Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by burepe on September 2, 2011 at 11:51am

Are you going to get it in the US or in Japan?

Almost any of them will work. Docomo has several that are unlocked. You can easily get them on Yahoo auction.

Permalink Reply by Doug Lerner on September 2, 2011 at 12:18pm

I didn't realize Docomo had unlocked models. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

doug

 

Permalink Reply by Dan Burgess on September 5, 2011 at 4:35pm

Just saw this thread now so you may have already worked it out, but here is some info re docomo Android models that can be unlocked (and then used on the Softbank network).

Regarding unlocked docomo Android models,they indicate the following:

Mobile phones and other devices with a SIM lock unlock function that were released in or after April 2011

From this page on the docomo English site: Procedure for Unlocking a SIM Lock

It says you have to be a docomo customer, but I'm sure you could get around that by having a friend that is a docomo customer take in a phone and have it unlocked for you.

This SIM unlocking service (3,150 yen) by docomo is the "legitimate" process, all other unlocked phones (older models etc.) are done by users personally, and it's doubtful that any warranty would be valid.

And re using your iPhone SIM card, as far as I know they will only work in Softbank iPhones, but you may be able to get some kind of customized SIM card via Yahoo auction etc. that can override that (don't quote me on that though).

Permalink Reply by Doug Lerner on September 5, 2011 at 7:42pm

That's interesting information, Dan. Thanks.

 

I was trying to find actual prices on their page for initially unlocked models, but could find any model prices at all yet.

 

Thanks,

 

doug

 

Permalink Reply by Doug Lerner on October 18, 2011 at 11:43am

I really haven't had luck finding unlocked Android phones from the carriers here. Actually, for my testing purpose, it's not even so important to have a 3G plan or SIM. I can do the testing I need over wifi.

 

So I suppose it's not even important that the phone be unlocked.

 

Considering that, can anybody recommend some good models?

 

Thanks,

 

doug

Permalink Reply by Kizuki on October 20, 2011 at 11:58am

The Sony Arc and Acro models are quite good and I guess that for 3150, Docomo will unlock them as well.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Doug Lerner on October 20, 2011 at 1:01pm

But you have to have a Docomo plan for them to do that, right?

 

Permalink Reply by Kizuki on October 20, 2011 at 1:07pm

From what I understood after asking the Docomo staff is that even if I pick up a shiro-rom from say Akihabara or Yahoo auction, and take it to them, they will unlock for 3150. This was the response by Docomo staff at Yodobashi Akiba.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Doug Lerner on October 20, 2011 at 1:13pm

Interesting. I'll double-check that to be sure before leaping!