Stupid Question: Phone Works in Japan?

[Benjamin_NYC]

I used to go to Japan quite frequently. This was back in the early 2000's. At the time, while the rest of the world was on GSM, Japan used their own system. I think it was CDMA, but not 100% compatible with Verizon/Sprint USA CDMA (same as South Korea, IIRC). Anyway, US/global phones would not work there, and while I could use my SIM and account and phone number, I needed a rental phone (which at the time meant to no data, email, etc.)

Going to Japan next month for the first time since back then. I think that this issue is long gone, especially with the advent of LTE, but I want to be sure. Will my M8, bought from and used on T-Mobile USA, work seamlessly in Japan? I know calling T-Mobile will result it a myriad of answers, some new, some old, some right, some wrong. So I thought I'd ask the true knowledge base.

Thanks,
B.

 

[wizzrah]

I used to go to Japan quite frequently. This was back in the early 2000's. At the time, while the rest of the world was on GSM, Japan used their own system. I think it was CDMA, but not 100% compatible with Verizon/Sprint USA CDMA (same as South Korea, IIRC). Anyway, US/global phones would not work there, and while I could use my SIM and account and phone number, I needed a rental phone (which at the time meant to no data, email, etc.)

Going to Japan next month for the first time since back then. I think that this issue is long gone, especially with the advent of LTE, but I want to be sure. Will my M8, bought from and used on T-Mobile USA, work seamlessly in Japan? I know calling T-Mobile will result it a myriad of answers, some new, some old, some right, some wrong. So I thought I'd ask the true knowledge base.

Thanks,
B.

Hi, will you be using T-Mobile there, or another Japanese carrier?

The three major carriers in Japan are:
1.NTT Docomo
2.KDDI
3.Softbank

Here is a full list of all carriers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mobile_phone_companies_of_Japan

The HTC One M8 supports:

2G Network:
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network:
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA, Asia
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - AT&T
HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - T-Mobile

4G Network:
LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2600 - EMEA
LTE 700 / 1700 / 2100 - T-Mobile
LTE 700 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 - Asia
LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 - AT&T


The carriers in Japan before used mostly W-CDMA but I believe they are expanding. Here are the bands for Japanese carriers.

Here is for NTT Docomo:

800(band VI)/1700(IX)/2100(I)MHz UMTS, HSPA
700(planned)/ 800(19)/ 1500(21)/ 1800(3)/ 2100(1)MHz LTE

and here is for Softbank:

900(VIII)/ 1500(XI)/ 2100(I) MHz UMTS, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA
900(8,planned)/ 2100(1) MHz LTE
2500(41)MHz TD-LTE(AXGP) (MVNO of WCP)

and KDDI:

800(BC0)/ 2100(BC6) MHz CDMA2000 1x, EV-DO　Rev.A(MC)
700(planned)/ 800(18)/ 1500(11)/ 2100(1)MHz LTE
2500 MHz WiMAX/WiMAX2+(TD-LTE)(MVNO of UQ)

T-Mobile I believe has connections with NTT Docomo and Softbank for 3G Roaming, so you should be okay. Just enable Data Roaming on your phone.

Last resort, you can connect to WiFi and use VoIP apps like Skype.

Resources you should check out:
http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/international.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+112042
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2223.html

Hope this helps.

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

Does every version of the HTC One M8 (including the USA T-Mobile one I'm using) have all those bands? If so, I should have no problem getting into Japanese 3G and even 4g networks.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

Oh, and yes I'll just be roaming with my TMO SIM over there. No need for a local SIM.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

So, if you search for Japan here:

International Plans | Traveling Abroad without Roaming Fees | T-Mobile

After the Japan map, there is field to check if you device works in Japan. On the mobile site, the M8 is an option (but not on the regular browser site, oddly). It says the M8 does NOT work, but the iPhone 5s and BlackBerry Z10 do work. I don't know if that's true...? What band(s) does the 5S and Z10 have that the M8 does not? The fact that the M8 is not on the regular browser site leads me to think it's just not updated. It says the "HTC One" works, which I presume refers to the M7?

What do you think?

 

[wizzrah]

So, if you search for Japan here:

International Plans | Traveling Abroad without Roaming Fees | T-Mobile

After the Japan map, there is field to check if you device works in Japan. On the mobile site, the M8 is an option (but not on the regular browser site, oddly). It says the M8 does NOT work, but the iPhone 5s and BlackBerry Z10 do work. I don't know if that's true...? What band(s) does the 5S and Z10 have that the M8 does not? The fact that the M8 is not on the regular browser site leads me to think it's just not updated. It says the "HTC One" works, which I presume refers to the M7?

What do you think?

The iPhone 5s does support CDMA bands as well as GSM bands, so it is obvious that it would work. The M8 should work. I would contact T-Mobile and ask them about it just to be sure.

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

The iPhone 5s does support CDMA bands as well as GSM bands, so it is obvious that it would work. The M8 should work. I would contact T-Mobile and ask them about it just to be sure.

Thanks. But is also says the BB Z10 works, and it seems to have the same 3G bands as the HTC One M8:

HTC M8
HTC One (M8) specs

HTC One (M8) T-Mobile
Differences:
UMTS: 850, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
FDD LTE: 700 (band 17), 1700/2100 (band 4) MHz
Data: HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s

BB Z10:
BlackBerry Z10 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RFK121LW: Quad band HSPA+ 1, 2, 4, 5/6 (850/1700/1900/2100 MHz) (T-Mobile version)
Quad band LTE 2, 5, 4, 17 (700/850/1700/1900 MHz)

So it seems it would have to work. I know calling T-Mobile will be useless as it would be a battle to get to speak to anyone half as knowledgeable as the people here. If their mobile site says the M8 doesn't work, the agents on the phone will just repeat that, I'm sure. But I don't see how that can be true.

 

[wizzrah]

Thanks. But is also says the BB Z10 works, and it seems to have the same 3G bands as the HTC One M8:

HTC M8
HTC One (M8) specs

HTC One (M8) T-Mobile
Differences:
UMTS: 850, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
FDD LTE: 700 (band 17), 1700/2100 (band 4) MHz
Data: HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s

BB Z10:
BlackBerry Z10 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RFK121LW: Quad band HSPA+ 1, 2, 4, 5/6 (850/1700/1900/2100 MHz) (T-Mobile version)
Quad band LTE 2, 5, 4, 17 (700/850/1700/1900 MHz)

So it seems it would have to work. I know calling T-Mobile will be useless as it would be a battle to get to speak to anyone half as knowledgeable as the people here. If their mobile site says the M8 doesn't work, the agents on the phone will just repeat that, I'm sure. But I don't see how that can be true.

You don't know that until you call. Anyways, looks like you are good to go then. Have fun in Japan.

Sent from my AT&T One XL

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

T-Mobile and HTC have confirmed in Tweets that the T-Mobile Variant M8 supports UMTS Band 1 (2100), despite T-Mobile saying it does not on multiple pages on their website. Will know in a few weeks.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Benjamin_NYC]

TMO now confirmed via tweet that their website was wrong and that the M8 has the right bands and will work in Japan.^^^

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