Comparison of a Samsung Galaxy S6 unlocked by Japan's big three carriers

As expected, Softbank Mobile announced that it will also adhere to the new guidelines and begin unlocking phones brought new to market from this month. This includes the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The terms are exactly like Docomo's: unlockable from 180 days after purchase until 90 days after the phone is disconnected. Unlocking within that 90-day window for an out-of-contract product will also require a trip to certain softbank stores and therefore cost ¥3,000 plus tax.

Unlocking terms by carrier

	KDDI	docomo	Softbank
Cost	Free (¥3,000+tax in store)	Free (¥3,000+tax in store)	Free (¥3,000+tax in store)
Applicable to devices released from	April 23, 2015	May 1, 2015	May 29, 2015
Wait time to unlock	180 days	6 months	180 days
Unlock possible after cancel service	forever	for 3 months	for 90 days

Galaxy S6 Edge Comparison

Right now, the only phone that will be unlocked by all three is the S6 Edge.

	KDDI	docomo	Softbank
Cost with MNP (without)	¥33,480 (¥55,080)	¥29,808 (¥58,968)	¥21,600 (¥53,760)
Earliest unlocking date:	October 20, 2015*	Now	November 25, 2015
Unlock cost	free	¥,3000	free
LTE Bands:	1, 3, 18, 26, 28	1, 9, 19, 21, "700"*	1, 3, 5
WCDMA (3G) Bands:	1	1, 5 (or 6?), ?	1, 5, 8

* The exact bands are ambiguous. docomo simply lists "700" which could be one of 12, 13, 14, or 17 or perhaps all may be covered because the frequencies are either adjacent or overlapping. Also, both KDDI and docomo list support for "800". KDDI specifically states this is band 18. I believe that docomo uses band 19. The uplink frequencies are overlapping and the downlinks are close but not adjacent.

Figuring out which bands are supported

KDDI is the only carrier clearly indicating this an in easy to understand way. Their bands are published here. Softbank's are on the product's specs page (SBM S6 Edge). Docomo's are also listed on the spec page, but only for LTE (DCM S6 Edge). To get the 3G bands is a real pain, but docomo will be required to make this more transparent once they release phones under the new guidelines.

Docomo classifies the S6 Edge as a "class 5 world wing" device, which looking up here gives contradictory information. The product pages lists LTE bands "2GHz, 1.7GHz, 1.5GHz, 800MHz, and 700MHz". However a class 5 world wing device supposedly supports LTE Band 1 (2.1GHz), Band 3 (1.8GHz) and "others" such as Bands 4, 17, 20 "etc" as well as "3G" (whatever the hell that means) and "3G850".

LTE（Band 1（2.1GHz）、Band 3（1.8GHz）、その他（Band 4、Band 17、Band 20など））および3G、3G850、GSMネットワークをご利用になれます。

I'm just guessing here, but since the most common 3G band (except in North America) is Band 1 (2100 MHz), I am guessing that "3G" refers to Band 1 and that 3G850 refers to Band 5 (Actually I'm told that what docomo calls "3G850" is actually Band 6). I also assume that it doesn't support AT&T's Band 2 (1900 MHz, aka PHS) or T-Mobile's Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz, aka AWS).

Digging ever deeper into docomo's i–mode-like labyrinth of a website confirms no support for 3G in North America.

KDDI SIM unlocking conditions are better than docomo's

Both KDDI (PR) and docomo (PR) have announced their respective unlocking conditions in compliance with the new Somusho guidelines. At this point in time, there appears to be some major differences in the KDDI and docomo conditions. Media inquires indicate that docomo will only unlock phones for the original owner, where as KDDI has responded that it will unlock any phone, irrespective of the current owner. (This of course won't apply to stolen phones). Additionally, the rumor is that docomo will only unlock phones for three months following termination of service, even for the original owner.

However, keep in mind the following two points:

1. Neither company is actually unlocking phones under the new guidelines yet.
2. Such glaring differences in service conditions have a way of leveling out. (Remember the debacle that was Softbank's tethering and 1.2 GB data cap)

So by the time six months have passed from the release of the docomo summer lineup, it is entirely possible that docomo will match KDDI's conditions (though on the other hand this is docomo who is used to being the ones to dictate conditions to the other carriers – so we'll just have to see). There were (are) no similar restrictions on the unlocking period for docomo phones to which the old guidelines apply.

	KDDI	docomo
Cost	Free (¥3,000+tax in store)	Free (¥3,000+tax in store)
Applicable to devices released from	April 23, 2015*	May 1, 2015
Wait time to unlock	180 days	6 months
Unlock possible after cancel service	forever	for 3 months

* The "Galaxy S6 edge SCV31" on sale from April 23 from KDDI is subject to the new guidelines and will be unlockable 180 days from purchase. (This phone is also currently unlockable now from docomo but for ¥3,000.)

