usage of JAPANESE CELLPHONES in Singapore

[emiko08]

hi to ANY JAPANESE! or anybody,

i just came to Singapore. i know that the mobile phone network here is GSM and Japan is CDMA. i would like to know if there is any phone from Japan (NTT DOCOMO,J PHONE etc..) that can be used in singapore with a SIM card from Singapore? <<means i use a Japanese handset but insert a Singapore SIM Card>> do i have to get a FOMA phone or 3G? but i realise that FOMA or 3G phone do not use SIM card.

somebody please help. thanks!

[Kimi]

I brought my Vodafone with global passport and tried to insert the Singapore SIM card and it didn't work so it seems the only way to make it work is by roaming, sorry...
Why don't you use the prepaid card?

[emiko08]

hi Kimi! i do not like singapore phones T_T;;

Vodafone global passport works on almost all of asia but not Singapore i have already ask the sales person in Japan.

ahh~ if only J-Phone works in Singapore!!

[Kimi]

Mine did... I just cancelled it cos it's too expensive...
The model is V801SA and I could use it in Europe too, well the countries I tried are Germany, Sweden and UK.
I guess you just didn't talk to the right sales person who knows enuff...
I believe AU also has a model with global passport. My previous one worked in OZ and the same model was working was sold in Canada and I think I was told it would work in some Asian countries like Taiwan, Korea etc.
You probably have a better luck going to their website rather than talking to the sales person...
I still would recommend the local mobile. You can get a fancy model that you like, but your rate is local not roaming. There are 3Gs here now I think, unless you're such an expat who can't be away from things from back home I guess
Camera's quality is better on Japanese mobile but then again you don't have to keep the contract to use the camera...
E-mails of the Japanese mobiles wouldn't work here I think, so you can use only SMS and MMS (only on other Vodafones in Japan that have the functionality for Vodafone mobiles) and probably phone conferencing with video, then again it has to be with models with the same function even inside Japan.
I kept mine for a few months to receive calls and even to receive which means to route my calls to be international ones cost me quite dearly

[emiko08]

well, maybe i will use the J-Phone i have in Japan and use it here to play games and games and more games!

i think your bill is expensive because of the roaming!!

what i want is a phone from Japan and insert a singapore SIM card so i do not have to pay roaming rates instead, local rates. i guess there is no such phone in the near future. grrrr.

[Guest]

wow...ur expect too much...hmm...i think sg use gsm and

what is with all these Vodafone passport and such ..i dun think this phone or service is sold or here in singapore ..maybe they dun like singapore 8)

and i think that there a lot of phone brands to choose frm...not juz vodafone

and i think u can insert any sim in any gsm phone or prepaid card...no need roaming...

: :idea: :arrow: :!:

[PinkSpider]

hi,

im surprised to see japanese hanging ard here.

There's a way to use Japanese phones but the choices of the phone are limited to certain models from vodaphone and there are a few steps you need to take.

1. buy V802SH (Sharp) from any vodaphone shops.
2. cancell contract, if they ask you to pay penalty charge, pay it.
3. bring the phone over to bangkok thailand where there are many shops can modify your phone to make it as "SIM LOCK FREE". you gotta pay abt S$20, otherwise the phone won't work without the vodaphone SIM card.
4.insert the local 3G ready SIM card into your phone and turn it on.

you can sms in japanese, but can't browse the web in japanese and you can 't receive emails on your phone. These are some of the limitations i have found so far.

[Taku]

Hi! PinkSpider

May I know any place can I get network unlock service in Singapore?
I know if I buy necessary cables and software, I can do it myself.
However it too expensive. So please advice me if you know any place in Singapore...

[kobedayou!]

I have a vodafone 3G 902SH Sharp too from Japan. I cancelled my contract and paid the penalty but the phone was still unlocked my phone. was told by my vodafone shop in JP that if i brought it to a vodafone shop in AUS or UK and ask them to unlock my phone, they might be able to do it.

I was in AUS sometime ago but they couldnt do it. and tried unlocking services there too but they dont have the technology for my phone. bummer... it really sucks. i cant even use the keitai for alarm or anything. it keeps saying insert SIM card and then when i do, either a 3G SIM card or a borrowed one, it says SIM ERROR.

I reckon its goiing to be hard to unlock these phones in SG. maybe someplace like taiwan, HK or thailand would do. Im still looking for someone to unlock my phone and will post here if i get any reply.
agree. chou kanashiiiii...

[kobeishome]

i got my japanese phone unlocked . thank god, now i dont have use those ancient singapore mobile phones...
if anyone needs help in getting theirs unlocked, drop a notehere !

[Rini]

i got my japanese phone unlocked . thank god, now i dont have use those ancient singapore mobile phones...
if anyone needs help in getting theirs unlocked, drop a notehere !

Can you please tell me where you had your phone unlock. Thanks

[ceres]

hey hey! unlock sim card means?
if unlock i can use jap or korea cellphones?

[kobeishome]

I had my mobile phone unlocked . I doubt that it was the SIM card that was locked because when i came from JP to SG, i didnt have a SIM card with me. I tried using a local prepaid SIM card but when i inserted that into my phone, it kept saying SIM error. This meant that the Japanese mobile phone providers had locked my phone. You will need to get your phone unlocked and if you need any flashing , this guy will do it for you.
I dont know where else you can get your JP phones unlocked in Singapore. please send me an email so i can give you his number.
you can email me at
[email protected]

[emiko08]

Thank you all for the replies!

I finally know of a phone which is from Japan and can be used in Singapore!

[Bremen]

Starhub has launched iMode, so theoretically jap iMode phones should work with a Starhub iMode SIM card.