Comments on: SoftBank iPhone: How much will it cost the Japanese? http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/06/10/softbank-iphone-how-much-will-it-cost-the-japanese/ From kimono to keitai; research Japanese facts and figures through translated opinion polls and surveys. Thu, 10 Apr 2014 22:29:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.2 By: Ken Y-N http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/06/10/softbank-iphone-how-much-will-it-cost-the-japanese/comment-page-1/#comment-178267 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:36:02 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/06/10/softbank-iphone-how-much-will-it-cost-the-japanese/#comment-178267 Sarah, yes, minutes are a killer as no-one speaks on the phone! However, SoftBank support various schemes for unlimited calls to designated SoftBank numbers, or all SoftBank numbers at any time.

Sometimes they quote by the minute, although the basic unit is 30 seconds (so 31 seconds costs the same as a minute) so check the small print carefully!

The 6MB limit, I think refers to their unlimited plan. Basically the idea is that for less than 6MB you get charged per packet, but once you hit 6MB (5,985 yen) you can keep using an will never be charged any more.

SoftBank have a comprehensive English site for the iPhone, and I’ve heard that if you don’t speak Japanese when you go to their shops they’ll get an English-speaking operator to help you over the phone.

Finally, mobile phone pricing plans are designed to be incomprehensible in order to make it harder for you the consumer to compare companies. It took me two years to understand my docomo bill, for instance, and there’s still one or two points I’m not 100% certain about!

]]> By: Sarah http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/06/10/softbank-iphone-how-much-will-it-cost-the-japanese/comment-page-1/#comment-178260 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:33:52 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2008/06/10/softbank-iphone-how-much-will-it-cost-the-japanese/#comment-178260 I’m looking at the SoftBank iPhone now. If I don’t plan on using the minutes for calling except for quick, sparse calls and mostly text and use the internet, it sounds like a good deal, but the $.42 a minute is a whopper. Do they charge by the 30 seconds or the minute? Also, if I reach the 6MB limit before the month is over, will I be able to browse more websites or is it comparable to prepaid? I’m so confused. I don’t speak Japanese, so this is really frustrating. Any more insight you have would be appreciated.
Thanks!

]]>