Until now, JCI SIMs have been focused on data, with voice as an option. The new, and there really is no elegant way to say this in English, "smartphone phone SIM" is a voice-only SIM with data available as an option. The plans are roughly comparable to the data+voice Aeon SIMs.
The primary difference is that the "sumaho" SIM (or perhaps I'll call it the "Smartphone Voice SIM") carries a lesser contract requirement of only 3-months with a ¥5,250 early cancellation fee, compared to the Aeon SIM's 1-year, ¥10,500 requirement. Accordingly, the Aeon SIMs are slightly less expensive.
JCI did away with cancellation fees on the "talking SIMs," so I'm not sure why this new SIM includes one. I don't quite see how activation of this SIM would incur more expenses than activation of a "talking SIM" (not the Aeon SIMs). Either way, 3 months is quite reasonable compared to the standard 2-year, autorenewing contract.
A ¥3,150 activation fee applies. When ordering, choose one each of the following:
- Voice Plan
- S: ¥1,290 for 32.5 min (¥21/30s additional)
- M: ¥2,290 for 75 min (¥18.9/30s additional)
- L: ¥3,710 for ~357 min (¥14.7/30s additional)
- Data Plan
- U200: ¥1,690 (200 kbps)
- 2GB Flat Rate: ¥2,990 (best effort)
- SIM size
- Nano
- Micro
- Normal
Trying to load a complex website with the U200 would probably be difficult. It is likely that some bits of the page will timeout while waiting for a connection to be established. The stuff that does come down will do so rather slowly.
The 2GB Flat Rate on the other hand is equivalent to the 1 GB Flat Rate and the 1 GB Visitor SIMs in terms of speed, so again, don't expect a blazing fast internet, but it should work well for everyday usage.
See here for a comparison of all the available data plans.
スマホ電話SIM | Voice Plan S | Voice Plan M | Voice Plan L | |
| ¥1,290 | ¥2,290 | ¥3,710 | ||
| U200 Data Plan (200 kbps) | ¥1,690 | ¥2,980 | ¥3,980 | ¥5,400 |
| 2GB Flat Rate Data Plan | ¥2,990 | ¥4,280 | ¥5,280 | ¥6,700 |
Payment is by credit card and but no subsequent address verification is required. Japanese law prohibits non-residents from contracting mobile voice service.
Got mine last week. Cheapest way to get a phone number (thats not a crappy i phone) and the fastest speed for data.
ReplyDeleteI was on aeon C. The data transfer clocks in at about 100Kb sec according to the speedtest.net site. Not sure it is actually quicker than the aeon service but it feels snappier.
Overall I am pleased with it.
Thanks for the writeup sbs.
Are any of b-mobiles plan able to do SMS/MMS? I was going to use a prepaid phone for occasional voice and unlimited text/email, but it would be convenient to use this new option and have it all together.
ReplyDeleteThe voice SIMs can do SMS for 3 yen + tax each. Sending international SMS is 50 yen. Data-only SIMs cannot do SMS. MMS is not an option.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply. And if I am not mistaken SMS are only able to be sent to phones that are on the same network? I think I may stay with my original plan of using a prepaid for voice and unlimited SMS/email and use a separate device for data only.
ReplyDeleteNo, you can send to any carrier in Japan now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.japanmobiletech.com/2011/06/japanese-carriers-finally-to-allow.html
But I would recommend using email and the data plan. 3.15 yen per SMS is ridiculous.
I'm at Yodobashi Akiba at the moment and (in what basic Japanese I can understand) won't sell me this sim card without proof of a Japanese address. I am here on a WHV with the new AR csrd. I'll be moving into an apartment soon, and I'm not sure what paper to acquire for proof of residency.
ReplyDeleteCould you please advise me as to what to do?
this seems like a pretty good option for me. i'll be in japan for 12 months studying, i wanna take my overseas HTC desire to avoid having to buy a new phone/a 2-year plan, basically just need a phone number where people can reach me and data to send emails, etc. is there anything else comparable to this new スマホ電話SIM?
ReplyDeletejust fyi, SMS cost between 15 and 29 cents EACH in australia. so to us, 3 yen sounds like the world's best bargain.
