yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Networking] Zgembo:
WOW 13 freaking millions yen! well it doubles japan average yearly salary. really, what have you been downloading man?!? :p
[Networking] SBS:
Porn. Lots and lots of porn. :D

But seriously, do be careful if tethering. softbank has been known to send big bills to people they determine are tethering.
[Networking] sousukeM24R3:
i still can't surf the net using my HD :confused: used the settings as given in the 1st post but still can't connect...
[Networking] diamondX04HT:
hahaahaha....naah not porn....seriously... :D

Not tethering too...I watch lot of mms streaming on TCPMP player...mostly matches when I m in office...ssshh....:)

thats consumes lots of data...but then softbank pricing too is ridiculous...dont think its actually worth that much in this times....

may be i'll switch to android in future as mondays windows 7 press conference really disappointed me...so is it possible to stream mms:// or rtsp:// or over general http:// links on android?
[Networking] aro:
Youtube does not work any more with Softbank

Anyone else here with a "non Japan" sim lock free HTC Windows Mobile phone on Softbank?

I use the cab file settings from the 2nd post on my HTC Touch Pro and now HTC HD2 for over one year now.

Never had any problems with high bills, but since a coupe of weeks the HTC Youtube app which is included in the rom does not find any videos.

After a hard reset I can connect using WiFi, and Youtube works just fine.

As soon as I install the softbank connection cab and try to watch Youtube videos via #G, it stops working. After that it also does not work over WiFi anymore until I hard rest again.

Anyone else having HTV Youtube app not working (or working) via Softbank 3G?

I somehow have the feeling Softbank started blocking Youtube for non Softbank IMEI phones, is that possible?
[Networking] diamondX04HT:
using HD2 on softbank same as you....youtube app works fine....loaded most viewed videos on startup...watched 2min crappy video too jus to make sure...everything is ok....3G works fine....
[Networking] sousukeM24R3:
i'm guessing i'm the only one with this problem? :(
[Networking] aro:
Sorry mate, do not have this problem (have my own ones with youtube though).
[Networking] aro:
My Youtube does not work

So I see you are using HD2 with stock rom.

Which stock rom is it your device came with? 1.48? 1.61?

How do you set up your softbank flatrate acess point in your phone settings?

Manually or by installing the cab for the 2nd post?
[Networking] diamondX04HT:
I have vodafone uk stock 1.43 ROM. I set up the access point by entering the settings manually. Will pm you the settings I use for your reference.
[Networking] pviktorin:
cannot install CAB

Hi,

I installed the CAB and it have an error message like "installation of Softbank Connection.cab failed".

If i check my connection settings, then I can see that the "Softbank" connection with APN and also password has actually been created.

And also an additional "Network" with the name "Internet" has been created.

after this happened, I now cannot connect to Internet any more using WLAN.

(which worked fine before)

When I check the settings for my WLAN connection, I cannot select any entry any more in the "connects to:" field. Here should be the "Internet", "company network" or whatever networks are configured...

I already tried adding and removing networks manually, but still cannot select anything in this field.

does anyone have a hint why that happened or how i can fix this?
[Networking] sousukeM24R3:
OK, just found out that even with a hard reset/ROM change, a direct insert of the Softbank iPhone sim card into my HTC with the default settings still couldn't get me connected to the net. anyone can advise?

very puzzled here as I thought even at default setting I should be able to access the internet right? :rolleyes:
[Networking] SBS:
FINALLY! ala carte SIM cards available in Japan

http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/2010/03/hell-freezes-over-ala-carte-sim-cards.html

But oh crap, right now it is ONLY for data - no voice supported.:D
[Networking] Kevbodian:
Just to back this up a little bit, last year December 2008/January 2009, I was using a Sharp 923sh with the unlimited packet discount. I switched to an overseas model HTC Touch Diamond. I then used the Diamond with the unlimited packet discount for 1 day, then checked my bill. It was up at 3man ($300) so I immediately came on this board, confirmed I was on the open APN and then I accessed the web from my 923sh and changed from unlimited packet discount to packet flat rate full. I was able to then use the Touch Diamond and the bill (the next month's bill) successfully fell down to the correct 6000 yen for data.