So is this a good or bad thing? It depends on how you look at it.

Previously, docomo was the only option for obtaining an officially-unlockable phone, and that cost money and time, lots of time if you ended up with incompetent shop staff. It was also difficult to figure out which bands a docomo phone supported. And most incredulously, unlocking your phone pretty much voided the warranty. All that crap will be finished, but there could now be a finite time window during which a docomo phone can be unlocked.

KDDI frequency bands

KDDI has already published a page showing WCDMA and LTE band support of its unlockable phones. Also, I can't help but roll my eyes at the "SAMSUNG" prefacing "Galaxy S6 Edge" ;)

As can be seen here the "Samsung" Galaxy SG Edge will work fine in most of the world except North America, where it lacks support for "GSM" carriers AT&T and T-Mobile. Maybe it'll work on EDGE, but the experience will be horrible.

What about Softbank?

As usual, there is no word at all from Softbank, and the only phones they list as unlockable are the same shitty ones that no one ever bought. They blatantly ignored the old guidelines for quite some a long time. I assume they'll comply this time but not sure when.

Translation and explanation of revised Japanese SIM lock guidelines

Edit: I forgot to mention the best part. Not only will it be free, it will also be automated, meaning no more painful, time consuming experiences dealing with untrained shop staff. And, that of course means you will be provided with the unlock code.

I've now read the updated SIM unlocking guidelines from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communications (MIC). I've also translated them below.

In short, I'm very pleased with the new guidelines. They are short, concise, specific, and (most importantly) thorough. I was worried that the MIC would focus narrowly just on SIM locks, leaving carriers free to cripple phones by a myriad of other means, such as locking out the APN settings menu on the phone (like Apple typically does).

The guidelines specifically state that any other restrictions added by carriers should be removed. Hopefully this means the end of the Docomo's automatically changing of APN when tethering, which breaks tethering with MVNOs, other SIM cards, and the mopera.net ISP.

The guidelines also specifically state that carriers can no longer unlock a phone then refuse to provide service using non sequiturs like "because your phone is unlocked we are no longer able to service it." That is as logical as saying the train was a minute late because I put ham in the refrigerator.

Carriers will also be required to specifically disclose which frequency bands a phone supports,  as well as what services will cease to work. Currently, getting this information from docomo is tedious and uncertain.

Phones will still be sold in a locked state, and the guidelines allows for an a short period of time that the phone cannot be unlocked.

It would seem that Juggly was right (as usual). There is no room at all that I can see for carriers to take an opposite approach and cripple unlocked phones.

The guidelines do not go in effect until May 2015. Though there is a clause stating that these guidelines should apply to phones announced before that date, I do not at all expect that to happen. In that sentence, there was a line break that caused me to read over a very important character, 前. The old guidelines will apply to existing phones. Purchase phones that initially go on sale after May 5.

(なお、それ以前に発売された端末については、平成 26 年●月改正 前のガイドラインの趣旨に沿って適切に対応することが適当である。)

For the iPhone, this would mean the next iteration that would presumably become available around October/November 2015.

---

(Anything in [brackets] is added by me.)

May 2010 (Revised: 2014)

Overview

Currently in Japan, handsets provided by MNOs are "SIM Locked," preventing usage on other mobile networks.

Users of these devices have expressed the desire to both use their domestic devices while overseas with locally-obtained SIM cards and to continue using the same phone after porting their number to a different MNO.

Due to problems arising from large differences in specifications [i.e., WCDMA v CDMA-2000], frequencies, and platforms [i.e., carrier mail, etc.], individual MNOs were requested to voluntary abide by the "Guidelines Concerning SIM Locks" in 2010.

However, unlocking by MNOs remains limited at present. In addition, SIM locks have not only hindered users, but have also increased the cost to other MNOs of acquiring new customers, partially leading to the [unreasonably] large cash back offers.

Now, the spread of LTE and smartphones has changed the mobile marketplace, increasing interoperability of specifications and frequencies between MNOs. Therefore, both the basic and specific points of these guidelines should be adjusted accordingly.

Note: The guidelines defined 役務 (service) as electronic communication services concerning mobile phones, including mobile phone access service, 3.9G [LTE] access service, and virtual mobile electronic communication services associated with mobile phones.

Ministry Opinion

Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 12 of the Telecommunications Business Act of 1984 allows for the invoking of measures to reform telecommunication practices that are unreasonable or unjust and may or do result in unsound industry development or are not in the best interest of the populace.

SIM locks constitute an inconvenience that prevents receiving service with existing handsets upon switching MNOs, as well as usage of a locally-obtained SIM card while overseas. SIM Locks further increase the cost incurred by MNOs in recruiting new customers and are the cause of differentiation in service fees and content [between new and existing customers], hindering competition. SIM locks are also the root of the large cash back offers used to acquire new customers that are promoting an unfair situation between longterm users and those who frequently change MNO.

