DoCoMo? SoftBank? Official RS Jap Phone FAQ!

[trd2343]

I am interested in getting a Japanese phone. I am totally new at this, and I tried looking for answers but didn't seem to find any direct answers.

Who/What exactly are Softbanks/Docomo? Are they manufactures like Nokia/Sony Ericsson, or are they like phone companies like Fido/Rogers/Telus?

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/...iba/index.html
That site has a list of phones that Softbank sells, but aren't they Toshibas?

Can't I just buy a Toshiba phone instead?

Why are these Japanese phone so sought after even though it takes such a hassle to get them to work here?


Thanks

Example, is a Softbank 904T to a Toshiba 904T = Fido Nokia 6301 to Nokia 6301?

Is there any difference between a Softbank 904T and a Toshiba 904T?

[+Kardboard+]

NTT DoCoMo, KDDI au and SoftBank are examples of Japanese phone carriers, so they're much like our Rogers Wireless, Fido, etc. They have big clout with phone manufacturers, or at least the Japanese ones, so we end up with carrier-exclusive phones like the "SoftBank 904T by Toshiba," which as you might've guessed, is a SoftBank-exclusive phone manufactured by Toshiba. We can tell that it's a Toshiba from the T suffix, and it's part of SoftBank's 904-series of phones. Sometimes the same phone is offered on other carriers outside of Japan, hence we get common names like the "Toshiba 904T." Differences might be the firmware and some of the software features related to those.

Why are they so sought after here? Cuz they're powerful, have a wicked sense of style and like you said, hard to get them work here and hence, rare. Think of it as the mobile equivalent to an imported Skyline GTS-T sedan. It's no GTR, but it's rare and unique.

[trd2343]

Thanks for the informative reply, cleared up some questions for me

If phones that are branded by the carriers (eg. Softbank 904T) take a lot more effort to get it to work here, wouldn't it be easier to get it straight from Toshiba instead (eg. Toshiba 904T, and assuming that you don't need any form of hack for a phone that is straight from the manufacturing company)?

Just like instead of getting a Fido-locked Nokia 6301, just get Nokia 6301 instead.

Or is there different firmware or additional tidbits that make branded phones (Softbank 904T) more superior and sought after than their original one (Toshiba 904T)?

Thanks.

[Simplex123]

they are only sold through the carriers.
so you probably wouldn't be able to get it through toshiba.
even if you could, it'd probably be the same.
and there is no difference between a Softbank 904T and a Toshiba 904T; because the 904T is exclusively made for softbank, ALL 904Ts would be the same.
they are the same phone, just that people call them different things.

[trd2343]

I thought you can purchase directly from Toshiba or at least from a store, because Softbank's Softbank 705NK is just a Nokia N73, which you can purchase from a store as a standalone w/o any branded software, at least in Hong Kong. I can't imagine why anyone would go through the trouble to get a Softbank 705NK and get it unlocked when they could just get a Nokia N73 from Hong Kong.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/3g/705nk/index.html


I did some research, and it seems that N73 was released to Japan as Softbank 705NK.
http://www.nokia.co.jp/phones/n73/pr...ech_specs.html
http://www.nokia.com.hk/A4696020

It seems that, at least in terms of network connectivity, both versions offer the same band.
Now, I know for sure that you can purchase a N73 in Hong Kong. But is that offered in Japan? Or if you want to get N73 in Japan, you have to get it directly from Softbank? On top of that, do you need to hack it in order to use it in Canada?

Or may be companies like Toshiba exclusively release their phones through carriers and do not sell them as standalone, which, sucks

So I guess I can safely assume all the above applies for every phone from Softbank, or should I say every phone that is sold in Japan.

Thanks a lot.

[Simplex123]

like kardboard had said earlier "Sometimes the same phone is offered on other carriers outside of Japan,"
MOST sharp/toshiba/panasonics are NOT released outside of japan as another version. because a lot of the older japanese phones weren't even equipped with GSM. they only had wcdma. it was not until the docomo 905 series that their phones have gsm on it.

the nokia 705nk was not a good example.. just look at all the other phones on the site.
you dont see many of them in our market do you?
you can probably buy, say a.. sh906 in a electronic store in japan, but it will not be another variant of it. it will be the exact same one docomo is selling.

