Japan is considered a black hole for global travelers since their mobile standards are different. GSM phones need not apply. But there is a way to go: get a 3G data SIM and use VoIP. Can it be done?
Before flying over I found that SoftBank Mobile would "rent" a 3G SIM for a combined price of ¥1575/day for unlimited data. With the current exchange rate, that prices out over $20/day, a bit pricey, but often a better bargain than for broadband in a hotel. Also, I was to stay at the Imperial - a great hotel, with good broadband, but one which paradoxically did not have WiFi in the rooms. What to do with my iPad, iPhone and NexusOne travel phone? (For that problem, I brought along an Apple Airport Express, which is working great to connect everything; my business partner in the next room over is using it, as the signal seeps to surrounding rooms.)
The SoftBank SIM is something you need to reserve in advance or pick up a the airport. My travel companions were too anxious to spend much time finding the SoftBank booth, and twice when I asked locals at the airport where it was, they sent me to generic phone rental booths, neither of which had the SoftBank SIM deal. In the end we caught the next train to Tokyo, with the Japanese of us assuring me I could find what I needed in the city. It turns out you can, but only at the SoftBank HQ in the Roponggi district, a bit inconvenient.
Chagrined, they lent me one of their MiFi-type units, which cost the same per day and had the benefit of creating a little hotspot for all my devices. (I had planned instead to turn on the WiFi hotspot feature in the Nexus phone to connect my iPad remotely.) You can pick these up at the generic phone booths at the airport. Problem solved, if a bit inelegantly. Next time I will find the SoftBank booth and "rent" their 3G SIM and avoid lugging the extra MiFi unit around.
- I still think the camera is a tool but there are good and bad tools. Assuming that the spec for both craemas and lenses is similar, the ONLY time you'll be able to see any difference is when the resulting images are compared side by side. And even then it's nuances rather than very definable characteristics. Put either one in the hands of a good photographer and the images would still be acceptable or superb. In the case of these two images, it's the latter.
Posted by: Yogita | September 16, 2012 at 05:53 AM
Depends on a lot of things. First ATT will have segitnts avail. to send to the G1 to make it work on thier network. Also will depend if ATT's network requires you to have the web for using AIM.
Posted by: Daniel | September 16, 2012 at 04:47 AM
Actually no matter if someone doesn't know then its up to other viewers that they will help, so here it takes place.
Posted by: official statement | September 03, 2012 at 08:08 AM
A SIM is embedded into a removable SIM card, which can be transferred between different mobile devices. SIM cards were first made the same size as a credit card. Thanks.
Regards,
Posted by: help writing a thesis statement | June 19, 2012 at 03:30 AM
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Well I guess I don't have to spend the weekend firguing this one out!
Posted by: Geralynn | December 28, 2011 at 11:02 AM
you wrote an excellent post, but this post is also mind provoking, and I will have to think about it a bit more
Posted by: Amy | December 14, 2011 at 05:23 AM
Wow! Really interesting article. Thanks so much.
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