Mr. Koga of the KDDI public relations department had the following to say at a press conference called yesterday ahead of the Communication Ministry's meeting on SIM unlocking:
単純にSIMロックを解除すればユーザーにメリットが生まれるということではないActually, I think he got it wrong. There is no benefit to KDDI if cell phones are unlocked since AU uses technology that is incompatible with the other two major carriers, Docomo and Softbank.
There will simply be no benefit to users if Japanese cell phones are unlocked.
Mr Koga goes on to give three reasons why "there is no reason (基本的に意味がない)" to unlock cell phones. First, he mentions what I just did, that AU uses different technology. Fair enough.
Second, he says that each company uses different frequencies. Bullshit. Anyone reading this blog knows that the same handsets are usable on both Docomo and Softbank. Yeah, bankrupt Wilcom uses different frequencies, but who uses Wilcom? I know exactly one person.
Finally, he rehashes for us the same old argument used when this was discussed several years ago: the walled garden internets won't work. For this last point, KDDI seems to have missed the entire reason this is being discussed again, increasing smartphone adoption and the impending extinction of the "Galapagos Keitai." So what if the walled garden internet won't work. Who will care when they are surfing the full internet, most likely on a webkit browser?
He also adds that even if a common implementation of LTE is decided upon, that carriers will still rely on 3G for voice, so customers still won't be able to take their handset to any carrier.
No, the customers just won't take their handsets to AU.
I borrowed the below images of Koga's powerpoint presentation from keitai watch.
Since Japan didn't use SIM cards in their 2G phones, no explanation of the topic is complete without an explanation of SIM cards.
An explanation of the state of SIM cards in the US and Europe.
The money shot. AU uses isn't compatible with the other two carriers.
No Keitai mail, walled garden internet, and carrier provided applications when you take your phone to another company. TBH, not having a docomo phone email address can be a hassle, but having my PC and phone mail consolidated into one account with my android handset outweighs the negatives. What!? I can't use your provided applications but instead download free and better alternatives from the android market? How terrible!
I think there is no use to have unlocked phone with AU anyway you can use it only with AU (and Verizon if I remember well) the rest of the world use another frequency.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah Mr. Koga keep everything closed, in this way when Docomo and Softbank will allow IMEI registration and unlock their phone AU as well will collapse exactly as already did willcom. I don't understand why this need to be always different. One type of frequency or all over the world is not easier?
Frankly I think it's rather silly to be inviting the industry to speak on this issue. Of course they want the status quo to remain. It is, after all, they who dictate what that status quo is. Were any consumer groups represented?
ReplyDeleteIt is open to consumer groups according to what was released by the ministry. The meeting has happened yet. It is tomorrow. But sounds like AU is getting nervous and feeling left out of the party. What does the g stand for in GSM again? ;)
ReplyDeleteMy only interest is: I want to buy the htc Desire from Softbank and when I am back home in Germany (approx 6 weeks a year), drop in my prepaid card and continue using only one single phone. Otherwise I might take the risk and buy it in Germany. Seems like giving up the SIMlocks is advantageous to Softbank & Co. in my case... Who is with me?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply. According to my Japanese coworker, they will/might unlock devices right away, if you ask for it. However, I do not suppose that he has any better source of information than you provided here and I am not sure whether his statement is reliable.
ReplyDeleteIn this context: also thank you for this useful blog!
The only value any of these carriers can possibly bring to the table is a hassle-free SIM card, and if they were actually operating in a free market that's the only thing they would be providing. The rest is pure rent-seeking, plain and simple. Consumers in Japan will not be well-served until these companies are smacked into their rightful place as dumb datapipes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should re-name your blog to "Softbank + DoCoMo + KDDI Suck"
Actually, pretty much all telcos suck, some just more than others. I've actually considered renaming this blog since the name is not really appropriate to the content anymore. But the name is out there now and it just seems to be more trouble than it's worth.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI am probably a few days to late to be relevant here, but I wanted to point out that DCM and SBM *do* actually use different frequencies. Although they both use standard W-CDMA 2100MHz, DCM also offers service over Band VI (800MHz).
DCM: 2100MHz/800MHz
SBM: 2100MHz
e-mobile: 1700MHz
WILLCOM*/au: Different technology (PHS/CDMA2000)
*WILLCOM provides a 3G MVNO service.
Also, just wanted to point out that I am not seeking to endorse SIM lock in Japan....
ReplyDeleteQuite the contrary...