However, MNOs have expressed the following concerns regarding not implementing SIM locking. 1) Lack of full support by other MNOs for unlocked handsets may cause confusion for users. 2) Compared to a market with locked handsets, promotional costs will increase, likely resulting in retail prices above current. 3) Loss of incentive to develop original brands and services.

Regarding 1), it is appropriate to leave the decision to users after sufficient explanation. Regarding 2), it is not likely to cause a large problem considering the typical user situation in which an amount equivalent to the handset cost is discounted monthly from the service cost. Furthermore, the cash back amounts at the time of purchase have become excessive, creating an unfair situation between longterm customers and frequent switchers and becoming a problem for fair competition. The removal of SIM locks is expected to result in restraint regarding these promotions. Regarding strategies for original branding (3), rather than using SIM locks to forcibly retain customers, it is preferable to develop and provide services that take maximum advantage of a handset's appeal.

Thus, the above concerns do not constitute proper and reasonable grounds to continue SIM locking. Finally, the traditional problem for unlocking (incompatible frequencies, standards, and specifications) continues to be lesser and lesser of a problem.

Considering the above, MNO's users (including those who have already cancelled service) have called for unlocking handsets, and in the lack of valid justification to the contrary from MNOs, it is necessary to invoke measures to reform current practices under Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 12 of the Telecommunications Business Act to protect the interest of users and foster sound industry development.

Specifics for SIM unlocking

1. Eligible handsets
   
   1. Carriers should in principle remove SIM locks from all handsets.
   2. Refusal to remove SIM locks is limited to cases that would result in unfair competition or excessive hinderance to usage with other carriers. (This applies to specialized devices that pose technical issues, i.e., nonstandard mobile specifications or frequencies and does not include general usage devices such as those commonly known as feature phones, smartphones, tablets, mobile routers, and USB modems)
2. Unlocking process
   
   1. Carriers should whenever possible quickly and simply conduct unlocking through the internet or over the phone at no additional cost. (Alternate means for unlocking at no cost does not preclude the levying of a service charge if in-store unlocking is performed at the customer's request. A service charge may also be levied against customers with no active service contract for in-store unlocking.)
   2. Carriers may make exceptions and add a limited no-unlock period to prevent improper use of unlocked phone and mitigate the risk of loss of subsidized phones
3. Unlocking process should be set in advance and publicly disclosed

Points to note during SIM unlocking

1. Explanation to Users
   At the time of handset sale, SIM unlocking, or conclusion of a service contract, MNOs should make reasonable effort through means such as in-store explanation, pamphlets, or websites to ensure that the user understand the following points in particular.
   
   1. At time of purchase
      
      1. Whether the handset is eligible for unlocking
      2. The conditions and process of unlocking
      3. Which mobile services, applications, etc. will be partially or fully inoperable with another MNO SIM card
      4. The frequency bands supported by the handset
   2. At time of unlocking
      
      1. The conditions and process of unlocking
      2. Which mobile services, applications, etc. will be partially or fully inoperable with another MNO SIM card
      3. How to obtain service or repair for the unlocked handset
   3. At time of contract conclusion
      Which mobile services, applications, etc. will be partially or fully inoperable with another MNO SIM card
2. Clarification of means for inquiry by users of unlocked handsets
   MNOs should consult with handset makers to prepare and clarify a means to perform service on unlocked handsets.
   
3. Confirmation of proper technical certification
   MNOs should make efforts to confirm that uncertified phones are not used on their network.

Others

Because it is desirable that unlocked handsets are as fully functional as possible, appropriate effort should be made to remove together with the SIM lock any additional restrictions on functionality that were set by the MNO.

Implementation of these guidelines

1. These guidelines will be applied to new devices brought to market after May 5, 2015. It is further appropriate to suitably apply the pre-2014 guidelines to previously announced handsets.
2. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will reevaluate these guidelines as necessary following based on the situation following implementation.

An alternate view on the effects of compulsory SIM unlocking

Well, It’s official. Sōmusho, The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), will oblige domestic carriers to remove the restrictions preventing the devices they sell from operating with another carrier’s SIM card. The requirement will go into effect sometime during the next fiscal year, which starts from April 2015.

I’ve already made clear what I think will happen, and I can sum it up with one word: NOTHING. I don't fully understand what the MIC realistically can and (more importantly) will do to carriers that fail to comply, and everything that I have seen so far indicates that the MIC is narrowly focusing on the just the SIM card.

The MIC is trying to change the status quo of an entire industry, and I'm not convinced that industry will just happily comply. There are a ton of alternate ways to cripple devices to prevent reasonable exchange between carriers, while still abiding by obligatory SIM unlocking guidelines. This should not be news to the MIC – Docomo does it right now (device-side locked tethering APNs, network-side IMEI filters on data connections, carrier mail that only works with docomo phones).

