Alamak, hope you guyz read smthg besides own msgs! For all answers, just LOOK at the Vodafone discussions here in LYN under Phone Specific Discussion. AFAIK all Vf Sharps are made in JPN, and can easily buy in BKK SIN HKG TPE but not KL (except LYN garage sales!)

Within last couple of weeks Sb (ex-Vf) announced several new Sharp models with UMTS, and it is mentioned on other forums that all new Docomos will be UMTS enabled. See pix and specs on Softbank.co.jp

Unfortunately, they will probably be locked to Sb with hardwired circuitry, not software.

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i see.. i learnt something now.. thanks.. i know they are made in japan.. but i wonder they still use it in japan or just for marketing out of japan.. sharp vodafone is huge in here UK..

what i try to mean is if the outcoming model is for japan marketing or just sharp make for vodafone but marketed out of japan.. like sharp gx series and toshiba, i wondered they are used in japan cos most of them i saw in vodafone europe market.. exception 904sh? 910sh?

There is no GSM network in Japan, its either CDMA, W-CDMA (UMTS), or PDC. The network that is compatible with most international handsets is currently UMTS. So you can use any UMTS 3G set while roaming in Japan. Last time when I went there we can still use WAP over 3G, MMS, and SMS. If you bring a GSM only set, then it is as useful as a camera, mp3 player, portable game & phonebook only.

Below is the roaming charge when I was there last year (with Vodafone KK, not sure how it will be with Softbank though). I was a bit doubfounded since I used lots of SMS (abt 20) and MMS (abt 3-5) there, yet Maxis charged very less...

Edit: Found the reason - The SMS / MMS to Malaysian numbers were calculated at normal non roaming rate. The 1 SMS was a message that I sent to a friend in JPN.



This post has been edited by Volfeed: Dec 2 2006, 12:16 PM

Much TQs. Evidently, the cost of Maxis roaming SMS is not too bad, about what Vodafone charged on their prepaid system for sending an email (international or local Skymail similar to SMS). However, if you have JPN frenz.....

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