Glad you "likethesite" ;-) and thanks for the info. Don't worry, it's never too late to be relevant - many of these discussions die off only to start up again when someone discovers this relatively new and unknown site.
ReplyDeleteThanks for catching my mistake on wilcom/e-mobile - I got them wackbards.
I realized that docomo uses an additional, lower frequency but just wiggled around that by saying "the same handsets are usable on both Docomo and Softbank." I should have been more specific. Thanks for the clarification.
According to wiki, Docomo uses the 800 band in it's "plus area" to improve service in mountainous area. Obviously a lower frequency will attenuate less. Softbank apparently lacks this - which is certainly why many people in rural areas complain about softbank's signal, or lack there of.
this is the most straight forward list I've found for W-CDMA in Japan. Also, this list for 3G is pretty good too.
Hi! firs of all really good blog! I agree! all companies sucks!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe lot of people asked it, but I wanted to ask u since u seem to know a lot about it!:)
U know if I have my own unlocked iphone from outside, I can use it with AU?
I know there's different .. something about the sim, but I wanted to ask you if u know there's something to change that or make the phone don't mind it and work anyway..?
I really wanted to use my own iphone that i left in my country but since I'm going back a few days I am thinking if I must take it or not :S
It's because I have my 2 damn permanency years with AU and... that sucks! X(
Ah!!! so by that with the new iphone worldwide will be possible?＾＾
ReplyDeletehttp://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/06/report_apple_to_launch_verizon_iphone_in_q3_2010.html
Sorry, but AU uses different technology so it is physically impossible to use an iPhone with AU.
ReplyDeleteI'd bring it with you as you can still use it on wifi.
Here's the skinny on AU KDDI. They don't like Apple. I have spoken to 5 different people at KDDI and they have all said that Windows is their market partner to care for. None of their keitais(cellphones) support Apple at all! Even there new Android model will be Windows only for the USB hook and what other normal functions such as music. Luckly most sets have the SDHC cards to swap photos and movie files that you may have taken. Other than that, no dice. I have used CrossOver to install the Win driver and I can by that affect use the USB cable to check directly on the phone my photos and or movies.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping for KDDI to wake up and embrace a new era but they want to cater to M$ and the likes. So at this point I would not count on the iPhone coming to KDDI. NTT Docomo seems to be on track to have the iPhone next year. Though this is a rumor and nothing really solid at this point. I'm not saying that all their phones must be Mac or Linux friendly but you would think a few models could be.
What do you all think?
mac user. It' isn't just KDDI, none of the carriers offer any of their proprietary software in anything but windows versions. Which is why I used to use software called keitai sync, which adds an isync component to recognize most softbank, au, and docomo phones.
ReplyDeleteTo sync stuff with a mac, you can do contacts and calendars through syncing Address Book and iCal with google, and then it gets automatically pushed to the phone when the phone syncs with google. For music, you can use the free version of salling media sync (stay away from doubletwist, it sucks.) You don't even need to pull out the SD card, just plug it in and mount it on the mac. Installing the SDK (mac x86 version) let's you push and pull files from the phone, etc.
Honestly, I don't find the lack of crapware proprietary sync software from any of the carriers to be a problem at all.
@softbanksucks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on the other soft to use. Granted I should have known that not only KDDI but the others as well would have issues with Macs. The spamware or suckware they push onto customers for adding music is a joke to say the least. Though if I remembered right, some older models of Docomo phones should sync via isync. The newer ones I don't know as I haven't paid much attention of the late. I will relook in to this and report any interesting finds.
It only baffles me as to why in this day and age why the newer phones don't embrace Linux and Apple more?
In general, they are just lazy and, while mac and linux market share have traditionally been low in North American and Europe, it has been even lower in Japan. So they could cover the needs of the vast majority of their customers by just developing win soft. But they are also lazy. And to be honest, most of the Japanese developed software I've had the "pleasure" of using has been absolute crap. Of course there are good Japanese devs, but I think most of what is being churned out is by more of the trained monkey type, like something higher up the food chain of an expert microsoft office/windows user. They know what menus to click to find what they want but don't have any actual computing knowledge/common sense. That's my take.
ReplyDeleteWon't be an issue much longer anyway now that google and apple have made the carrier's software irrelevant, for the better.
i need unlock for my iphone 4s 64gb au kddi japan
ReplyDeletei want to unlock my au is17sh phone for use it in sri lanka..please help me
ReplyDelete