And let's also not forget that, when forced through arbitration with the MIC to create transparent MVNO guidelines, NTT docomo began employing allegedly fuzzy math, putting MVNOs that use the open route at a financial disadvantage to MVNOs who strike closed-door, old fashioned deals with docomo. (Is it really a coincidence that MVNOs with closed-door contracts appear to have have lower latency and faster speeds?)

An Alternate View

This morning I read this post by Juggly (that's the name of his site but also what I call him), in which he describes what he thinks will be the result. In summary, his opinion is the exact opposite of mine. Juggly has consistently been a good source of information, which has (apparently) caused him some trouble.

I value Juggly's opinion, so below I'll layout the gist of Juggly's post. I am interested to hear your thoughts on where this is going. Basically, this sounds good if you're the type of person likely to buy a phone at a reasonable retail price with no subsidy. If you rely on carrier subsidies, this is probably bad news for you.

• Rather than focus on locking their stuff down in an attempt to keep customers tied to their networks, carriers will open things up in an attempt to lure customers away from rival carriers.
• This would be done revamping current services like carrier mail to work on any phone, not just on carrier-branded devices, which is basically the case now.
• A lot of handset sales will eventually come to be through separate retailers. These will be unlocked and ready to go on any domestic carrier (i.e., the original Nexus sales model).
• International makers will eventually come to sell phones officially in Japan, reducing costs of handsets traditionally only available in the gray market.

Can the MIC really "oblige" Japanese carriers to unlock phones?

The Jiji Press is reporting that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is going to “oblige” carriers to remove SIM locks on handsets. How, exactly, the MIC plans to do this is a mystery to me. The MIC issues “guidelines” that the carriers are supposed to follow but don’t really have to.

Here is an excerpt from the shorther Japanese version of the article because the English version is only hosted in a place to which I no longer link.

総務省は２７日、携帯電話会社が販売した端末を他社回線で使えないように制限する「ＳＩＭロック」を原則、解除させる方針を固めた。ＳＩＭロック解除は、２０１０年６月に指針が示されたが、義務化が見送られたため、大きくは進んでいない。このため、総務省は指針の抜本的な見直しが必要と判断した。

On the 27th, the MIC decided to strengthen guidelines requiring the removal of SIM locks that prevent handsets sold by mobile carriers to be used on different networks. Unlocking guidelines were set in June 2010, but there has been little change because the MIC put off making them compulsory. As a result, the MIC has determined that it must radically review current guidelines

The article goes on to say that the MIC plans to convene a panel of experts from the 30th to devise a detailed strategy by the end of the current fiscal year (next March).

The English version goes on to talk about separation of subsidy and service cost:

In Japan, by contrast, the major carriers put SIM locks on their most popular handsets and offer sizable discounts on them to lure new subscribers. Smartphone users whose Internet use is limited and long-time subscribers are both upset about the expensive monthly rates being used to finance such discounts.

Thing is, the MIC has already obliged carriers to separate hardware discounts from monthly fees. Those of you who have been in Japan for a number of years should clearly remember the hoopla surrounding the death of the zero-yen keitai that this was supposed to cause, and when SIM unlocking was first debated, Softbank used the impact on handset sales as justification for keeping SIM locks.

The Gloom and Doom cometh!

So carriers are supposed to separate subisdy costs from service costs but consumers complain that they don’t do this. There’s always wiggle room for the carriers. This time, imagine that somehow the MIC manages to make carriers unlock all phones. In response, they’ll just lock down the APNs like Apple does with the majority of their iPhones, making it nearly impossible (without hacking and warranty voiding) to get a data connection on another carrier. Docomo already cripples tethering in this exact way when their unlocked phones are used with any other provider, even with MVNOs using Docomo’s network.

The reason why unlocking your docomo phone costs 3000 yen(?)

UPDATE: In both the comments and on a google plus thread, several people have confirmed that docomo is not using a new SIM each time the unlock a phone. The shop I went to had probably just never done it before, so they had to bring out a brand new SIM.

A docomo "special" unlocking SIM

The current price with tax to unlock a docomo phone is ¥3,150, which is also what docomo charges for new SIM cards. Whether it be from an MVNO or straight from docomo, when you receive a new SIM card, docomo gets ¥3,150.

Could it be that each one of these "special SIMs" (which are nothing more than a SIM card that doesn't have an MCC and MNC equal to 44010) are single use?

As you can see from the photo I snapped during the long and grueling process, that is a fullsize SIM with a micro-sized perforation. It's never been used. And being from docomo, it's the equivalent of ¥3,150.

Of course it costs almost nothing to stamp out these SIM cards, so if they are single usage, it would likely be just a means of justifying the cost. Unlocking consumes a SIM card, and the price of a SIM card is ¥ 3000 + tax. But what a waste.

