AU is aggressively pursuing new customers with it's iPhone 4S, which goes on sale from 10/14/2011. First, the 16 GB model is available fully subsidized (zero yen). Next, AU is also offering ¥10,000 "cash back" for customers who switch their phone number from another carrier (MNP).
I've read this release (PDF) several times now, and it seems this is in addition to the advertised iPhone prices, so the 32 GB model would cost ¥320 after the rebate. To be eligible you must:
- Start a new contract for an iPhone 4S with a number ported from another carrier between 10/14/2011 and 1/31/2012
- Apply for IS NET
- Apply for the iPhone start campaign (2 year contract)
For those wanting to jump to AU for a better network, it would be wise to look into how the availability of a CDMA iPhone on US Verizon's network revealed that AT&T's network, though much maligned, really wasn't that bad. Also keep in mind that Softbank's theoretical maximum downlink is about 4 times faster than AU's. How this adds up in to a real world speed difference between the two carriers depends not only on network congestion but also on Apple's experience with CDMA basebands (or lack thereof) and how closely they are working with KDDI (if at all) for optimization.
The iPhone Start Campaign discounts the data price from ¥5,460 to ¥4,980 for two years. After two years, the discount will cease. There are two plans available, the "Plan Z Simple" and the "Plan F (IS) Simple". Here are the differences between the two
Plan Z Simple
|
Plan F (IS) Simple
| |
|---|---|---|
Monthly base charge
|
¥980
|
¥780
|
Voice charge
|
Free to AU phones (1am - 9pm)
¥21/30s |
family free
¥21/30 |
SMS (send)
|
Free to AU phones
¥3.15 |
¥3.15
|
Unlimited data
|
¥4,980
|
¥4,980
|
Phone price (16 GB)
|
¥0
|
¥0
|
32 GB
|
¥10,320
|
¥10,320
|
64 GB
|
¥20,640
|
¥20,640
|
Which carrier would you recommend, SB or KDDI to someone new to Japan? I realize the name of your blog but looking at both companies websites it's hard to figure out which one is better. Also can the SB iPhones be used overseas with another carriers sim? I have an official unlocked 3GS that I've used all over Asia, America and Europe. I want to upgrade to the 4S but not thrilled at the idea that I could only use it in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend neither unless you have family here and can use a family plan. If you are single, I'd recommend b-mobile. Check the bmobile or MVNO label.
ReplyDeleteSorry if this question sounds dumb, but is the iPhone 4S sold by au a "world phone", i.e. does it also have 3G/UMTS/GSM so I will be able to use it in Europe, too (Germany to be exact).
ReplyDeleteThat is as of yet unknown. It is up the carriers discretion to lock the GSM baseband. If AU does this then you won't be able to use any SIM card. You'll have to roam internationally (or play the jailbreak cat and mouse game with Apple).
ReplyDeleteThank you. I also fear that au will limit everything that they possibly can. But it is not likely that au will have a "special version" of the iPhone 4s with CDMA only hardware built in, or is that also an option Apple would offer them? If I return to Germany in a couple of years, I will be fine with jailbreaking, I guess, as the software updates will not be as essential as in the beginning of the lifecycle.
ReplyDeleteThen again, the pricing of the au iPhone looks quite reasonable. I wonder if there will be a big run in Japan and I`ll have to wait ages before I get mine, should I decide to go that way.
In fact I do have family here, and they have an au contract. Yet, getting a family plan will only save me 200 Yen a month for the base charge, if I read your table right. I can eat one and a half Onigiri more ;-) but it is hardly worth the effort. In my case, I have very little time to call up my family, but for people who do, it might be worthwhile. Or are there other reasons to go for the family plan?
ReplyDeleteTypo in the first line:
ReplyDelete"which goes *no* sale from" -> which goes on sale from
fixed. (there are probably more - there always all)
ReplyDeleteI am going to be in Japan for 2yrs +
ReplyDeleteTop of my list of needs is ... Personal Hotspot... will this finally be enabled by either Softbank or KDDI....
I went to an au shop yesterday to pre-order a 4S, but the prices they told me were higher. Unfortunately, my Japanese isn't good enough yet to fully understand why exactly I am not able to get the better price, so maybe you guys could tell me?
ReplyDeleteThis would be my first phone contract in Japan, so I am not coming from Softbank or anything. They said the iPhone 16GB would not mean an additional charge (like your table shows), but the monthly cost (Unlimited data) was around 6800-6900 Yen plus call charges for a two year contract. I did ask if this was the cheapest option available, and they said yes.
Your table for the Plan Z Simple shows a monthly cost of 4980 + 980 Yen = 5960 Yen, which is about 1000 Yen below what I was told.
With Japanese providers, are there any charges which always apply, and I just have no knowledge about?
How do I qualify for this Plan Z Simple?
All in all, I think even with a "free" iPhone 4S, the monthly charges are quite outrageous compared to Europe or the US. I wonder how all the schoolkids and teenagers I see on Japanese trains are able to afford their iPhones at these rates...
Please help!
About 7000 yen is right on target with what we expect to pay per month for a smartphone (without any extra voice charges for overages) that is NOT on Docomo. Add an extra 1000 for Docomo.
ReplyDeleteThere will likely be an ISP charge of around 300 yen plus tax. There is also a warranty replacement service that AU can spread out with monthly charges of around 300 yen plus tax.
http://www.au.kddi.com/iphone/ryokin/
Here is the table of prices. I'll reproduce it in English. probably best to get a Japanese speaker to go in with you.
Hello SBSdroid! Thank your for posting the link. With the help of Google Translate I now understand the charges (I think). Yesterday in the shop, the sales person spoke too quickly for me to get it all.
ReplyDeleteWow, these prices are simply outrageous. Back home, I would get a "free" iPhone 16GB, 1000 minutes per month, and unlimited text messages for less than the cheapest, no-minutes-included plan from au.
I guess this is not the place to whine about high prices, but I am still baffled how popular smartphones are in Japan when people seem to get ripped off this badly. I will have to reconsider if roughly 7000 Yen a month is worth it. Maybe I'll rather get the cheapest mobile I can find and a 3G iPad from Softbank to access the internet on the go.
Click the bmobile label and check out the posts. Pay particular attention to the talking 1G flat rate SIM. That is the best deal for voice and data in Japan. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteIf Softbank announce that softbank will officially unlock all iphone devices after completion of two years contract provided the customer revise his/her contract for another two years with softbank upon upgradings iphone and any new iphone purcahse, then only it is possible to keep the present softbank iphone users.
ReplyDelete