IMO. the japanese do not like selling their products out of their country, instead, they like to keep the best for their own country (might sound kind of stereotypical, but i believe it is quite true at times. i guess they are slowly changing that thought though. just my own opinion though.) because i really cant find a reason why some japanese phones would just lock themselves until they detect a japanese network.

and for your question..
"wouldn't it be easier to get it straight from Toshiba instead (eg. Toshiba 904T, and assuming that you don't need any form of hack for a phone that is straight from the manufacturing company)?"
even if you could get one from toshiba, it will still be the same one, for the exact reason i have stated above. you will still need a hack for the phone to use it here, because japanese phones are not locked to their carriers, but for us to use it, we have to hack the phone to thinking that we are using a softbank/docomo simcard.

sorry if some of the points aren't that clear, i didn't get much sleep last night and had summerschool in the morning.. = =
it'd be great if someone can clear up some points that i have missed or mistaken. lol

[trd2343]

^
Damn! Seriously, the Toshiba and Sharp phones rock! Too bad we have to hack them to use them

Thanks for reply, it answered my questions

[+Kardboard+]

There really is nothing to do to get them to work here now. Older Jap phones like the 903SH (which, coincidentally, was offered in the U.K. before) can be software unlocked; pop your SIM in and go. Newer ones just need a SIM hack; pop the SIM hack in, slip your SIM underneath and go.

[Shorty20]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but where is the cheapest place I can get a p905i? I'm going back to Taiwan in august but I'm not sure how much it iwll cost including the sim hack. The average price on rs seems to be about 550 w/ sim hack.

[+Kardboard+]

Yahoo! Auctions Japan, but no SIM hack. I am selling mine.....

[ctamblyn]

i have a N905i (red) it's unlocked, paid about 700$ + shipping just a little while ago.

I'm thinking of selling it. if anyone's interested just pm me w/ offer.

[DJ_505]

Originally Posted by ctamblyn

i have a N905i (red) it's unlocked, paid about 700$ + shipping just a little while ago.

I'm thinking of selling it. if anyone's interested just pm me w/ offer.

post in the used cell phone buy and sell
http://www.revscene.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=48

[muteki]

I was wondering...
What are the significant differences between the P906i/SH906i, if any.
Thanks ~

[ecchiecchi]

Originally Posted by SimplyComplex

I was wondering...
What are the significant differences between the P906i/SH906i, if any.
Thanks ~

It's mostly design. All the 906i line phones have similar functions. The biggest difference that I can think of is that the Sh906i has touch screen (which is crappy anyways).

[+Kardboard+]

I beg to differ. While limited in its use, it's definitely not crappy. Could be worse.

[ecchiecchi]

Haha.. my biggest disappointment is that you can only use it for certain things.

[moomooCow]

Just bought my first Jap phone -- SH905i with the Hypersim. The store cut my sim card for me and everything was fine. Up until just a little bit earlier, I got the "Out of Service Area" message. I've tried restarting the phone but then it only connects for a few seconds and when I try to make a call it will tell me "Out of Service Area." I've googled for a bit and came across people talking about taking my sim card and my Hypersim and put it in a regular unlocked phone and using it. After a few days of usage, I can put it back into my SH905i and it will be fine?

I'm in Hong Kong by the way. Thanks in advance.

[+Kardboard+]

Correct, all except the few days of usage. Quick and dirty way:

1. Put SIM by itself in unlocked phone. Get signal.
2. Put SIM and Hypersim in unlocked phone. Get signal, call somebody, make sure it connects before you hang up.
3. Get someone to call you. Let it connect then hang up.
4. Put the whole shebang back in your SH905i. Get signal and rejoice.

There may be delays during any one of those steps, as it takes longer to load the phone, get signal, etc. than with a SIM just by itself.

[moomooCow]

Thanks! I'm using my phone now =] but I was trying to text and it kept telling me it was "Rejected" any ideas? I know the sim card works because I texted earlier with my brother's unlocked phone.

[ecchiecchi]

Dumb question, but, do you have the sim hack? Did you make sure that it's compatible with your sim?

[moomooCow]

Yeah, I'm certain it is. The guy whole sold me the sim hack and phone told me that all the carriers are fine except for one. And i'm NOT on that one hah. Either way, I can text and make calls on a unlocked phone with sim hack + sim. But I just can't text with the SH905i =/.

[muteki]

Boo, I'm still waiting for mine from echigoya honpo =[ It's been 2 weeks and it's still not shipped yet >_<

[+Kardboard+]

Originally Posted by moomoocow

Yeah, I'm certain it is. The guy whole sold me the sim hack and phone told me that all the carriers are fine except for one. And i'm NOT on that one hah. Either way, I can text and make calls on a unlocked phone with sim hack + sim. But I just can't text with the SH905i =/.

Likely because you need to enter in the SMS centre for your carrier. I had to do that with my SH906i, although I didn't have to do that for my P905i, strangely enough (others did).

SimplyComplex: You got which?

[ime2006]

ooops........just found something cool

[mix.it.up]

i just ordered mine today
hey ime can u send meh that link plz