SMS text message

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Gaijin 06

先輩

16 Oct 2005

148

6

• 5 Dec 2005

• #1

Hello, can anyone advise which mobile networks in Japan support SMS text messaging to other countries?

Do any of them have the ability to send/receive SMS to the GSM networks in Hong Kong and the UK? (for example)

I brought a AU phone and they claim this is not supported - I can use e-mail or c-mail but c-mail only works to other AU subscribers.

 

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pipokun

先輩

4 Feb 2005

2,559

46

• 5 Dec 2005

• #2

Only Vodafone Japan offers you the SMS service you want when you buy their 3G phones. Now it is 3yen/message, it is, however, 100yen!!!/message after the special campaign.
I guess your friends in HK or UK can use a service like e-mailing from SMS text messages to your AU e-mail account.

 

ArmandV

Eight Times To Japan

Contributor

18 Oct 2004

2,497

110

• 5 Dec 2005

• #3

Unless someone in Japan has this SMS service, they can't receive a text message from a cel phone from the U.S., besides from the other countries mentioned?

 

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Gaijin 06

先輩

16 Oct 2005

148

6

• 6 Dec 2005

• Thread starter
• #4

Hi, thanks for the response Pipokun. Shame 100 yen/message is a joke, that's 5-10 times more expensive than in other countries.

I guess it is a captive market for Vodafone Japan.

ArmandV - my AU phone can't send or receive SMS messages from any country, period.

 

ArmandV

Eight Times To Japan

Contributor

18 Oct 2004

2,497

110

• 6 Dec 2005

• #5

Jeepers!

Gaijin 06 said:

ArmandV - my AU phone can't send or receive SMS messages from any country, period.

Click to expand...

Interesting. Ya learn something new every day.

 

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Gaijin 06

先輩

16 Oct 2005

148

6

• 6 Dec 2005

• Thread starter
• #6

Yeah, I learnt it after I paid for my phone and tried to use SMS

 

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pipokun

先輩

4 Feb 2005

2,559

46

• 6 Dec 2005

• #7

just after my quick search on the net, there are some e-mail to sms hosting services available here, no matter which carriers, docomo, au, or vodafone, you use.
But the services I found were between some asian counties, north america and japan.

 

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Gaijin 06

先輩

16 Oct 2005

148

6

• 6 Dec 2005

• Thread starter
• #8

It's a nice idea... shame many phones in the UK and HK (where my friends are) don't have the ability to email anyway.

Actually I can send & recieve emails on my phone but until the rest of the world catches up it lacks the instantiety of SMS.

 

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pipokun

先輩

4 Feb 2005

2,559

46

• 7 Dec 2005

• #9

KDDI offers you a prepaid card service, super world card plus text. The service is not to people in Europe like I said above. But for some, it might be useful.

http://www.kddi.com/english/telephone/card/super_world/index.html
http://www.kddi.com/english/telephone/card/super_world/carrier_list.html

 

Riyko

先輩

28 Nov 2005

906

2

• 7 Dec 2005

• #10

The frequency for japanese phones is 4 while other countries it goes up to only 3. The reason it could be happening is because your not on the same frequency as your friends are, but I could also be wrong too. I have my American phone with a frequency of 3 (tri-band) and I can use it anywhere, but japan. While my Japanese phone has a frequency of 4 and I can usually only use it over in japan. As I stated earlier I could be wrong about the reason why you can't text message people.

 

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Gaijin 06

先輩

16 Oct 2005

148

6

• 7 Dec 2005

• Thread starter
• #11

Actually Japan uses a totally different transmission system to the GSM networks in other countries... use CDMA (code division multiple access).

The three major GSM frequencies are 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900Mhz (used mainly in the US I think).

 

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pipokun

先輩

4 Feb 2005

2,559

46

• 7 Dec 2005

• #12

Do other UK carriers have got the similar service like O2?
http://www.o2.co.uk/productsservices/mobileservices/mmail/0,,126,00.html