Even if a store person tells you whatever, just sign onto your bill section with your phone and change the plan on there. There is absolutely no restriction.

As for the rumoured IMEI registration on Docomo, I heard a slightly different rumour and that was that Docomo's APN will detect your IMEI and if it differs from any device that Docomo actually sells, then you will have to pay full data prices for incurred usage whether or not you're on the right plan.
[Networking] SBS:
This is what we all understand to be the case now, though no one that I know has actually got confirmation from a Docomo employee that this is what is happening. It is simply the best explanation because no one can connect to the biz-hodai APN with a non-docomo IMEI.

I started the rumor about IMEI registration by docomo because I was told by some random shop clerk that it was coming.

But more importantly, a few weeks later during the the docomo 3rd quarter earnings report the CEO of docomo announced that he was "studying the business model" of offering ala carte SIMs.

A shop clerk who came off as being more intelligent than the norm saying they are going to do it + the CEO saying he really wants to do it if feasible = good basis for a rumor that it will happen, IMHO.

Now, I don't think it will happen until one of two things occurs. 1) the N1 hits Japan or 2) the iPad 3G hits Japan. Whichever comes first.

See my blog for more details on the earnings report and the announcement by Yamada-shachou. I have the original Japanese quote and my English translation posted.
[Networking] scary chicken:
Hi everyone!!!

I am one more really pissed at softbank dictatorial policies. Recently my family gave me as a gift a HTC desire sim free bought in the UK and when it got here and I put the silver sim card from my Samsung 709SC it would be able to read the card and even let me make phone calls but when I tried to use internet it just wouldn't connect.

I went to the softbank shop to be told that they don't support sim free phone but only theirs so that I was screwed. Anyway, after googling around I found the ai@sofbank connection and it worked but fortunately I kept looking around more and found this forum so I changed to the opensoftbank APN.

Now, when I went to the call the 157 to change my plan for the full flat rate plan (I was in the unlimited package for student) the woman on the phone told me that it was possible for me to change the plan but that because she didn't understand why I wanted to change it she would do it. just like that :/.

Anyway, next day I went to a different shop and finally after the other woman made at least 3 phone calls to confirm she changed my plan. Now the question is. She told me that even if I change the plan if a use a phone different from the one in my contract the discount doesn't apply and I will be charged full price.

Can softbank know I am using a HTC desire and not the Samsumg 709SC?

Thanks.
[Networking] Falk:
You heard the Softbank standard answer to that question and since (officially) no one with a 3rd party phone has the password, from their perspective that is the truth. Just make sure that you are really using the correct APN and everything should be alright. SB doesn't do active IMEI filtering and I have never heard of anyone getting a "You are using a foreign phone!" call. That said, make sure not to overdo it (filesharing, non-stop tethering) lest someone at SB takes a closer look at what you are doing exactly.

Disclaimer: Of course this is just my opinion and I am not liable in case something goes wrong and you end up with a 80万 invoice.
[Networking] SBS:
Technically, yes they can because the IMEI number of your desire is different from your samsung.

In reality, all the information we have from commenters here and on my blog indicates that softbank is NOT CURRENTLY trying to determine if their SIMs are being used in non-softbank-branded phones.

Does this mean that they didn't start yesterday or won't start tomorrow/next week/next month? No.

But so far, everyone who has set the correct APN and not been caught tethering has been safe.
[Networking] scary chicken:
Thanks for the swift response. Well I guess I will have to try the first month and see how it goes. Btw softbanksucks, a bit out of topic, do you know any japanese keyboard mod for the HTC desire. Thanks again.
[Networking] SBS:
Yup. Simeji. (link below has other good apps for Japan)

http://softbanksucks.blogspot.com/2010/03/free-android-apps-useful-in-japan.html

and the IME dumped from the Japanese GDD phone

http://my.opera.com/wiz/blog/2009/06/16/how-to-install-japanese-ime-on-android

Good luck.
[Networking] scary chicken:
Thanks a lot. Just one thing, How am I supposed to install the second one if I dont have the SDK tools folder?
[Networking] SBS:
The official IME requires root, so just install simeji, which most people prefer anyway, then search around for the appropriate forum on rooting your device.
[Networking] scary chicken:
OMG!!!!Just the second day after my flat rate connection plan was installed and the price is 47000 yen!!!!:eek:

Is this normal?!!!!

