getting keitai bill down...MVNO providers...

[bryanc]

trying to cut down on the keitai bill (around 16000yen a month for five phones each 5 gigas and home internet) and was wondering if anyone had any ideas?
Does anyone use the MVNO providers like IIJmio and are they recommended?
thanks!!

[Gareth]

I use IIJMIO (although I don’t know how to pronounce it). Have been with them about 4 years. Pay 1800 yen or so a month for 15GB and pay for each call. Never had a problem with them. Partner also uses it. She pays about 2400 yen for 17GB shared between her and her old man on his phone.

I recently increased my GB which reduced the cost. Did it online in a few mins and it kicked in the following month.

The staff at Bic Camera were very helpful when I first signed up. I would suggest going there first. They’ll be able to help you with a family plan I would imagine.

I find phone plans very stressful so I overpaid for years but am so glad I finally got rid of SoftBank. And now there are no two year contracts any longer, it makes it easy to switch to something better that suits your needs.

Good luck!

[captainspoke]

I-I-J-mio (or just "ai-ai-jei") I use them too, they just reduced plan prices a little more. I've never had a service issue/problem, and tethering just works--you don't have to request it or pay extra. I have voice, a 070 number, but rarely call out. Usually only receive calls, or Line messaging/calls with common contacts.

[pfdsa]

I use IIJmio too. Also, just learned how to pronounce it thanks to Captainspoke
Have the 20 gb data plan, and pay around 2000 yen for it. Very satisfied with it.
Was using LINE mobile before, changed to IIJmio and kept the same phone number. If you can read Japanese it`s very easy to do everything online, didn`t have to go to any physical store.

[TJKansai]

We use Mineo. About ¥2,000 for 5GB.

[bryanc]

thanks all!will have a look-as I said currently paying around 16500yen for 5 phones at 5 g and home internet...not sure if it would reduce this ,but the gigas would definitely go up! are there any setup fees for new contract etc??

[bryanc]

one thing i cant find much useful info on-do IIJ have any plans for using overseas(data not calls)
As far as I can see they discontinued them?this would be a major consideration for me..

[Roger Van Zant]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but I am not sure how this all works exactly.

I paid 3300 yen yesterday to have an old iPhone 6s unlocked by Softbank.
Now, I am looking at companies like Iijmio for a cheap monthly deal.
Do I just order a SIM card from their website, insert it into the old iPhone, and that's it?
Do I have to do some kind of set up procedure? (Other than set up a monthly direct debit for the billing?)

I am probably going to opt for their 21gb per month data plan for 1950 yen per month.
Anyone know anything similar for cheaper?
Also, how's the coverage for Iijmio in Kyushu?
I don't need a number or SMS messaging; only data.

Thanks.

[bryanc]

separate to my phones question but I have also been looking for data only plan for my father in law ..
as far as i can tell from my research you just order the esim card from them if you only want the data.

the issue i had with an old tablet and you will prob have if you have an iphone 6s is that its not on their list of acceptable devices for
esim card..

https://www.iijmio.jp/esim/


this is how I understand it-please someone tell me if this is incorrect??

and the question I was going to ask -are there other companies that are not constrained by the device/model?

[pfdsa]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but I am not sure how this all works exactly.

I paid 3300 yen yesterday to have an old iPhone 6s unlocked by Softbank.
Now, I am looking at companies like Iijmio for a cheap monthly deal.
Do I just order a SIM card from their website, insert it into the old iPhone, and that's it?
Do I have to do some kind of set up procedure? (Other than set up a monthly direct debit for the billing?)

It is pretty straightforward. Since you have an unlocked phone, first of all choose the type of SIM card (data only or data+calls) and plan through their website, as well as the payment method (you will need a credit card). A few days later you will receive the SIM card by mail, you will have to plug it in your phone and do a brief set up. They have instructions in English too. https://www.iijmio.jp/hdd/visitors/en/apn.html

However, have no idea if it is compatible with an iPhone 6s. Think that they have a list of compatible phones.
My Xiaomi 9 SE isnt in their list, but the SIM card works fine (data+calls).

About the coverage in Kyushu, it works fine in Okinawa, so maybe Kyushu is ok too?