Now, it is entirely possible that this particular shop had never actually unlocked a phone before, and that's why this SIM had never been used. Based on my experience, this is indeed a possibility. It took forever because more time was spent reading the manual than actually unlocking my phone. I was explained that unlocking could result in a full data loss (whatever). Halfway through the procedure, I was given a list of disclaimers for using an unlocked phone on docomo's network, which was exactly NOT what we were there to do. Several discussions and meetings were required.

One thing is for sure: it was the first time any of them had seen an encrypted phone.

Following one of these confabs, which took place out of sight in the back, they actually began to unlock the phone. For about 10 minutes I estimate, they repeatedly tried to key in the IMEI-based unlock code into the storage decryption field, making as one would expect, zero progress. They finally came back to me and said that an unexpected screen was being displayed and they didn't know how to proceed.

It's a good thing there's not a limit to failed password attempts during decryption :)

Needless to say, I was shocked that they didn't grasp that the phone was encrypted and they needed to enter the passcode before it would boot, especially since it clearly states in Japanese that ストレージを復号化するパスワードを入力してください。 (Please enter the decryption password.)

What has been your experience with unlocking docomo phones. Has anyone else seen a fullsize, unused SIM? I wonder if they are supposed to pop the SIM out where the customer can't see?

Unlocked iPhone 5S and 5C on sale in Japanese Apple store

UPDATE: per a comment, the possibility has been raised that, even though this phone is unsubsidized and unconnected to any carrier, the settings may still cause problems with tethering on MVNOs. The XML preference file defining an APN has an option to set whether it allows tethering, and it could be possible that there is no way (without hacking the phone) to allow tethering with an MVNO.

If so, sorry iPhone lovers, but this is a total defect in iOS.

Well, that's a surprise.

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C store pages are here.

You can take this to any Japanese mobile carrier and theoretically use it, but KDDI doesn't sell just SIM cards for unlocked phones, Softbank won't sell LTE SIM cards, and emobile doesn't have nano SIMs (so you'll need to chop down the SIM card). NTT Docomo will sell you a SIM card for this no problem, but you won't be able to get a docomo email address because sp mode can't be used with phones not sold from docomo.

I'd suggest to get the b-mobile "Free Data" SIM, which went on sale just today. Nice timing.

I turned out to be wrong that the docomo iPhone was locked out of MVNOs, but it cannot be used to tether with an MVNO (because the utility for creating the Carrier Profile won't allow an APN to be set for tethering). So, this unlocked one is the best way to get full iPhone functionality with an MVNO. The FAQ says that unlocked iPhone can do tethering.

Shipping times are showing one to two weeks for all colors and sizes, and the price ranges from ¥71,800 to ¥91,800.

As far as models go... I don't know which one is best. I guess it depends on where you tend to travel. Just don't get the CDMA versions.

Confirm which overseas carriers are compatible with Docomo smartphones

Frequency Bands and carriers supported by Docomo Xperia A SO-04E in the Philippines

Using Docomo’s international roaming site, world wing, you can confirm which carriers supports your phone’s 3G frequency bands. If you have your phone unlocked, you can just get a SIM card directly from that particular carrier. Docomo's information is only in Japanese, but all you need to know is the name of the country in katakana and the model number of your phone.

As long as you’re not visiting North America, getting a fast data connection with an unlocked Japanese smartphone should be no problem. This is because Japan’s primary 3G band, UMTS Band 1 (aka 2100 MHz or “IMT”) is pretty much the world standard. If I take my Docomo Xperia A (SO-04E) to the  Philippines, India, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, China, South Africa, or Brazil, my phone is compatible with at least one 3G network. While LTE would be nice, there are few phones compatible across multiple carriers - 3G is more than sufficient.

The problem comes when visiting North America, where spectrum is allocated differently than the rest of the world. There are no compatible 3G networks in Canada, the US, or Mexico. You may see that “3G 850 Mhz” is listed as a 3G option for some carriers, like AT&T in the US, but without support for the “3G” option, you will be stuck with 2.5G (EDGE) or 2G (GPRS) speeds, which are unusable. None of the recent Docomo smartphones compatible with their World Wing international roaming will get a 3G signal in North America. 

Do not pay money for a “3G” connection in the US with an unlocked Docomo phone. You’ll only get 2G, which is too slow to be useful on a smartphone. Note that the Docomo iPhone 5S/5C is listed as incompatible with North American 3G (PDF)

According to Docomo's information, their iPhone 5 can't be used with 3G while roaming in the US or Canada.
(Docomo is geographically challenged and thinks Mexico is in South America.)

Just how unusable is 2.5G? Allow me to share a recent anecdote.

I keep a Nexus device with a radio optimised for US T-Mobile, which in the past had been the best carrier for brief trips to the US because they offer a $3/day 200 MB 3G package with unlimited voice and SMS. I’ve used this plan all over the US for the past few years. Once 200 MB is exceeded, you are throttled down to 2G speeds (supposedly) for the rest of the day.

