I remember that japanese phones used to be all the rage and i even though about importing a sharp phone with a 3mpx cam! this was years ago....
But it looks like all is shit now and it's all about the iphone and android phones... so whats a good japanese phone?
Woah! That is insane, how would a guy in the Uk go about getting one of those Gundam phones? I am sure it would not work here in the Uk with providers n all, but I would love to own one. Are handsets expensive?
Send me a PM if you want detailed information.Originally Posted by redstar_dan
To get that phone is virtually impossible.
To get a standard 945SH is also virtually impossible and extremely expensive if you were to.
Your best bet is to buy a Docomo phone and a hypersim. Google and eBay Docomo and hypersim and there you go.
Extract from my message, as people often ask about Japanese phones :)
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Unfortunately, at the time of writing and at least until April next year, no Japanese phones are carrier unlocked. Japanese phones cannot be carrier unlocked, though in April next year Docomo have said they may start introducing something, but it's unknown as to whether this will be for old models or just newly released ones.
That Gundam phone is limited edition, locked to softbank and has Multimedia lock (i.e. unless your network is called Softbank, the camera won't work and nor will video playback).
It would cost in excess of $B!r(B1000GBP (yes, 1 thousand) to find someone selling one and hack the phone using a hypersim in Japan, then export it to the UK, before you even including $B!r(B292 VAT and import duty costs (estimated).
It would make much more sense to try to buy a phone such as this, which is essentially the same phone but comes with the hypersim for you to use in the UK.
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If the japanese had any idea of how the market is right now they would've snatched palm (WebOS) away from HP, build stuff on top if it and beat the shit out of the iPhone
You know what? scratch that: if palm/HP had any idea of how the market is right now...
Many are unlockable though.Unfortunately, at the time of writing and at least until April next year, no Japanese phones are carrier unlocked.
Out of those, none allow you to input APN settings to do anything other than call and SMS - i.e. no internet or MMS or email.
Functionally they're crap compared to the iPhone and Android anyway. I'm having a hard time thinking of what Japan does better than the west these days, other than completely demented porn.
EDIT:
Ah... shipping.
Last edited by GaijinPunch; 09-16-2010 at 09:38 AM.
Is that not reason enough? ;)
I have the iPhone 4 (as of today) but I will be getting a docomo flip phone for when I am in Japan. I prefer flip phones and I will love the CCD camera. I'm a bit of a phone geek. If course the OS is very simple and lacks many of the benefits of iOS and Android, but the appeal is more in the flip-phone form, which has died out in the west.
Either way, I'll have both because I am a greedy gadget lover. Having said that, I might sell the iPhone 4 and just use my iPad, because that is much nicer to view the internet on and do many other things that I do with the iPhone... who knows.:shrug:
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