uk handset in Japan

[adamw]

I'm currently in Tokyo and get a "no access" error on my lg8110 (my wife's too). This happens everywhere I go here and cannot be a reception problem ThreeUK have been useless and can just confirm that our account is OK, roaming is in place and we should be able to connect in. Last year, we used the same phones with success (not brilliant but it usually worked). Both auto and manual network searches tried. Sometimes we pick up DoCoMo on a manual search but cannot connect in. Anybody any ideas?! Thanks, Adam

[biohead12]

I think its something to do with the networks in Japan not being the same protocol as everywhere else in the world.
Its neigh on impossible to get a japanese phone to work in europe and I would presume it would be the same if reversed.

[adamw]

Thanks Scott, but Three has confirmed that the lg8110 should work - they have a roaming agreement with Vodafone KK, the local operator in Japan - and the damn things did work last year. So I'm baffled. Adam

[jonat8]

Well although Vodafone KK do use UMTS, according to www.gsmworld.com they don't have any sort of roaming agreement with 3, nor do DoCoMo which also use UMTS in some parts.

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_jpnd.shtml
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_jpjp.shtml

[biohead12]

Since you have already had it working all I can suggest is that the UMTS masts that you were using before are no longer operating or you are not near one this time.

[adamw]

Thanks Scott and Jonathon, Three's website says their roaming service in Japan is provided by VodaKK, so I'm thoroughly confused. We went to a Vodafone shop in Tokyo central station and they were very good - trying our USIMs in their (unlocked) 3G phones, but to no avail. We finished up by renting two Sanyo Jphones from them which are fantastic. What's more the call charges to the UK are less than Three's would have been, and because they are Japanese phones, the local charges are tiny. The only disadvantage is that we cannot receive texts from the UK. Over here, they use two kinds of text - SkyMail - which is like ours, and SuperMail, which requires an email address, rather than a phone number. I've not tried SuperMail but in theory we could send to any email address I guess.

When we return to the UK, the Three phones are ready for the bin. Rental is quick and cost effective and can be done as you get off the plane at Tokyo airport and in most of the inner city Vodaphone shops.

Thanks for all your help. Its hot over here at the moment!

[themarques]

I just got back from Tokyo and was there for 2 weeks, both my phones worked. I have a 6680 Nokia and SonyEricsson K608, good reception except when I was deep in some basement restraunt..but other wise on the metro or in sky scrappers it worked fine..so I am guessing it might have to do with you usim being faulty.

What areas where you in and around in Japan?..in Tokyo I was mostly in Shibuya and Ebisu..and sometimes Roppongi