On my most recent trip the to US, I discovered that T-Mobile has gotten more aggressive with network management. The throttles would roll over into the next day, such that I spent much of my time with the equivalent of and EDGE data connection. Mail with no attachments gets through just fine, which is about the only good thing I can say about the experience. Most services and webpages simply time out, including google maps. By the end, I had actually switched my plan to the $2/day 2G package because paying the extra buck was just not worth it.

NTT docomo does not prevent unbranded devices from connecting to LTE network

There are now several posts online that describe using the Nexus 7 LTE with various Japanese SIM cards. Unlike the iPhone (and just as I expected) there appear to be no problems getting a connection with an unlocked, unbranded device on docomo's "Xi" LTE network. LTE service, both direct from docomo and through an MNVO, works perfectly.

N7 APN settings (Image source).

Until now, we couldn't rule out a "server-side" origin for the problems that unlocked iPhone 5 users encounter when trying to connect to docomo LTE. This was because, except for those provided by docomo, there were no other LTE devices that supported docomo's primary LTE frequency (Band 1, 2100 MHz). We had two variables (iOS software and docomo servers), and one equation (Apple hardware), which is unsolvable.

We can now safely say that 3rd party devices are not subject to an across-the-board lock out from "Xi" LTE.

Prospects for unlocked iPhone 5S and 5C in Japan

It still remains unclear (due to lack of testing) what will happen when an unlocked iPhone 5S or 5C is brought to Japan. iOS is well known for disabling the ability to easily alter APN settings depending on the SIM card that is inserted. As mentioned in comments on another post, the iPhone Configuration Utility can be used to create configuration files that add new APNs, and this is used by some MVNOs to work around disabled APN settings. However, as I noted earlier, the docomo carrier bundle appears to prevent attaching to 3G and LTE networks with anything other than the sp-mode APN. If this is the case, it could render the configuration utility useless if these same rules are included on unlocked iPhones as well.

The sp-mode APN is filtered by IMEI number on the "server side." Only whitelisted devices (sold by docomo) can connect.

Nexus 7 LTE SIM options

The Shukan Ascii article compares different LTE SIMs in the Nexus 7. I'll briefly translate and summarize the contents in another post when I have more time.

In short, Docomo Xi SIMs work and are recommended by Shukan Ascii. You will need either:

1. a subscription to docomo's Mopera ISP (mopera.net APN) or
2. a contract with a docomo MNVO.

You cannot take a docomo SIM from a normal docomo LTE phone and put it in the Nexus 7. Most all docomo phones now use the sp-mode ISP. The Mopera ISP must be used.

A contract change was also required to get a KDDI SIM to work, but as I suspected, coverage is not the best (though better than expected in the Tokyo metro area). Emobile SIMs are not yet compatible pending a firmware update.

Shukan Ascii weren't able to get the Softbank LTE SIM to work with anything except regular 3G, but they admit they didn't try very hard. I know of at least one person claiming to have softbank LTE and an iPhone SIM card working with Android.

Nexus 7 LTE on sale in Japan

If you access the direct link for the LTE version on the play store, you can add the US version to your cart, and it indicates a 1-2 business days for shipping. However, on the official Japanese Nexus 7 site, it is currently listed as unavailable, though if you choose one of the other versions, you can change that for the LTE version (though the display language switches to English).

North America or European Version

Right now, only the US version is available from the play store in Japan. Both will work in Japan. Neither will grab the NTT Docomo's or KDDI's "800 MHz" bands. This is because there are a ton of bands that are called "800" (even "850" is sometimes called "800").

(Japanese frequency bands)

Docomo's "800" band is Band 19, and KDDI's is Band 18. The EU version supports Band 20, and there is not sufficient overlap on the downlink for this to support Docomo's low frequency (though the uplink does overlap). There is no overlap at all with KDDI at "800 MHz".

So, even though the EU version has "800 MHz" it won't have any benefit in Japan over the US version. This really won't matter at all for Docomo now because they don't seem to have deployed much LTE service on their "800 MHz" band.

North America: LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17
Europe: LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 20

(To display the above information from the official Japanese Nexus 7 site, click 技術仕様, then スペック情報を表示)

Recommended to avoid KDDI

I stand by my earlier claim that the Nexus 7 will suck on KDDI for the immediate future. There are currently problems with Verizon in the US, another CDMA-2000 carrier, who just like KDDI, has rolled out an LTE network. However, the reason for the Verizon suckage is totally different from the reason why KDDI will suck.

[LTE is an evolution of W-CDMA which is in turn an evolution of GSM. CDMA-2000 is based on CDMA. W-CDMA and CDMA-2000 are both "3G" and they are totally different and incompatible technologies.]

