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B-Mobile Releases MicroSIM for Unlocked iPhone and iPad in Japan

Aug 6, ’10 7:02 PM
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CEO Sanda had been talking about microSIM since last April & had revealed such a chip was in the work last May. The day has come: mobile virtual network operator b-mobile has announced earlier today it was about to release a microSIM for unlocked iPhone 4 in Japan.

Yes, for any unlocked iPhone 4.

And, well, that would also likely work with an unlocked iPad.

Unlocked. Mmh. Interesting. The problem is that in Japan, both the iPhone and the iPad are locked with SoftBank.

No matter the recent debate about a general SIM unlock in the country, SoftBank won’t bulge. There’s no way you can legally unlock your iPhone in Japan.

Some countries mandate operator to factory unlock (via an Apple software) the device after the end of the contract or after a specified period of time (usually 12 month). Nice, heh? But it’s just not the case in Japan.

So, honestly, what type of market is b-mobile after in all this iPhone envy craze?

First idea that comes to mind, the unofficially unlocked iPhone. Since the handset is only sold through Softbank and not Apple, the market remains tiny. The vast majority of people do not go and hack their iPhones, don’t delude yourselves. Plus, since they’re already paying for a full 24 months contract which started two months ago at the earliest, why would they go fishing for another contract before 2012? And, oh, the practice is illegal in Japan.

Inbound business (and geek) travelers? Unlikely. The information site b-mobile provides is in Japanese only and it wouldn’t, again, be a very interesting market. Not mentioning that it’s only a matter of time until SoftBank starts renting microSIM for those iPhone tourist addicts (see Pietro’s excellent summary of options if you’re travelling to Japan).

So what then? The obvious. Imported iPhones and iPads. Still, there can’t be a vast amount of the former, since it was just released and there was no microSIM available until now in Japan. Note that SoftBank won’t sell SIM-only contracts.
There might be a tad more of imported iPads. Before the Japan launch, you could see a reasonably good number of devices in the hands of Tokyoites (and in some shops in Akihabara with a crazy markup, 20% more expensive than those grey imports in Singapore)

But there too, there’s the fact that it’s illegal. Imports do not come with the technical seal of approval of the ministry of communications. You know, that little printed T on the back of your device. [NB: read the Update at the end of this post]
Not that I see this regulation being enforced anyway, but b-mobile is very aware of it, trust me. Sanda kinda address the issue in this morning’s paper, implying Apple could service imported material. His point: SoftBank has no exclusivity on the sale of Apple products and he’s willing to work with independent importers.

Now, I might be a little harsh on my view there. b-mobile is a small player that doesn’t have to invest too much in equipment since it uses DoCoMo’s network. It doesn’t need to have a very big market to make some interesting profits.

The micro SIM itself is free. It will cost you JPY 3,785 per month (roughly USD 44) or JPY 2,980 per month for data only (presumably for your iPad, and that’s approx. USD 35). You can pre-reserve it here.

[UPDATE, August 6, 2010, 9pm JST] Colm correctly points out, in the comments, that the regulation concerning the technical conformity certification -what I called the little T in my article, for the sake of expediency- are due to be modified. Last March, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced that the display of that little T (the certification mark) could be now documented either by printing it on the device itself or through the screen. Check your iPhone 3GS, 4 or iPad, under Settings -> General -> About -> Regulatory and you’ll see a list of certification icons. While I’m under the impression that this modification of the law is not in force yet, it renders my certification point kinda moot, at least in the very near future if no strong opposition is raised. Sorry for my hastiness. It hence now all boils down to the nature of the exclusive deal between Apple and Softbank. Its exact dispositions are unknown, besides that iPhones are not sold by Apple in Japan, but only through the operator. Will “parallel” importers be able to find solid channels for mass imports? Will Apple Japan accept to repair imported iPhones? Will it be legally bound to? The international warranty should apply, but no one is certain. We’ll know soon enough.

