The main technical differences are due to the different network technology used by AU and Softbank. AU's CDMA-2000 network does not allow for simultaneous voice and data transmissions, while Softbank's W-CDMA network does. The iPhone 4 is capable of 14.4 Mbps, but only with W-CDMA; on AU, it will be limited to 3.1 Mbps. However, early tests indicate that the iPhone 4S is only getting on average about 1.5 Mbps with Softbank service. No reports of real word speeds yet with AU, but AU does have better rural and underground coverage.
Here are the minimum monthly costs quoted by each carrier. You may get a slightly different price quoted to you in a shop due to additional fees like insurance, etc. These tables reflect the prices if you paid zero yen up front for the handset.
AU Minimum Monthly Cost
New Contract
|
Existing Customer
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 GB
|
32 GB
|
64 Gb
|
16 GB
|
32 GB
|
64 GB
| |
Unlimited data
|
¥4,980
| |||||
ISP charge
|
¥315
| |||||
Basic voice plan
|
¥980
| |||||
Monthly phone cost
|
¥0
|
¥430
|
¥860
|
¥390
|
¥820
|
¥1,250
|
Minimum Monthly Total
|
¥6,275
|
¥6,705
|
¥7,135
|
¥6,665
|
¥7.095
|
¥7,525
|
After 24 months, AU's data price will increase to ¥5,460 (Source).
Softbank Minimum Monthly Cost
As far as I can tell, SBM is applying the same discounts to existing customers, which is unusual because typically existing customers don't get as good a deal. However, this is understandable given their position of now having competition for the iPhone.
Flat Rate Data
|
Tiered Data
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 GB
|
32 GB
|
64 Gb
|
16 GB
|
32 GB
|
64 GB
| |
Unlimited data
|
¥4,410
|
¥1,029 - ¥4,410
| ||||
ISP charge
|
¥315
| |||||
Basic voice plan
|
¥980
| |||||
Monthly phone cost
|
¥0
|
¥480
|
¥880
|
¥480
|
¥960
|
¥1360
|
Minimum Monthly Total
|
¥5,705
|
¥6,185
|
¥6,585
|
¥6,185
|
¥6,665
|
¥7,065
|
Note that the there is a lower subsidy on the tiered plans, which are notoriously bad deals in Japan. The fine print says that you cannot change between a tiered and unlimited plan, so by all means, get the unlimited plan.
SBM is going out of there way to hide the details of the tiered plan. I had to dig for and finally found this PDF, from which I figured out that price is ¥0.084/packet (128 bytes). So the minimum charge of ¥1,029 only buys 1.5 MB. Full price is reached in less than 10 MB. I assume that the iPhone's ¥4,410 tiered plan is buying ¥5,985 worth of packets, or 8.7 MB. If not, you'll top out at only 6.4 MB.
Either way, this is easily done in one single day.
Discount Comparison
Au wins in this category if you are coming from another carrier, but Softbank is giving incentive to stay to existing customers. SBM's "norikae" (switch carriers) discount can be extended for 5 months by spending over ¥10,000 for several months, but I can't see how this would save you money. This discount waves the ¥980 fee for 7 months (3 more if changing with someone else).
AU
|
SBM
| |
|---|---|---|
New Customers
|
¥0
|
¥0
|
New Customers
from other carrier |
¥0
|
¥6,860
|
New Customers
from other carrier who port number |
¥10,000
|
¥6,860
|
New Customers
from other carrier who bring a friend |
¥10,000
|
¥9,800
|
Existing Customers
|
-¥390
|
¥0
|
Existing 3G/3GS
customers |
-¥390
|
¥6,000 or
waive remaining installments |
NOTE: negative numbers indicate money paid to AU, positive number are discounts. AU only gives a discount if you port a number from another carrier.
Thanks for doing the work so we don't have to :-)
ReplyDeleteI have one question though. I'm a current 3GS Softbank user BUT I am only on a one year visa. Will this stop me from getting any kind of deal with anyone? (was on a 3 year but change if job necessitated change of visa).
I can't recall what all the requirements are. I think you can avoid having to show anything with a visa - maybe if you show your health card and utility bill or driver's license... I think there are ways to get around visa issues...