Verizon has the proper network to support the Nexus 7, but they refuse to do so, citing the inability to activate a line of service for the device because it lacks a CDMA-2000 radio. If this is true, it's just temporary and mainly an excuse. At activation, the clerk fills out a form on a computer. There is a field for the CDMA radio ID, and if that field is blank, then the the form can't be submitted. Easy to fix — update the activation system.

There are two reasons to avoid KDDI with the Nexus 7 LTE:

1. No CDMA-2000 radio in the Nexus 7 LTE, so the device can't fallback to "3G" when LTE is unavailable, which will be...
2. All the damn time because KDDI's supported LTE network uses Band 1 (2100 MHz), and they recently got busted misrepresenting the coverage, stating Band 1 covered almost everyone when it in fact covered almost nobody at all.

Problem 1 above will remain until Problem 2 is fixed. I'm sure KDDI is building out the Band 1 network as fast as possible. The issue with Verizon just shows how difficult it can be to deal with a CDMA carrier, some of which don't even have RUIM cards.

Nexus 7 as an indicator of unlocked iPhone 5S/C performance with a Docomo Xi SIM

The iPhone 5 technically supported Docomo's Xi network (Band 1, 2100 MHz), but it never really worked. Using an unlocked device with a Docomo contract requires using Mopera as the ISP, as opposed to sp-mode. There has been speculation whether the problems with the Mopera APN were purposely caused by Docomo, Apple, or both.

I think there should be no problems with the iPhone 5S or 5C with a Docomo contract and Mopera as the ISP. I'd speculate that an Apple carrier.plist preference file was denying a connection to Xi with a Docomo (44010) SIM. I could be wrong.

If you can bring an unlocked Nexus 7 LTE to Docomo and use the Mopera ISP with no problems, then it shows that the Docomo is NOT actively preventing non-branded devices from accessing the Xi network.

Nikkei: Docomo will NOT unlock iPhone

Yup, as we were beginning to expect, Docomo's push for the unlocking of cell phones to allow the switching of SIM cards between carriers was what we thought it was originally: A lame attempt to get the iPhone. After having gone on record and saying they'd unlock all their phones, now that they have the iPhone, it appears that they are not going to unlock it.

From the Nikkei:

ＮＴＴドコモが、20日に発売する米アップルの最新型スマートフォン（スマホ）「ｉＰｈｏｎｅ５ｓ」「同５ｃ」に対して特定の通信会社に利用を限定する「ＳＩＭロック」をかけることが明らかになった。同社が既存のスマホ向けに提供中のＳＩＭロックを解除できるサービスについても、ｉＰｈｏｎｅに関しては採用を見送る

It has become clear that the iPhone 5s and 5c will be sold by NTT Docomo with a SIM lock, preventing usage on other carriers. Docomo has decided not to adopt the same SIM unlock service available for it's other smartphones.

It's possible that if there is enough of an uproar, that Docomo could change their mind, but even if that happened, I wouldn't expect it this (fiscal) year.

NTT Docomo apparently undecided on iPhone SIM locking

According to a shukan Ascii post, when asked via a phone interview if the Docomo iPhone can be unlocked just as any Docomo Android phone, a representative stated that "it is undecided at this point".

Perhaps it is, perhaps it's not. Allow me to refresh your memory regarding what Docomo said about SIM locking back during the debate. In an interview with the Yomiuri (that is of course no longer available online), here is what a a Docomo exec had to say (emphasis mine):

Yomiuri: It has been said that the reason for you to unlock SIMs is to bring Softbank's popular iPhone to Docomo.

Kouji Furukawa: I've heard that too, but the first priority is customer convenience and choice. The reason is to follow the MIC's clearly written guidelines. While the iPhone is most certainly selling extremely well now, I don't know if it still will be two to three years later. If we were to release a killer handset that everyone wanted, we would under no circumstances sell it locked to our network.

Well, if Docomo does not allow their iPhone to be unlocked, then it proves what we all new all along. That, contrary to what they maintained publicly, their entire push for SIM unlocking was exclusively about getting the iPhone.

Ishikawa Tsutsumu has indicated on twitter that it may indeed be locked.

Oh, and Docomo also isn't saying whether or not they'll carry the iPad.

A Docomo iPhone could FINALLY disrupt SIM locking in Japan

As far as I see it, the most interesting potential outcome of a Docomo iPhone is enhanced unlocking of phones between Japan's two large W-CDMA carriers, Softbank and Docomo. This will eventually encompass KDDI as Voice over LTE replaces 3G. (KDDI is currently immune to unlocking because they use an incompatible CDMA-2000 network for voice communications.)

