RetireJapan

Roger Van Zant wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:38 am
I don't need a number or SMS messaging; only data.

Is it already OK to not have a phone number in Japan?
I remember that you usually needed to have a phone number in Japan to open bank accounts at least (of for any kind of registration anywhere, really).

There was even a colleague of mine transferred from his country to Japan who had a lot of trouble to get a bank account in Japan.
The bank didn't allow him to open an account without providing a phone number, but then he couldn't get a phone because he didn't have a bank account (so it was a deadlock kinda situation).

bryanc wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 2:38 am 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?

sorry -noted from the price list that you went for the data pack not the esim one so it should be ok as phone as been unlocked..the cheaper option would be the esim but as that not installed on the old iphones then wouldnt be poss

jcherni wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 3:22 am

Roger Van Zant wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 12:38 am
I don't need a number or SMS messaging; only data.

Is it already OK to not have a phone number in Japan?
I remember that you usually needed to have a phone number in Japan to open bank accounts at least (of for any kind of registration anywhere, really).

There was even a colleague of mine transferred from his country to Japan who had a lot of trouble to get a bank account in Japan.
The bank didn't allow him to open an account without providing a phone number, but then he couldn't get a phone because he didn't have a bank account (so it was a deadlock kinda situation).

For calls, I have an old flip-phone still through AU.

I'm about to switch to rakuten mobile, their coverage isn't perfect yet but they've been working hard on improving it (they reached their goal of 96% coverage 4 years ahead of their original plan, or so I read)

One thing that is good with their service is the one plan fits all type. No need to switch, you pay for what you use
(capped at 3000yen for unlimited usage) and it's all done automatically.

If you don't travel too much and your work/office is in their coverage area, I think they provide a pretty decent deal.

Hello,

New here, glad to have found this place.

So, I and wife use a combo plan from OCN-mobile, about 7GB per month combined (120 MB each phone every day, unused data rolls over to next day once). We pay about 3000JPY/month. Phone calls and SMS's charged separately, which are crazy expensive like 100JPY for 30 seconds or something.
So, we use a spearate app that takes credits for phone calls, Viber. We use it may be once in 3-4 months. You hardly call anyone here.

just to add to this-changed one of my sons to iijmio and its been very good..
now the other discount plans for family members are in the last month so looking to change others over..
apart from iijmio ,is there anything people would suggest rakuten mobile?anything else?

We use Rakuten Mobile for some of our family. Not very good experience, to be honest.
There are still so many areas where their coverage is poor, compared to SoftBank.

Out of the two main costs for getting the keitai bill down,

1) for the handset, I buy premium Android sets SIM-free, my wife buys iPhone, and we use each for 4 years or so,

and

2) for calls and data, we use Y!Mobile with Kazoku waribiki. We do not use any app for calls demestically and we make long calls. We use very little data though. We don't game too.

Our service is reliable, but not cheap. However, less expensive than DoCoMo which is probably the most reliable.

I could save more by not buying a new Pixel handset if I could change the battery of my Huawei P9 handset reliably, here around Nagoya though, as my main use of handsets are taking notes.

What’s worked really well for us is using Skype to make phone calls. Our plan doesn’t include any free phone time, so calls are quite expensive. The Skype rates end up being much cheaper.

JimNasium wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 11:36 am What’s worked really well for us is using Skype to make phone calls. Our plan doesn’t include any free phone time, so calls are quite expensive. The Skype rates end up being much cheaper.

Within our family group, all calls are on LINE. (also a couple friends)