too. 8000 yen per month is what I pay too, and its not so bad when you consider the value you get with the iphone - especially now that its increddibly easy to tether your iphone to your computer for free 3g internet anywhere! http://www.tokyobit.com/2009/07/iphone-tethering-on-softbank-tutorial/ .-= Jamie´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.tokyobit.com/2009/08/join-the-team-and-write-for-tokyobit/" rel="nofollow">Join the team and write for TokyoBIT</a> =-. Sory Haha, Japanese cellphone companies do not allow you just get a sim card and put it on their network, you have to get a phone from them too. 8000 yen per month is what I pay too, and its not so bad when you consider the value you get with the iphone – especially now that its increddibly easy to tether your iphone to your computer for free 3g internet anywhere!

http://www.tokyobit.com/2009/07/iphone-tethering-on-softbank-tutorial/
Jamie´s last blog ..Join the team and write for TokyoBIT My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Haha http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Haha Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:07:32 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-375 I am seriously thinking about getting an Iphone. I have been with Softbank for several years also in Japan. Yesterday I went to Yodobashi Camera to get a price quote: Almost 8000 yens per month for unlimited email and 16GB of Internet download (plus phone cost) for a 26 months contract with the first two month free for the cost of the phone. (So I pay the phone during only 24 month, a special offer running until September). Is there a way to purchase an Iphone somewhere at a better price (it cost about 65 000 yens when paying the Iphone upfront at Softbank) and activate it at Softbank? Softbank says it is not possible, but is there a way around? Thanx for any answer. Haha. I am seriously thinking about getting an Iphone.
I have been with Softbank for several years also in Japan. Yesterday I went to Yodobashi Camera to get a price quote: Almost 8000 yens per month for unlimited email and 16GB of Internet download (plus phone cost) for a 26 months contract with the first two month free for the cost of the phone. (So I pay the phone during only 24 month, a special offer running until September).
Is there a way to purchase an Iphone somewhere at a better price (it cost about 65 000 yens when paying the Iphone upfront at Softbank) and activate it at Softbank? Softbank says it is not possible, but is there a way around?
Thanx for any answer.
Haha.

]]> By: Joe Jones http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Joe Jones Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:17:55 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-99 I used a foreign credit card to get phones from AU, Docomo and eMobile (in 2005, 2007 and 2008 respectively). I assume that Softbank wouldn't care where the card was issued, either. My current weapon of choice is the E-Monster -- a Windows Mobile smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The beauty of this device is that tethering to your home computer is included in the unlimited data plan, so for your 8,000 yen a month you get unlimited computer and mobile internet access. (Although I ended up getting high-speed hikari fiber so I could use BitTorrent and view streaming media -- eMobile is fast enough for most purposes but generally not fast enough for this.) The big downside is being stuck with Windows Mobile, which has most of the features of the iPhone, but a crappier interface and more software bugs. On the plus side, there is a wide selection of freeware apps available for download. <abbr><em>Joe Jones’s latest blog post is...<a href="http://www.mutantfrog.com/2009/04/08/rare-family-names/" rel="nofollow">Rare family names</a></abbr></em> I used a foreign credit card to get phones from AU, Docomo and eMobile (in 2005, 2007 and 2008 respectively). I assume that Softbank wouldn’t care where the card was issued, either.

My current weapon of choice is the E-Monster — a Windows Mobile smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The beauty of this device is that tethering to your home computer is included in the unlimited data plan, so for your 8,000 yen a month you get unlimited computer and mobile internet access. (Although I ended up getting high-speed hikari fiber so I could use BitTorrent and view streaming media — eMobile is fast enough for most purposes but generally not fast enough for this.)

The big downside is being stuck with Windows Mobile, which has most of the features of the iPhone, but a crappier interface and more software bugs. On the plus side, there is a wide selection of freeware apps available for download.

Joe Jones’s latest blog post is…Rare family names

]]> By: jamie http://www.frugalistajapan.com/2009/04/purchasing-value-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-92 jamie Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:02:27 +0000 http://www.frugalistajapan.com/?p=231#comment-92 Hmm, according the website it isnt even available for the iphone yet, and hardly any of the models they have listed even have Wifi, so the whole point of free calls on wifi really doesnt work. Unless it can get a huge numbers of users behind it, it will die out. I suspect the latter. Actually, even the name sounds a bit like an aprils fools... v-opium; virtual opium? Hmm, according the website it isnt even available for the iphone yet, and hardly any of the models they have listed even have Wifi, so the whole point of free calls on wifi really doesnt work. Unless it can get a huge numbers of users behind it, it will die out. I suspect the latter. Actually, even the name sounds a bit like an aprils fools… v-opium; virtual opium?

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