Japanese Phones work in Ireland?

justfortherecor · 14-08-2006 10:15AM #1

Probably a stupid question but I need to know regardless.

Can anyone tell me if I would be able to use a Japanese phone back in Ireland. I'm in Tokyo for another couple of weeks and I really want to bring back my mobile to use it in Ireland.

What are the compatability issues I will face or is it just straight out impossible to use a Japanese mobile back home? (i.e. insert my irish sim card and use it on a pay as you go basis).

Any help on the subject would be much appreciated!

Victor · 14-08-2006 10:19AM

Is the phone locked to you network in Japan?

Is it compatible with Irish GSM systems - 2G, 2.5G, 3G.

Is it worth your while get a cheapo phone for your stay?

justfortherecor · 14-08-2006 11:18AM

Well Im not really familiar with phone technology so I'll try and explain best as I can.

Here is a link to the phone I bought in Tokyo (in English) http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/product/foma/702i/n702id/index.html

I bought a monthly bill pay type system so Im not sure if that means I'm locked to the phone company?

And I've been using it in Japan for the last 4 months so I was hoping to continue using it in Ireland when I return because I still find it a very useful and stylish phone.

Thanks for the help.

TerrorFirmer · 14-08-2006 02:43PM

We can't really tell you. Its possible its not network locked; in which case it should work here, but

1) It could be network locked

2) It could be unlocked but still, due to network specific software, have no options to input manual settings for another networks MMS/GPRS etc.

You'll have to bring it back and try it out yourself, or ring your network operator over in Japan and ask them if they will unlock it for you (I'm sure they operate on a similar system to here whereas the network will unlock your phone provided you spend X amount with them).

In the UK on some networks (and in some cases here) , phones on contract (and the very odd PAYG) are not network locked, but I obviously can't tell you how it works in Japan.

joerules · 14-08-2006 06:44PM

Sorry to tell you but it won't work. DoCoMo use an older version of the 3G that is used in ireland. So from a technical point of view it won't even connect to our (3G) networks. From a software point of view it probably won't work. Maybe SMS and calls will work but any webs-based stuff has no hope of working. The software is totally DoCoMo created so 99.9999% impossible to unlock (there is no concept of unlocking in Japan). As far as I know there is only one DoCoMo phone that will work abroad, the N900iG (or somthing like that). Vodafone is a better bet but even they are extremely difficult to unlock.

Japanese Phones work in Ireland?

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