Switching mobile phone operators

[Tony]

I bought mine sim-free directly from Apple.

[StockBeard]

Aeon Mobile in Tokyo. 3:20 pm, in the middle of an office full of tech workers who are all constantly using their phones.

Ping 36ms
Download 8.21Mbps
Upload 7.14Mbps

However note that I had to run the test 3 times, as the first 2 times, it refused to run the upload test due to "connection issues".

To Steve and Noobster: you'd be surprised at how much ISPs claim you need in order to stream video decently, and how much you *actually* need. Streaming Netflix in HD requires somewhere between 5 and 7Mbps. SD requires between 1 and 4 Mbps. 4MBps ensure the best Non-HD quality you can get, which is really decent on a tiny screen. Arguably, you don't need HD on your phone depending on the phone and your eyes.

[arty]

Does anything like "pay as you go" exist in Japan?
I'll be arriving this month, and am looking for a cheap SIM only service that I can use with an unlocked phone that I'll bring with me. I'm used to paying just a couple of pounds (literally) per month - i.e. no monthly charge, just paying for a few calls/texts and very occasionally looking up a train time or something. Expecting to have to pay more in Japan, but are there any minimalist users out there that have found a good deal, or is it just a case of taking a pick from one of the options on the smappy site?

[RetireJapan]

I'm very happy with Aeon. It's not PAYG, but pretty close.

http://www.retirejapan.info/blog/mobile ... in-japan-2

[arty]

Yeah, I guess it'll have to be something like that.
5-10x what I'm used to paying, but at that level it's not as though it's going to break the bank.