T-Mobile G1 in Okinawa, Japan

[markeb]

Both my wife and I got G1's back in November. Nothing fancy, just the regular $179 with a two year contract, not unlocked, not rooted, not covered in icing (yet ). Just a few days ago I found out I got orders (Air Force) to Kadena ABS, Okinawa, Japan. I've been Googling to see if I can take the phones with me, but the most I've found out is that they work there for roaming on one or two of the carriers. That would be great for a vacation, but I'm going for 3 years. The international roaming charges for both talk time and data are outrageous!

What I want to do is end my contract with T-Mobile (not a problem, i can end it with my orders Sailor Act of 19...88 or something like that). Take my G1 with me and get it put on a service provider at Okinawa. Is this possible? What would I have to do to get this done? Would I have to get my phone unlocked? Will T-Mobile unlock my phone?

I figured I'd ask around here and educate myself on the topic before talking to T-Mobile. I know I can buy unlocked phones, but I already have the phones and don't really want to pay more. Worse comes to worse, I'll sell the two phones I got and buy new ones. Unless Japan will have something Androidy out come May

[markeb]

Both my wife and I got G1's back in November. Nothing fancy, just the regular $179 with a two year contract, not unlocked, not rooted, not covered in icing (yet ). Just a few days ago I found out I got orders (Air Force) to Kadena ABS, Okinawa, Japan. I've been Googling to see if I can take the phones with me, but the most I've found out is that they work there for roaming on one or two of the carriers. That would be great for a vacation, but I'm going for 3 years. The international roaming charges for both talk time and data are outrageous!

What I want to do is end my contract with T-Mobile (not a problem, i can end it with my orders Sailor Act of 19...88 or something like that). Take my G1 with me and get it put on a service provider at Okinawa. Is this possible? What would I have to do to get this done? Would I have to get my phone unlocked? Will T-Mobile unlock my phone?

I figured I'd ask around here and educate myself on the topic before talking to T-Mobile. I know I can buy unlocked phones, but I already have the phones and don't really want to pay more. Worse comes to worse, I'll sell the two phones I got and buy new ones. Unless Japan will have something Androidy out come May

FIRST!

Haha, couldn't resisit after watching SXE Phil rant on it...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9iO3r-PmWg"]YouTube - POPTUB Daily: Brad Pitt, Beatboxing, SXE Phil[/ame] - just watch the first part, if you read the comments in the market you'll laugh your @ss off.

[scrannel]

If you have located one or more GSM carries, then your phone should work, of course. They may let you out of your contract because of service, etc., you would know more. Assuming you can, and that one way or another you get a contract with a Japanese carrier, I would check out the links on Myfaves going data crazy.

http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f...myfaves-10770/

If it is, indeed, continually trying to sync with T-Mo US, you could be charged. I use my phone a lot in Europe and I am considering modding it to the UK root software to get rid of Myfaves.

[markeb]

So I would be able to use my phone even though its a T-Mobile phone? That would be great, but wouldn't that mean I could just take same said phone and use it on AT&T or Sprint? But my understanding is that you can't do that unless the phone is "unlocked".

[orcking]

you can only take it to another GSM provider

sprint is not GSM

[scrannel]

You have to get the phone unlocked, which you can do through TMo (if you have been with them 90 days) or you can buy an unlock code, because you will have to use someone else's SIM unless you want to roam the whole time. And, yes, you need a GSM provider. Sprint and Verison are CDMA. Are you sure there is a GSM carrier in Okinawa? I believe the 3G on our phone will not work in Japan. Although I see NTT DoCoMo, Inc & SoftBank Mobile as having 3G at 2100Mhz... maybe you can get service that way? Still, it may be a non-GSM service.

When I was in Tokyo about 7 years ago, I got no GSM reception. Check this link:

http://euc.jp/misc/cellphones.en.html

You should call Tmo and ask. Japan and Korea are odd-balls when it comes to service.

There may be others...

[scrannel]

I was curious about this myself, and found this link:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7817_102...sageID=2689640

One quote would seem to answer your question:

"I just bought two razr's and we live in Okinawa Japan. I ordered the Motorola razr V3x for my daughter and I ordered at Motorola razr V maxx for myself. They are both WCDMA and UMTS 2100. I am using them with Softbank and they are working great."

Since the UMTS (3G) on the G1 is 1700/2100 I would expect it to work.

[markeb]

I was curious about this myself, and found this link:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7817_102...sageID=2689640

One quote would seem to answer your question:

"I just bought two razr's and we live in Okinawa Japan. I ordered the Motorola razr V3x for my daughter and I ordered at Motorola razr V maxx for myself. They are both WCDMA and UMTS 2100. I am using them with Softbank and they are working great."

Since the UMTS (3G) on the G1 is 1700/2100 I would expect it to work.

Good find! Thanks much. I'll have to get my contact in country to do a little researching for me. I don't want to bring the phones with me to find out. If I can't use them there I'll sell them before I leave. Whatever I do find out I'll post back though. Thanks again!

[remister]

がんばってよ!
I need to got a good SoftBank or NTT DomoCo phone.

[markeb]

Is that the translation? If so, I'll have copy and print it, hold it in the wallet and use it when I go around looking for a phone, haha.