TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Japanese Calling Home From UK - Questions

Re: Japanese Calling Home From UK - Questions

Marcus Didius Falco (falco_marcus_didius@yahoo.co.uk)
Mon, 31 Jan 2005 03:18:41 -0500

tokyoeditor@gmail.com wrote asking about Japanese Calling Home
>From UK - Questions on Date: 27 Jan 2005 17:50:47 -0800:

> I genuinely want to find the best information for one of my wife's
> cousins who is planning a homestay in the UK for about 6 months. I
> will try and explain as clearly as possible in the hope that it will
> help you answer.

> While I am aware that obtaining a mobile phone is relatively
> hassle-free for someone such as my Japanese cousin, spending 6 months
> in the UK to study English and on a homestay, the problem is this:

> * The cousin is 18 years old, with a relatively low level of English.
> The parents want her to have a mobile phone during the stay in the UK
> to remain easily contactable.

>
> * However, taking a Japanese-contracted phone to the UK, even assuming
> it can operate there, would be prohibitively expensive due to paying
> for roaming (as far as I know). Due to the extra expense involved,
> this is not the preferred option, unless there is an economical way of
> using a Japan-purchased phone in the UK.

Most or all Japanese phones are not GSM, and so can't be used in the
UK. She can buy a cheap phone on a pay-as-you-go plan (that is,
prepaid). The best deals I found were from Virgin or Orange, but I did
not expect to be calling Japan.

Both companies have pre-paid plans for a few dollars (as little as 10
pounds, which is about $18), and a rather basic phone is not much
more. Virgin will unlock the phone after you've spent about 20 or 30
pounds with them.

> * A phone which can be arranged after arrival in the UK and which
> includes a Japanese language function.

> * A plan/tariff whereby the user (cousin) does not have to pay for
> incoming calls made from Japan by family etc. Or where these are as
> cheap as possible.

> * The main purpose of the phone would be as a means of contact for
> her family in Japan, since she does not know many people in the UK.

> I am hoping to get an answer, in the shape of detailed advice and
> recommendations for suitable models if possible, and I would really
> appreciate anyone's help. Please post here or email me on
> tokyoeditor@gmail.com

If you check the website at gsmworld.com, you will get links to all
the plans. You will also get links to the phones available. I can't
say whether any phones available in the UK will have a Japanese
language function -- she might have to buy the phone at the duty-free
shop on the way out of Japan.

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: Marcus Didius Falco: "Re: Traffic Tickets"
Go to Previous message: Marcus Didius Falco: "Mobile Virus Infects Lexus Cars"
May be in reply to: tokyoeditor@gmail.com: "Japanese Calling Home From UK - Questions"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page