ReplyDeleteI've been (for the last year and a half or so) using a UK-based IP-SMS service that lets me set my real keitai number as the from address (so replies work transparently and at normal rates) for my outbound. ¥1.5/SMS to all countries that I text to except US at ¥3.
ReplyDeletek. got one of these, signed up for the faster 2GB data option. it's RIDICULOUSLY SLOW. it can't load youtube videos or stream anything. without this functionality, getting the 'faster' speed doesn't even mean anything. and there's no way anybody could even get near 2GB per month.
ReplyDeletealso: i seem to be lucky, i didn't get the 'searching for signal' error/battery drain problem at all on my overseas HTC desire.
Hi, Thank you for the detailed info. I went through most of the posts related to b-mobile and I still have some questions. I'm here for one year and what I want is not a lot of air time and not a lot of data. I don't want to pay Softbank 5000 Yen for iPhone and of course, their sweet cancellation fee. I also don't have a smart phone so don't know where to buy smth reasonably-priced with Android on it (basically I need it for some Kanji apps, dictionaries, sat nav, etc). Can you recommend a place for 2nd hand smart phones where they will show me as well how this b-mobile thing works? I think somewhere you mentioned something about a shop in Akihabara, but can't find that post now. Thank you in advance :)
ReplyDeletehelp! i want to get a voice + data SIM for a google play store unlocked (US) galaxy nexus. i'm only going to be here till april, so the 3-month renewable looks good. but which one is better? the talking sim or this smartphone voice sim? i don't talk much and don't stream much unless i'm on wifi, but i want to be able to use google maps and email via data while i'm out and about. any advice? i don't want to buy the wrong one...
ReplyDeleteI think the Smartphone voice sim seems the best option. It has 2GB data at Mbps speeds, which should be good enough for maps and navigation. Talking Fair would also suit if your data usage averages around 250MB a month. But given that price difference would be only around 500yen, Smartphone voice seems better deal with 2GB data in a month.
ReplyDeleteTo be able to fully utilize the G Nexus while in Japan, I would recommend that you should flash the Docomo radio on it when in Japan.
Even if you dont, it would still work, but you would be getting the 2100 MHz signal only. However, if you flash, you would also get the 800 Mhz signal which would give you better coverage.
Good advice.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that seems to be an issue when comparing between the Fair and all of the other Mbps-class SIMs is the Fair is MUCH faster. I hear complaints about the speed - or perhaps latency of the other SIMs.
The Fair is a straight pipe to Docomo, which is why the same price gets you only 250 MB.
thanks for the advice, kizuki. could you point me to some info on how to flash the docomo radio? i will get the new phone next week and i want to make sure it works as well as possible. i thought i saw something in the phone settings that talks about what Mhz signal you're using, but now i'm looking around and can't find it.
ReplyDeletethanks sbsdroid! so you think that the talking fair is the preferable one because it's faster. but all i see for the talking fair sim on your chart and on the b-mobile site is one that says 1GB, not 250MB. what am i missing? sorry if this is obvious. i'm being careful so i don't buy the wrong one and waste money...
ReplyDeleteIt's 1 GB that lasts for 4 months or until you use it up. if you use it all in one month, it is a very expensive 1 GB. If your data usage is such that you only need 250 MB or so per month, then it's a very good deal.
ReplyDeleteI tested one out for the better part of a year and wrote extensively about it under the label "fair data cap". If you're not sure whether a Fair SIM is right for you, read these posts:
http://www.japanmobiletech.com/search/label/Fair%20data%20cap
OHHH! sorry, now i get it. so if i use up all the 1GB before the 4months are up, can i top it up or do i need to buy another 4 month deal? (if this chart is fairly accurate, i won't need more than 1GB in four months--i only know what my docomo bill says which is in packets: about 181,000 packets last month if i remember right).
ReplyDeleteps: i really appreciate your blog and have been reading it a lot over the past few months. i'm just not very adept with this kind of thing so i apologize for asking about things you've already explained. :O
ReplyDeleteThats a 'Fair' point!! If latency is bad, even with Mbps speed, the overall experience will not be very good
ReplyDelete@google-88ffb36a19c5948928955609dabecb30:disqus : You can check the thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1405345
ReplyDeleteThe radio SC04DOMLE3 seems like the latest one. However, you need to read the thread and comments from various users to understand the process of flashing the radio, and also if it will be compatible with your ROM version (most likely it should be).
