Hello hello, I'm a newbie to this discussion and I'm pretty much hooked on the idea of getting a j-phone to retire my 4 year old phone. Initially I thought of getting an iPhone but with its limitations as a communication device I rather get myself an iTouch instead.

I've read the first post and read like half of the pages in this thread to get an idea what sort of poison I'm fiddling with. I don't receive calls and sms that often (sometimes one regular recharge and still no one contacts me XD)  My sms is always short and to the point anyway as I prefer to call the person rightaway, so the CPR shouldn't be a problem. I have several questions though, and I'm hoping that experienced keitai users can help me make up my mind. No technical words, and appreciate it if pictures/links are provided as reference.

1. I noticed that network sim card needed to be cut in order to use the bypass sim. Is there a guide how this is done and is there a picture how both sims looks like when they're inserted properly?

2. This may sounds like stupid questions but I can use the phone in Japan if I purchase Japanese prepaid card, right? Will there be a problem if I purchase a Softbank prepaid card and use it on a DoCoMo unit or vice-versa? My current understanding of DoCoMo and Softbank is they are network provider in Japan but I'm not sure if the phones are installed with DoCoMo/SoftBank features only and the network independant features will work if you use corresponding simcard with the phone's 'version' eg: docomo phone with docomo simcard= full phone function.  (if such thing exists la).

3. I have my eyes set on either SH906i or P905i. To current users, please share the good, the bad and the ugly side of your user experience with both phones (limitation and CPR experiences aside) such as
- searching for contact, sms, menu access,
- durability
- with the pusing pusing feature for the screen, does the hinge seems fragile?
- anything worth mentioning

4. Is there a reason why you buy it/sell it off afterwards? I'm leaning towards SH906i because of the touchscreen and 5.2 MP camera. Are there any other j-phones with similar spec as this phone, preferably with touch screen and >5MP camera?

5. I'm a hotlink user, is there anything else that I need aside from a 3G simcard + bypass sim in order to bring the phone to life?

6. On the first page it mention that "do not left the battery dead." I don't quite understand what this means unless you're saying that j-phones must not be allowed to turn itself off because it ran out of juice.

I feel like I'm asking survey questions but really appreciate your answers on this. The more I read about these phones, the more curious I get. Many thanks in advance~ ^^

Thanks Perfume666 for helping out especially on point 1 and 2.  As for SH-03A that's one kick ass phone but I don't need such high resolution camera on a phone. I survived on a 2MP one and still managed to camwhore a lot so a 5MP will suffice. (and oh gosh, the price is way over my budget atm )
Thanks lkylyk for your opinion too, yep perfume666 did answered most of my questions ^^. Your comment on SH906i hinge + some posts frm SH906i users in other forum, I think I'm not getting this model after all. I used all of my phones for at least for 2 years and the consistent comment about loose hinge kinda turn me off.

Did some research on F-01A and was quite impressed with it after watching this video review: http://video.watch.impress.co.jp/static/k-...24/026flash.htm
The 'waterproof' & fingerprint security features are rather intriguing. Does the fingerprint tech work for user outside Japan too~? And yep, you're right, touch screen on this model is better and it has motion sensor as well. The external display is awesome too coz I use my phone as alarm clock. I want to squee when I saw how one has to turn off the alarm and apparently it can calculate footsteps taken and how many km you've walk. I hope these features are still accessible after unlocking XDDD

SH-01A doesn't appeal to me much~ dont know why but after watching P-01A Demo Video my heart goes doki-doki when I saw how the keypad actually rotates when it's on landscape mode. Feel so lame~  .  XD [/endspaz]

Bad news is both phones are wayyyyyyyyyy over my budget atm, sigh. Maybe I'll ask my dad to buy the F-01A when he's on one of his business trip to Japan for me coz I like it very, very much. Erm, no current or past user of this model here?

I'll make sure to get a DoCoMo model when I decided to purchase a keitai so I don't have to worry about the media lock issue along with the current restrictions XD
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Another question, if I purchase a docomo simcard and activate it in Japan, dl whatever application for it (theme etc) then I come back to Malaysia and use my local simcard, will I be able to keep my Japanese downloads in my phone?