ReplyDeleteNever needed to show my Visa last time .. The driving license worked just fine
ReplyDeleteSorry to be dense but, what does it mean to "port your number" from another carrier? Was in an au shop yesterday and was told it would cost ¥4-5000 (I forget exactly), to keep the same number (currently with softbank), which the ¥10,000 cash back could be used to offset.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to the previous commenter. If the sales staff is doing their job properly they should check your visa status. If you have less than 2 years on your current visa then they are not supposed to give you a 2 year contract. You can pay for the phone outright however (if I remember rightly), because what they are worried about is not recouping the cost of the phone. I had this problem 2 years ago when I tried to get a contract for the 3GS.
thank you for this info.
ReplyDeletebtw, im not really good at japanese, currently im with softbank using ip4. and i want to port my number in au system, but im not sure if au ip4s can be used abroad using sim cards (3G). does anyone knows? if not, ill be upgrading to softbanks ip4s. thanks a lot.
It can be used abroad while roaming internationally. I don't know if the GSM baseband is locked. I expect it is, meaning you probably can't until there is a hack to unlock it.
ReplyDeleteoh i see, i think i must wait first for others then search the net again. the sb network is troublesome that is why i want to switch to au. bt au phones do not support 3g. because after 2 years i will be returning to my country. it would be a waste if i cant used the phone. i should stick to sb for the meantime. thanks for the reply.
ReplyDeletehi kamsin, porting number means that you would terminate your contract to sb, and move to au network without changing your mobile number.
ReplyDeleteI don't use iOS, so I can't say what the current situation is. If the iPhone 4S is currently not able to be hacked to unlock it for use on other carriers, then then it likely will be at some point. It's a cat and mouse game apple and jailbreakers.
ReplyDeleteAnd it will make do difference if you use AU or SBM because BOTH phones will be locked and BOTH will need to be hacked to work back home.
The minimum monthly total for Softbank's tiered data seems to be very unfair since you used the upper limit for the data while there is a lower limit of only 1029 yen.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, it wouldn't really make sense to get this plan if the customer intends to use network data. This is for the customers who always carry a mobile wifi device and does not intend to use the iPhone's network data at all. There is just no option to get one without a data plan and this is the cheapest alternative.
You could always sell the phone in Akihabara if/when you leave. Iphones hold their value well, so you should be able to get at least half of the cost back.
ReplyDeleteFYI: iMessage is somewhat confusing between AU & Softbank's 4S. I'm on SB whilst my friend on AU. Thinking that we're both on iOS5 4S, we'd be able to SMS for "free" (over pakehodai at least) between each other but it seems we're still using regular (payable fee) SMS since the Send button is green.
ReplyDeleteSo when does iMessage kick in? When I SMS to my 4S/iOS5 friends overseas, will that be an international SMS fee or over Pakehodai?
P.S. still keeping WhatsApp handy....
FYI: AU version of iPhone 4S is not offering iMessage (and Facetime) for the time being. It will be available "soon", whenever that is.
ReplyDeleteSince you are anyway on pakehoudai, you can use apps like WhatsApp or maybe just regular email.
Or you can use the VIBER app. Free sms and call for all iphone users. :)
ReplyDeleteI have one question.
ReplyDeleteIs the difference between Tiered Data and Flat rate Data just 480 yen??? Is there any other disadvantage if I use 3G internet a lot with Tiered Data plan??????? Else I would use 3g internet excessively for a month and control for next month. That is cheaper than using Flat rate Data for two months.
The Tiered plan is also unlimited. It costs less if you don't use it at all, but costs more if you use it just a little.
ReplyDeleteYou plan to use 3G a lot for one month then control you usage is unreasonable. The tiered plan reaches full price in less than 10 MB! 10 MB. You do realize that you will have to completely disable 3G for an entire month. Most people easily use 10 MB in one. single. day.
Cheers. Then what's the pakehodai for!? Just web & mail? I' surprised they got as far as switching off those ports.
ReplyDeleteYeah I've it the whole lot, WhatsApp, Viber, Tango, etc. Was hoping to consolidate...ces't la vie.
Thanks so much for the work to do these comparisons, this is especially helpful for the foreigners who are not fluent in Japanese.
ReplyDeletei need iphone 4s for one months so after one i can cancal my contract and what will be the price for one month.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I made a bad deal by signing up with AU. I'm not that fluent in Japanese and the salesman lured me with the iPhone 4S. I ended up accepting a damned expensive flat data plan when I do not use it, as I normally rely on portable wireless devices. I have just established communication with an AU customer service representative who luckily could speak a broken English. What I could catch is that an alleged discount will be lost if I requested a change in my data plan to the cheapest one (no use at all) could I expect my bill to plummet considerably? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information! It was super helpful! I guess I'm staying with softbank then!
ReplyDelete