Roaming in Japan with 3G mobile

[mkb999]

Hi my mother is currently in Japan using an optus (2G) aprox. 3 year old Optus SIM card, in a Nokia 6233 (3G) handset and its working perfectly for calls and SMS. The Nokia 6233 (3G) handset is not listed as a Optus Mobile certified handset to work in Japan, However the Nokia 6233 does work in Japan.

 

[rogerroger]

What you need for Japan is a handset that includes 2100MHz WCDMA (that's one of the 3G standards). Google the phone model specs and you should be able to find it (or not, if it doesn't have it). Nothing to do with the SIM.

Yep, in Japan you can use wifi (if you have it on your phone or laptop) to Skype etc for very cheap. But doesn't help too much if people need to call you (are you going to wait in the hotspot on the offchance someone might call?).

There are rental phones available on arrival (in the terminal in Tokyo/Narita) if yours doesn't have the right frequency. Or you can get them from vRoam before you leave (also lets you keep your Oz number).

 

[drewbles]

What you need for Japan is a handset that includes 2100MHz WCDMA (that's one of the 3G standards). Google the phone model specs and you should be able to find it (or not, if it doesn't have it). Nothing to do with the SIM.

Yep, in Japan you can use wifi (if you have it on your phone or laptop) to Skype etc for very cheap. But doesn't help too much if people need to call you (are you going to wait in the hotspot on the offchance someone might call?).

There are rental phones available on arrival (in the terminal in Tokyo/Narita) if yours doesn't have the right frequency. Or you can get them from vRoam before you leave (also lets you keep your Oz number).

The quasi bible on mobile phone specifications:

GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more...

Pop in the model in the search and it will most likely have it. I use it daily at work. Great site

Also, last post on this was in 2007. Any need to resurrect the dead?