２０１０年５月１日 ～ ２０１０年５月１日

■ご利用料金プラン

ホワイトプラン

音声通話料	0円

メール通信料	0円

パケット通信料	47,333円

Maybe it doesn't work?!!!!

PS: I only have downloaded 3 app including simenji keyboard that was the largest (6MB). Barely even surf the internet at all. I guess they are charging me full price?. The strange thing is, weren't they suppose to alert me when I go over 30000 yen?.
[Networking] SBS:
We covered this a few pages back with screenshots and confirmation that the online statement will show the full price of what you WOULD have paid BEFORE the flat rate is applied. The final statement you receive in the mail will have the discount applied IF you are subscribed to the proper plan and IF you set the APN properly.

In your case, you WILL owe more money regardless because you surfed and downloaded BEFORE you subscribed to the flat rate plan.

If you are worried, I would advise you to not use data much if at all for the first month until you get your first bill and confirm that the flat rate is applied.

Commenters here and on my blog have shown that only a week of "light surfing" WITHOUT the flat rate plan (or with the wrong APN) can result in a bill of 100,000 yen plus. From the screenshots previously posted in this same thread, you will see one guy shows a bill of 1,800,000 yen for data ($18,000 USD) on his online statement. This poster confirms he was only charged the ~ 5000 yen (or whatever the capped price is).

Please read through the entire thread ;)
[Networking] scary chicken:
Ok let me clear something. I changed the plan on April 30th and they told me it would activate next day May 1st. which is the day when I actually made the downloads. Well, I stayed overnight in Shibuya (since it was friday) and on the way home around 6-7 am is when I downloaded some app on while on the train. Next day doesn't start at 0:00 am for softbank?. In any case, a simple calculation tells me that:

According to softbank the packet price is 0.084 yen/packet so that;

47333/0.084=563488.095238 packets, each packet is 128 bytes so that;

563488.095238x128= 72126476.1905 bytes.

So according to this I've used 72MB of data transfer!!!!!isn't that a bit off considering I downloaded just 3 app that in total aren't 7MB?. If I take the 0.21 yen/packet rate which is full price then it comes down to 28MB.

As for the settings:

Name:Open softbank

Access point: open.softbank.ne.jp

User name: opensoftbank

Password:xxx

Port:8080

MMS port:8080

MMS protocol:WAP 2.0

MCC: 440

MNC: 20

Thanks.
[Networking] SBS:
You'll see in my translation of the guy's screenshot in this tread that the account page says the price displayed for packets is before any discounts are applied. The price of 0.084 yen/packet is what the price works out to be after the discount is applied at the end of the month, as you're scaling from the minimum to the maximum price.

So you are correct to calculate packets from the 0.21 yen/packet price (if of course that is indeed the correct price for your plan), which indicates you used about 28 MB of data.

There could be background process using packets. If you do any surfing of sites with images, you can easily use 1 MB opening one page.

Anyway, according to softbank you used that amount in one day of light usage. I can't advise you either way on what to do, but as stated previously, everything you describe is absolutely normal. You will have to wait until the end of the month to see what happens. Until then, what to do is up to you.

I will wager a guess that the fact that you have not gotten a warning SMS could indicate one of two things:

1) the SMS system is broken (which would give you a point to argue about the bill if you get hit for the full price) or

2) because you are enrolled in the flat rate plan, you didn't get the SMS because your end of the month bill will not exceed 30,000 yen in data.
[Networking] scary chicken:
I forgot to ask, having an unlocked Desire from UK do I still have to run the cab or simply set the OpenSB APN manually would be enough?

Thanks
[Networking] diamondX04HT:
cab is only for windows mobile...since desire is android it won't...

you can configure manually opensoftbank apn on ur desire...if u already dont have the details let me know will pm u the password...
[Networking] Apsalus:
Well since we haven't heard back from frightening fowl, I supposed that I can assume that I can use an HTC Desire from a third-party on SB as well. I really can't thank everyone who has contributed to this thread enough. I couldn't wait for the Desire to come back into supply in a month, so I've done a tremendous amount of digging the passed few days and this thread is the end-all for my concerns.