In any case, if you find it too complicated, dont bother and just use as is (on the 2100 Mhz band).
@julia: I think 181,000 should be around 200 ~ 240 MB, if the packet definition is same between Docomo and Softbank.
ReplyDeleteLets say you need to use from Oct - Apr (7 months). So you will need at least 2 charges assuming your total usage does not exceed 2 GB. i.e. around 18,000.
For the 2GB per month option, it should be around 20,500 over 7 months.
Hi, thanks for the amazing blog, like others about to take the plunge on a contract with bmobile, either talking fair, smartphone or aeon.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear you say the Fair will get me the best speeds, just as I thought I was set on the smartphone option.
I'm curious, what is setup different with the fair to make it a straight pipe? as far as I can tell the android set up instructions link to same page, so is it behind the scenes?
Also, has anyone have experience with the aeon sims? are they a direct pipe too?
probably will go for smartphone just as it will the cheapest and the piece of mind with the 2gb a month data/
p.s. for others this is a nice review too http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/column/mobile/20120918-OYT8T00991.htm
I have purchased a shiro-rom Docomo Galaxy S3 and want to use it with b-mobile.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through this blog I thought either the Smartphone or the Talking Fair SIM might work best for me.
I don't call much, but of course I need to be able to call and send messages. I have absolutely no idea how much data I'll use as this is going to be my first smartphone.
What I like better about the Smartphone SIM is that the cancel fee is lower.
However somebody complained that the 2GB version (which I would purchase, I suppose) is super slow ... and of course, that's a no-go for me.
On the other hand you mentioned in this post that the 1GB SIM (and thus the Talking Fair SIM?) is the same speed as the 2GB of this smartphone SIM.
Any advice for me?
Are all b-mobile SIMs much slower than those of Docomo or Softbank?
@bcbb14dd65c0dd96edf5a2d6a996142a:disqus thanks again for your help. so it sounds like the talking fair sim is the way to go for both speed and for my amount of data usage. i'll go to akiba this weekend and see what they've got. i get my phone on friday and i'm excited to try it out.
ReplyDeleteBoth Talking Fair and the Smartphone are of Mbps class speed, which is more than sufficient for what an average user would do on a smartphone. The difference is that Talking Fair is directly connected while the 2GB Smartphone goes via a proxy server (so an additional trip on the way to the internet).
ReplyDeleteTheoretically, 2GB will always be slower than Talking Fair. Practically, it may or may not be noticeable. It would depend upon the ambient conditions at that time. It might be better if you try out the SIM first at Yodobashi or search for the average speeds that users are reporting on the internet.
By the way, you can convert from other talking plans to the Smartphone plan, but not vice-versa.
Generally, if you are doing browsing, SNS, email for an hour a day, monthly data usage should be around 200-300 MB. But it all depends on lot of specifics. This is what it is in my case. But then I have access to wi-fi for most of the day. So the only time I am using 3G data is while commuting.
kizuki, thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI live in the boonies. There is no Yodobashi nearby at all, so unfortunately this is not an option.
If I understand you correctly it might be the smartest thing to gt a Talking Fair SIM first and if I notice that I need more, I can convert it to a Smartphone SIM?
I do not have access to Wifi anywhere (again it's because I live in the boonies), but also never when I'm traveling.
This is actually the main reason why I wanted to get a smartphone in the first place.
While I don't use the phone as actualy phone very often to make calls, I do write text messages (you know that typical e-mail thingie that is so popular here in Japan). Would I be able to do that with either of the SIMs?
Just signed up for this, after buying the set from Yobodashi.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else who has signed up know how long it takes for documents to be verified and to receive the address verification code? (I'm presuming this code gets sent in the post to our address?)
When I got one it, took about 4 days. Your milage may vary
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's not so bad, hopefully by the end of the week then!
