[Networking] larsuck:
Quick and Dirty

Are you in Japan?

Do you have a Softbank SIM?

Do you have the Packet Flat Rate Full? or the older Packet Houdai? (In Japanese パッケト放題 and パッケト定額フル)

Do you want to use ANY unlocked WM-based phone on Softbank's network?

Then this cab is for you! Install and enjoy.

FAQ

Q: Doesn't the Connection Wizard do this automatically?

A: NO! Don't trust him! He is a Chaotic Evil Connection Wizard.

As many have found out to their disappointment, the Connection Wizard built into most ROMs installs the open-but-expensive Softbank connection. The Connection Wizard will try to set up the 64k digital data plan that charges per 30 seconds instead of per packet and the APN for this account is ai@vodafone or ai@softbank. So if you see ai@ in your data settings, DELETE THOSE SETTINGS! This ai@ AP is not compatible with the flat rate plans and is charged differently (read: heavily). Some have ended up with bills over 50,000 Yen.

Delete whatever connection the Connection Wizard makes for you before installing this cab.

Q: What does this cab do exactly?

A: It installs a connection with the following information:

Name: Softbank

Modem: Cellular (3G)

Access point: open.softbank.ne.jp

User name: opensoftbank

Password: ****************

Q: Why don't you just tell us the password and we can do it manually?

A: Softbank wouldn't like that.

Last April Softbank changed their password because it was published too widely. This created big problems for many people who were using the old password. To avoid this, I and others with the password have been trying to distribute it by non-public means (email, private messages, writing it on bathroom walls, etc).

Recently, some people who don't know any better have been publishing this information publicly, risking Softbank changing the password yet again, screwing us all. But don't get angry and send them flames ;). They can't help being that way.

Q: Can I use this connection with MMSLite?

A: Apparently you can, but the MMSLite connection information has been released widely and is available on this site. Do a search.

Q: Why is Softbank so secretive? And why did Softbank change the password? And if the MMSLite connection information has been public for so long, why don't they change that too?

A: Hey now, one question at a time.

The following is speculation, but here goes: I doubt Softbank has any automatic controls on the amount or type of data going through its mobile servers. They are probably worried that if this information gets out that people with SIM accepting notebooks / 3G modem cards can just use this information to get (relatively) cheap, limitless mobile broadband.

The first password change was done by a ROM update to the X01HT (Hermes). At the time, there were few enough X01HTs out there that they could afford to send every customer a 256mb microsd card with the ROM update on it. This ROM upgrade also changed the radio ROM to one which made it much more difficult to unlock the Hermes. Before this, lots of X01HTs were being bought subsidized from Softbank, unlocked, then sold on Ebay for a profit (and a subsequent loss for Softbank). Now that Softbank has more WM-based phones, and has stopped subsidizing handsets so drastically, a four-model, system-wide ROM update looks less and less likely. But it could happen.

The Softbank MMS connection is used system-wide by most of Softbank's phones, both smartphones and dumbphones. Any change to this protocol would be a huge headache for Softbank and is extremely unlikely.

Q: So, if I can get the password somehow I can use my Softbank SIM to surf my laptop and only pay the flatrate fee?

A: Probably. If you have a 3G modem that accepts WSIM cards.

Q: Will you PM me the password?

A: Sure. But it would probably be easier to use one of these links from some people who don't know any better

Q: This cab ROCKS! Who made it?

A: RayB

Q: Hey, where's the cab? Did you forget to attach it like some kind of idiot?

A: Yep. See the next post.