Thank you.
[Networking] scary chicken:
Rest assured it works, with the correct settings that is.

Cheers!
[Networking] Apsalus:
Great. Thanks.
[Networking] Apsalus:
So with the recent amendments to SB's data plans, do we know what the new equivalents are? In the notes it appears that the new Packet Unlimited Flat is the old "Keitai Wi-Fi Packet Flat-rate," Packet Unlimited remains the same and Packet Flat-rate Full becomes "Packet Unlimited for Smartphones." Does Packet Unlimited Flat use the same APN as Packet Unlimited for Smartphones? I can't imagine that am I going to convince a customer support rep to change my Packet Unlimited to Packet Unlimited Flat for Smartphone if I sign up for a dumbphone. :(
[Networking] SBS:
According to some posters a few pages back, you don't have to convince a human to change your data plan, you can do it online. ;)

Hopefully Communications and Infrastructure Minister Haraguchi doesn't cave under softbank's whining about being forced to offer unlocked phones. But some of the signs aren't that good.

1) there has been no more announcements about the rules, and 2) I've been told that the original plan was to be fairly broad and include current phones but that got 3) scaled back to "next generation" handsets on sale from the end of the year which is 4) when docomo will start rolling out LTE I hear, which makes me wonder if 5) "next generation" will mean LTE 4G ("3.9G" actually) handsets.

Of course, will Haraguchi-kun 6) still be the MIC minister in a few months, seeing as that he was an Ozawa guy and Ozawa is out. (He probably will.) I doubt there will 7) be a change in government after the election this summer, but if there was, would the incoming minister be more conservative and protective of the carrier's interest to maintain their iron grip of power over how cell tech is used in Japan?

From 1 to 7, these scale in order of decreasing confidence. The first of the above two paragraphs (actually I think it is actually just one sentence :rolleyes:) is how I think it is going to do down because I know squat about politics.
[Networking] Apsalus:
I have little confidence in my ability to navigate the Japanese My SoftBank site to do such. I hope that I can get it done without screwing myself. I was trying to help another person set up his Milestone with the APN settings, but we couldn't find where to add the packet plans on the My SoftBank site under his login. Of course we might have looked right at it and not known it or the fact that his uSIM is a hand-me-down might have something to do with it.

Interesting observations. Hopefully the Japanese deities continue to smile upon us lowly consumers.

I might also mention that you and your blog are an amazing resource. Thank you for your tireless efforts.
[Networking] SBS:
Apsalus, thanks!;) Though I've been getting a bit tired I supposed as I haven't posted something in a while.

As for the softbank site, if you have anyone that can read Japanese around, you could ask them to help you out.

I can't promise that I'll be able to do it anytime soon, but the first chance I get to sit down in front of a computer with a friend that has softbank, I'll take a look at the site and see if I can't put together a simple road map (with a few screenshots) for changing to the unlimited smartphone data plan.

This question comes up often enough that it would be good to have some more info on it.

cheers,

SBS
[Networking] elliatab:
Unlimited Packet Discount Flat and MySoftbank

Hi Apsalus,

Just to make sure, we are talking about the "Unlimited Packet Discount Flat" at 4.410Yens/Month?

I'm thinking about activating this one and use the APNs for "Unlimited Packet Discount for Smartphone" with my rooted HTC Hero.

I confirm you can activate this option from "my softbank" website. It's not so difficult to navigate to the right page (automatic translator from chrome may help).

From the "my softbank" homepage:

- Click on the green icon 料金プランや割引、ご契約住所の変更など各種お申込みはこちら(Price plans and discounts, and various changes of address Sign up here Contracted)

- click on the button next to "割引サービス" (Discount service)

- select the second option " パケット通信料割引サービス変更	例）パケットし放題など" ( Packet Discount Service Changes	Eg) and Unlimited Packet Discount)

- you can select the plan you want from this list:

パケットし放題 for スマートフォン

パケットし放題

パケットし放題S

パケットし放題フラット

(Packets Unlimited for Smartphone

Packets Unlimited

Packets Unlimited S

Packets Unlimited Flat)
[Networking] Apsalus:
Wow, thanks for the walk-through! I appreciate your effort, but I am simplifying the whole endeavor by simply signing up for an iphone 3GS, keeping the uSIM and selling the phone. It nets me the Unlimted Packet Flat for 4410Y because it I will have the black uSIM. Here's hoping that I can get rid of the 3GS without much trouble, now that Apple's new, spectacular pile of fail is available. I wish that I could just buy a uSIM by itself from SB, even if it meant paying the full 5985Y for the Smartphone packet plan.
[Networking] SBS:
now that Apple's new, spectacular pile of fail is available.