ReplyDelete@zoomingjapan: Yes, you got that right. As per my suspect Nihongo, I could understand from the Smartphone FAQ that you can convert from any other voice plan to Smartphone but not vice-versa. But please confirm it once by calling b-mobile.
ReplyDeleteFor total data limit if you move to Smartphone, but for some reason dont like the speed compared to Fair, you will not be able to move back.
If I didnt have wi-fi at any point of the day, I am assuming that I would definitely be using almost 1GB or more. Because then I would have to tether my Nexus 7 as well to my phone which would significantly increase the data usage. So you should also account for any other devices that you might want to tether due to lack of wi-fi.
You will be able to do email, but not from a mobile provider email id, since bmobile does not provide one. However, you should be able to use any other email provider like gmail, yahoo etc.
Pure text messages (SMS) would cost 3.15 yen message so not highly recommended for daily chit-chat use, if you are looking to optimize costs. But again, you can always use services like WhatsApp or others for internet based SMS free of charge, provided your friends also use the same.
Thanks a lot for all the great information! :)
ReplyDeleteSo it took a bit longer than i would of thought, just over a week, but then there was a national holiday in the way. It's now set up, and I've gotta say, i'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteI heard someone complain about the speed earlier, it's perfectly fine / what i would of expected, doesn't take that long to download apps, google maps loads in reasonable time. I haven't tried any VOIP stuff on it yet, but will try that later. But I set up my android as a wifi hotspot, and was able to use that to surf the web on my ipad OK. A bit slower, but again, perfectly usable.
But then, maybe my needs aren't as heavy as others.
Which data plan are you using - 200kbps or 2GB flat?
ReplyDelete2gb, though interestingly enough, I did my test yesterday out in the countryside and it was fast, today I'm in a city, and it's noticeably slower (again, still usable, just a bit slower)
ReplyDeleteCan somebody please explain me the difference between the Voice S + 2GB Flat Rate plan and the Talking 1GB Flatrate plan?
ReplyDeleteIf I understand correctly, the first option is cheaper than the Talking 1GB Flatrate plan, but has 1GB more traffic per month?
Where is the logic in that? Or what am I not seeing?
@Lars: yes you are right.
ReplyDeleteBut there might be two differences (that I am not sure of!!)
i) Voice S + 2GB seems to be co-branded with Amazon / Yodobashi. So maybe they are subsidizing the extra 1GB.
ii) Talking 1GB Flatrate plan might have a different proxy than Vocie S. There could be difference in actual latency and speeds.
Above is just speculation, so someone who is aware of both will need to confirm.
so i went to akiba with my new GN from the US to test the talking fair, but they said they don't have them there; only online because of the contract. so i went home and fiddled around and decided to just skip the SIM completely and go wifi only. i got a WIMAX URoad mobile router from asahi net (my ISP) on a 4-month contract for JPY4000/month, canceled my home internet router, and bought a $20 credit on skype. so far i've used less than $2 of it, and i have a wifi forcefield around me everywhere i go!
ReplyDeletejust wanted to tell y'all my happy ending. thanks for all the advice and explanations!
@julia: Can you give a link to your WiMax plan. 4000/month for just a 4 month contract sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf you need a Japan number, for both incoming and outgoing, you can also try NTT's '050 plus' service. Its a VOIP service for smartphones. Although am not sure how the rates compare with Skype.
hi kizuki, sure. i have the fixed plan which included a free uroad router http://asahi-net.jp/en/service/mobile/wimax/index.html. even with the fixed plan (which i got so i'd get the free router), the 10,000 yen cancellation fee doesn't cost nearly as much as paying for my hikari fiber router in my apt monthly for the next five months. but you can get the two-tier plan on a 4-month contract. the skype 050 phone number costs USD18 for three months which is even cheaper because i set my skype billing currency to be USD not JPY. the wimax dies out when i'm deep underground (namboku subway line, for example) but luckily that's not very often. tricky thing so far is SMS--i can send them through skype but can't receive them at the 050 number. but that is pretty minor
ReplyDeleteWish I read this article before I got the sim. I bought the bmobile smartphone sim with 2GB flat rate. It's painfully slow in central Tokyo. I might as well cancel the data connection because 95% of the time it times out. My push emails occasionally download 15-3 hours after they were originally sent - and that's when it does work!
