JCI offers under the b-mobile brand a number of low-speed data SIMs. The advertised speed of these SIM cards range from 150 to 400 kbps, and there are no monthly limits on data usage. While these SIMs are very inexpensive and great for what they are advertised (short communications and light maps usage), traffic is heavily shaped, often resulting in high latency that adversely affects usability.
Turbo Charge can be toggled on and off by an android app (requires a mobile data connection to make the switch - you cannot toggle it via wifi). Turbo charges are pre-purchased and valid for 180 days. B-mobile subtracts data by the byte.
- ¥525: 100MB valid over 180 days (¥5.25/MB)
- ¥1,800: 500MB valid over 180 days (¥3.6/MB)
Users of this report very favorably. For someone who typically doesn't need a lot out of a mobile data connection, the least expensive voice plan in the Aeon or smartphone voice SIM, with the 150 kbps data plan, coupled with a few turbo boost purchases each year, would provide by far the most economical option for a smarphone plan.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteYour blog has been the only thing stopping me from buying a Softbank plan! Thank you so much. I have one question though. I've purchased the Smart-microsim for the iPhone 4 and I've bought 500mb of Turbo-Charge. How exactly do I turn Turbo-Charge on? On the website, when I push the button, nothing happens. I noticed there is an Android App but I've searched and I can't find one for the iPhone unless I jailbreak it which I'm hesitant of doing. Again, thanks heaps. Your blog has been a huge life-saver so far.
Also, I've noticed that next to the Turbo-Charge part of my account, it says 高速通信を使い切ってからご利用できます (which in Google Translate comes up as You run out of high-speed communication available from). However I've only just bought it and I haven't put it on yet and it says 500 MB underneath the Turbo-Charge sign. Have I messed up somewhere?
ReplyDeleteThat says this:
ReplyDelete[500 MB Turbo Charge] becomes available after you've used up your quota of high speed data.
What is your plan? It sounds like you have a plan with a 1 or 2 GB limit that falls back to 128 kbps after you use up that quota.
Never trust google translate for ANYTHING. It's worthless.
Thanks for the reply! Yeah I have the smart sim 2gig plan. Speed is okay but I can't use it to make phone calls on Skype. There's huge latency issues. So I thought I could buy some Turbo charge and flick it on whenever I wanted to make a phone call.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten a reply from b-mobile telling me that I can't use the turbo charge until I've used up my 2gb allowance I get every month. I was under the impression that turbo charge rates were Thanks for the reply! Yeah I have the smart sim 2gig plan. Speed is okay but I can't use it to make phone calls on Skype. There's huge latency issues. So I thought I could buy some Turbo charge and flick it on whenever I wanted to make a phone call.
I've gotten a reply from b-mobile telling me that I can't use the turbo charge until I've used up my 2gb allowance I get every month. I gather that means that turbo charge's only purpose is to act as backup in case you run out if your original allowance. In that case how do I resolve the latency issue when I make VoIP calls? Should I just cancel and get a microsim Talking Premium sim?
That's right. 2GB limit on the Smart sim plan. I thought I could buy it, use it to make VoIP calls via Skype with my own Skype number but everytime I call or somebody calls me, I can't hear them and there's a huge lag. What do you recommend for basic Internet usage as in maps and reading the news, and 1hr worth of phone calls a month? I'm thinking the Aeon plan with voice sounds like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteBut it doesn't support iPhone 4...so what about the Smartphone sim with voice plan?
ReplyDelete