↑=爆笑:D
[Networking] elliatab:
I just bought a SIM from softbank last weekend. The sim alone cost around 3000 Yens and I signed up for a white plan. I showed them an old samsung phone from softbank I had from a previous contract and took the sim out of the phone as soon as I left the shop (now it's in my rooted HTC hero).

I am waiting for a month to pull the trigger on the packet plan because I wont be in Japan during july, but for sure I will subscribe for one of the packet plan for smartphone as soon as I come back. I will post in this thread when I do so.

Having a feedback on the "Unlimited Packet Discount Flat" and the APNs would be great, if anyone has info please post
[Networking] SBS:
Better not to post the actual details here (to try and keep it from getting more all over the web than it already is) but rather google for it. Or PM me.
[Networking] Apsalus:
I am actually very surprised at how many issues have cropped up with it. It's really too bad that Apple pushed it out without identifying and sorting them out first. I will be interested to see how they manage the damage control.

That previous contract was probably your "in." I have talked to several SB reps, from various inaka shops to some in the Akiba Yodobashi, and they all told me that I cannot sign up for only a sim card, even when I presented a friend's unused SB handset that I borrowed.

That said, I signed up for a 3GS last night. Popped the sim in my Desire a few minutes ago and it's cranking along flawlessly. I have received a couple of emails from SB since setting up the black uSIM APN, but I don't understand them so I'm off to find someone that can tell me if SB is freaking out at me or something.
[Networking] SBS:
Really. I've been recommending people to take a used phone to the softbank store when getting a foreign phone up and running. I often scour the Akihabara used electronics shops but never pay attention to the cell phones. Next time I'm there, I'll see if any of them have heard of problems with buying a phone for a company with which you don't have a contract .

I assume you mean SMS, right? Since you can't get softbank mail on the Desire... And in case you did somehow get an email, that would mean you set the APN without being subscribed to the proper plan, which I think you know would be bad.

PM me the text of SB's messages and I'll tell you what it says. Probably PR and welcome to SB BS.

And not to be picky, but I'd suggest using "kanji" or "chinese characters" in place of moonspeak.
[Networking] Apsalus:
I know that they won't sell bare uSIMs anymore, but I was more than a bit exasperated when they wouldn't even let me use an older SB handset to sign up. I know that they want to make more money by selling a handset too, but it still irks me. Oh well. At least I get the iphone packet discount with this sim.

Yeah, SMS makes more sense. They just pop up under "Messages," not the "Emails," so I should have figured that out. I got a friend of mine here to scan over the messages and he said that they are just that: thanks for signing up, you chose 5 months of free White plan instead of the walking dog thing, etc.

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I didn't know that slang could be offensive. I always interpreted it as "language so different that it could well be from the moon as far as non-native speakers are concerned."
[Networking] SBS:
Sorry, I wan't clear. I am by no means offended. What I mean to say is that I've seen people get flamed to a crisp on Japan-specific forums when using terms like that. It was meant as advice...
[Networking] general_k:
softbank iphone 4 microsim packet flat rate full apn?

There was a question up thread a bit about the apn for the different packet plans, but I didn't see an answer. Maybe nobody knows until the first iphone 4 billing cycle comes around.

I assume that the packet flat rate full　packet shihodai flat (パケットし放題フラット) for the iphone 4 has the same APN as the black iphone sim cards as sold with the iphone 3gs. Does somebody know if this is correct?

I am currrently using the microsim from the iphone 4 in HTC G1 / Dream with an adapter I cut from the extra plastic to which the microsim was attached. If I get the 30000円　warning message I will know something is wrong. I will call softbank in a few days to see if everything is fine with my data connection and not connecting to the wrong apn.

Thanks in advance