ReplyDeleteAnd for the price I'm paying, I might as well pay a little bit more for a new iPhone 5 with Softbank or Au, even if it might be sim locked.
Really disappointed with the marketing from bmobile. They shouldn't be able to get away with this just by writing "best effort". The small print should read "if you are lucky".
I just had a mail, it seems they are making this plan a bit more flexible and introducing a new data tear, 1,980 yen a month for 1gb.
ReplyDeleteor at least, i think it says that:
ReplyDelete昨年12月15日より提供を開始した、月額定額使い放題SIMシリーズ
「月額定額980円」「月額定額1,980円」「月額定額2,980円」を、
「スマホ電話SIM」のデータ通信オプションで選べるようになりました。
●月額定額980プラン（月額基本料 980円）
150kbpsの低速プラン。
Turbo Chargeを使って賢く高速と低速を切り替えれば、
月々の通信費を最も抑えることができます。
●月額定額1980プラン（月額基本料 1,980円）
高速通信が1ヶ月1GBまで使えるプラン。
通勤通学等、移動中に通信している人にオススメなプランです。
通信量が1GBを超えたら150kbpsの低速になりますが、
Turbo Chargeを使う事で必要な時だけ高速通信に切り替えられます。
●月額定額2980プラン（月額基本料 2,980円）
高速通信が1ヶ月2GBまで使えるプラン。
常にスマートフォンで通信している人にオススメなプランです。
通信量が2GBを超えたら150kbpsの低速になりますが、
Turbo Chargeを使う事で必要な時だけ高速通信に切り替えられます。
※月額定額プランは月単位で変更することができます。
Hello, I'll be in Japan on a student visa for a bit more than 4 months, starting mid-March. I must admit I'm a bit lost when it comes to the different SIM options. I don't speak/read Japanese well so it is difficult for me to fully understand B Mobile's website.
ReplyDeleteI have an iPhone 5 so it would be easier for me to get a nano sim card right away. However I know it is pretty easy to turn a micro sim into a nano sim, so it is not criteria #1.
I'd like to be able to call and use data from time to time when I'm on the go. I can see from my current subscription here in Belgium that I use max 700mb/month but I guess it would be reduced if I'm more careful (I have a max of 2GB included so I don't really pay attention). If I know I must be careful, I will only use it for emails and maps.
From the very useful information provided here, if I understand well, I can see the Talking Fair would have been a good option for me (or would the Talking 1 GB Flat Rate be better?), but there is a 1 year contract required, so I'd have to pay a cancellation fee, which makes it less interesting, right? However I'm hesitating because in the comparison table I saw 3 months contracts are available.
The other option is this "smartphone phone SIM". In fact I don't really see that much of a difference between the Talking 1gb and the Smartphone option... But then I'll be able to order a nano sim card directly (only through their internet store as I understand).
What would be the best option for me?
Also, as I don't read japanese well, will it be feasible for me to order through the internet and to manage the "My B-Mobile" platform? For example, can I go directly for a 4 months subscription or do I have to register for 3 and then add a 4th month on the online platform? I have no idea how it works... Also, if I go first for the S voice plan and the U200 Data plan, can I change easily afterwards?
Sorry for the many questions and thank you for your advice :)
Hi, I have an unlocked Iphone 5 and will be in Tokyo on a student visa for a bit more than 4 months. I was thinking of purchasing the nano sim "smartphone" option with a S Voice plan and a 2GB data plan. Is it easy to order through their online store when you don't read Japanese very well (i.e. with the help of Google translate)? What special info would I need before I can order? I guess I need to register first at the local "city hall" to get a number or something... Also, can I directly purchase 4 months or do I need to purchase the 3 first months and then add a 4th one on the "My B-Mobile" platform? I really have no idea how this works :s And can you easily change your voice or data plan if you realize it doesn't fit your needs? Thank you
ReplyDeleteWould anyone please explain how to register this? I don't read kanji and have had my Japanese friends try to help me but they don't know what is going on either... I emailed the English help desk but got no reply. This is really confusing.
ReplyDelete