  • Colm Sharkey

    Hello Paul,

    Just a quick point, earlier this year MIC changed the rules re the display of certification markings. The marking no longer needs to be physically printed to the device. As long as the marks are visible either a) physically on the device, or b) through the screen of the device (in the OS), then the device is in line with the rules. iPhone 4 and iPad (and iPhone 3GS) display certification markings within the settings menu, so overseas versions of the device are allowed under Japanese law.

    Great article, interesting read.

  • Paul Papadimitriou

    Thank you for your insight, Colm. I was under the impression this change was still not into force. The potential modifications were publicly released on March 30. I will add an update to the post to clarify this point.

    Cheers

  • kyotoamigo

    Can’t see any info here or on b-mobile site as to the connection speed.
    The current b-mobile SIMs (actually Docomo SIMs) are 300 Kbs which is rather slower than Docomo high-speed 7.2 Mbs (It would appear that Docomo wants to reserve high-speed for their own customers…)
    I use with pocket WiFi and it’s OK for checking email and just OK for web browsing, and kind of OK for Skype but too slow for YouTube ….if their SIM for iPhone/iPad is also 300 Kbs it would not be terribly useful…

  • Barney

    I am very close to picking up my iP4 at Softbank. It’s there now. I think I want to go Docomo. Can someone tell me if their speed for iP4 is same as Softbank’s? Docomo has the eXperia so I’m thinking they must have some awesome unlimited data plan no?

  • Barney

    I can’t find info about Softbank’s data speeds in their pamphlet. It’s like they’re hiding it or something lol

  • kyotoamigo

    b-mobile now has the new SIMs on their website.
    Speed is 300 Kbs…..

  • Paul Papadimitriou

    That’s kinda slow for Japan… :-/

  • Paul Papadimitriou

    If you have an unlocked iPhone (an import), B-mobile card is made for you, yes. Now, speed is limited and b-mobile says it won’t work with an iPad (though I haven’t verified this claim).

  • Paul Papadimitriou
  • My Site (click to edit)

    oooh, looks like this may be the solution for me! I’m going to be leaving Japan next year for Canada and was facing the prospect of having to wait until I get to canada to get my iphone 4 now I can pick one up unlocked in singapore and activate it with bmobile here! When I move to canada I’ll be able to put in a new sim! sweet!!!

  • http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/11/03/visiting-japan-mobile-phone-data-wifi-plans-connected/ Visiting Japan? Mobile Phone and Data Plans to Keep You Connected « Mobile in Japan

    [...] that regular SIMs or MICROSIMs from bmobile (see our article here) are not an option for temporary visitors – no Alien Registration Card, no SIM. If you do [...]

  • sebastian

    short question. if i make a contract with softbank for 2 year’s and quit after one year and pay the rest for the iphone 4. it means its simlock free after this time(because ipaid the rest of my contract for the phone) and it will be no problem to use it in a other country with a different simcard and provider ? thanks for any answer

  • Paul Papadimitriou

    My experience is limited to earliest versions of the iPhone (not the 4), but the answer is: sadly not. SoftBank won’t factory unlock your iPhone even if you finish your contract on time (only countries where the law requires it do it, like France).
    You are left with a Softbank SIM locked iPhone.
    Maybe they’ve changed their stance, but I would be surprised. You should ask on the forums: http://community.mobileinjapan.com/group/iphoneinjapan/forum

  • David

    I bought an iphone4 in HK. Unlocked of course. hoping to use this on Docomo network. Is it possible to simply cut the sim card down to micro-sim size and then use it?

  • Dirtyred

    Yes

    I have already done this. The sim cards can be trimmed down. They sell these cutters on yahoo auctions and many other places. Try Akiharabara

  • J.c.l.

    I am here in tTokyo, January 2011, and not one store has a micro sim for my IPad, ridiculous for a country that supposedly prides itself for it,s electronics.
    My iPad is useless, unless in a wifi enabled hotel. The so called wifi hotelier don’t exist either, or are locked.
    I am visiting for two weeks, and just need to be able to use the pad to navigate my way around greater Tokyo
    J.c.l

  • Kenneth Buck

    This is one of the reason why Japan is a very rich country, the government strongly implies to appreciate their own product that those one from the foreign countries. If you want to use a phone in japan you have to buy a new one you can’t buy a simcard alone in this country.