Traveling to Japan and then to China. Prepaid Sim on 8800?

[wireless_999]

Hello folks, I am traveling to Japan then off to China.

I know the 8800 from Cingular will not work in Japan but will in China.

However I am in the proccess of having my 8800 unlocked.

What are my best alternatives regarding a prepaid sim card?

Do I buy one here in the states or in Japan? I just need data, not worried about the voice. Anyone familiar with the types of charges these companies with prepaids charge for data?

Any and all information is appreciated. THank you.

[BallHawk3]

I'm pretty sure Japan doesn't use GSM.

They use something called dokoymo. I'm pretty sure I killed the spelling.

[John Clark]

http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-blackberry-discussion/75387-berry-traveling-abroad.html

[Sith_Apprentice]

Two main companies/technologies i can find in japan.

NTT DoCoMo: Present Technologies (http://www.nttdocomo.com/technologies/present/index.html)

is the first. Second being:

Service | SoftBank (http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/service/)


both use WCDMA 2100 as well as other types of services moving towards 4g.

[stewsan]

A prepaid sim card purchased in the States won't work for BB service overseas if that is what you are looking for..... If you're going to China just get an int'l service from Cingular, use it while you are overseas and then cancel when you get home. Only the 8707 BB model will work in Japan with their 3g system.

[takeshi]

I just need data, not worried about the voice.
Better make sure you can get a Blackberry data plan on prepaid. Most carriers don't offer this.

[focus88844]

Do you need a Dual Tri or Quad Band GSM Cell Phone (http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/quadbandphones.htm)

read the link above, it provides pretty good information as far as what frequency band were used in different countries. also one interesting thing mentioned how tmo disables the 850mhz band on certain phones they sell.

[Klotar]

Outstanding guide, thanks!

[jungleland]

Two main companies/technologies i can find in japan.

NTT DoCoMo: Present Technologies (http://www.nttdocomo.com/technologies/present/index.html)

is the first. Second being:

Service | SoftBank (http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/service/)


both use WCDMA 2100 as well as other types of services moving towards 4g.


yup, japan's cell service is state of the art compared to what we have here in the states..

They have always been years ahead of us..

[dc/dc]

There is a lot of misinformation in this thread, and I'd like to clear it up for the OP.

Since you want data only, pre-paid is NOT your best bet as there is no guarantee that you will have data service. Your surefire way of getting service in both Japan and China is to use an 8707 model BlackBerry combined with your Cingular SIM card. Yes, you will have roaming charges, but it will WORK. In Japan, the 8707 will use the UMTS services provided by NTT DoCoMo or Softbank (formerly Vodafone KK a.k.a. J-Phone). In China, the 8707 will operate on any of the GSM providers (most likely China Mobile).