Recap: The origins of SIM unlocking in Japan

SIM unlocking (as it's referred to in Japan) started several years ago, following Softbank Mobile's successful introduction of the iPhone 3G. NTT Docomo found itself on the defensive, for the first time ever, and you do have to sympathize just a little with the the arrogant bastards. Survey upon survey told them exactly what people wanted in a phone: mobile payments, water resistance, infrared, solar panels, one seg, pedometers, labyrinthine mazes of menu options, and an eyebrow plucker. The iPhone had none and this, Apple had no experience making phones, and Macs held a dismal share of the PC market in Japan.

And yet the iPhone quickly achieved unprecedented popularity in Japan, prompting Docomo to attempt to sidestep Apple by successfully pushing for the introduction of SIM unlocking guidelines.

(See our coverage of the debate, including an overview plus the opinions of Docomo and E-access, KDDI, and Softbank.)

"Guidelines" as set forth by the the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communications are just that - they are voluntary and not "requirements." However, in practice, telecommunications entities followed them. Up until now. Softbank simply refused to comply with the unlocking guidelines, even following contract completion (and even as they were buying back phones, unlocking them, and reselling them in emerging markets).

And so we fell into a stalemate.

KDDI and E-access (Emobile) are, for various reasons, not relevant to the SIM lock debate; it currently revolves around Docomo and Softbank. Softbank holds the coveted iPhone and no offering from Docomo has proved popular enough to make unlocking an issue to enough consumers. Here's why I think this will change if Docomo sells the iPhone.

Implications of an unlocked Docomo iPhone

Softbank phones are not compatible with the budget data and voice plans offered by MVNOs because Docomo provides the infrastructure. This means that only unlocked phones (or Docomo phones) are compatible. Several years ago, this would not have been an issue, but the MVNO space, led by Japan Communications Inc, has seen substantial growth.

(Comparison of all Japanese MVNOs.)

Many household names such as OCN, Panasonic, and Rakuten have entered the fray, lending legitimacy, in the eyes of the average (non-techy) consumer, to the notion of mobile phone service provided by an entity that is not an actual mobile phone carrier. This results in a higher intrinsic value for a device that works with Docomo versus one that does not (all other things being equal).

If NTT Docomo does indeed carry the iPhone, and if they continue with their tradition of unlocking all their devices, then this would create a large feature disparity between Japanese iPhone carriers. Any discrepancy in value is amplified by the fact that, once you wade through all the fuzzy math to arrive at the out-of-pocket cost of hardware and service, the total cost is almost always the same for similar devices across competing networks.

Recall that previous iPhone feature disparity, with respect to tethering and data caps, left Softbank on the brink of a customer revolt. This was narrowly averted by a yarimasho (aka executive order) from CEO Son. Softbank had no choice but to offer free tethering and ease data caps to match the value offered by KDDI. (Microsoft should have seen a similar reaction coming with the Xbox One versus the PS4.)

Unlocking phones is a slippery slope for carriers. I believe that NTT Docomo will, after making such a stink about unlocking and vowing to unlock all their phones, have no choice but to unlock any iPhone they may sell, just as they currently do for all Android device. If this creates a strong enough feature disparity, Softbank will be forced to follow, and they would lose any justification for keeping their Android devices locked.

win win.

iPhone LTE data with a Docomo nano SIM

Via commenter Willy comes a post purporting to have LTE data working on an iPhone using Docomo's Xi network. The post is in Japanese, so I'll explain below in English. It seems he:

1. Started a contract for Xi with a Docomo nanoSiM (aka nanoUIM) with an factory unlocked iPhone.
2. Turned on data roaming (Not sure why - maybe because DCM is not in carrier.plist?).
3. Set the APN to open.mopera.net.
4. Used iTunes to restore the 6.0.1 firmware, downloadable from here:
   http://appldnld.apple.com/iOS6/041-8531.20121101.Fvjr6/iPhone5,2_6.0.1_10A525_Restore.ipsw

His carrier version is 13.0. He confirmed that power cycling the phone, yanking (and replacing) the SIM, and turning off roaming didn't affect the ability to connect to LTE. Turning off automatic carrier selection shuts off data, however.

If this works for a Docomo SIM, it should work for a b-mobile SIM. I don't have any idea why simply restoring the firmware would work. As always, do any of this sort of thing at your own risk!

Metropolitan police: Softbank trade-in program may violate law

Update: Gigazine is reporting that Softbank has changed the procedure and is in the clear.

Softbank Mobile graphic depicting the dangers of phone unlocking

The softbank trade-in program seemed wrong to me when first announced. I personally didn't like it because Softbank refuses to comply with government guidelines for unlocking customer phones but has no problem unlocking them to sell overseas. On top of that, Softank argued against unlocking by saying that it would result in a rash of phones being sent overseas (albeit due to theft).

Now, it seems that there may actually be problems. The Yomiuri is reporting that the Tokyo police have advised Softbank to suspend the program. The law requires that permission be obtained from the regulating prefectural office before beginning a program for selling used goods. Softbank hasn't done that but is running the program in all 47 prefectures.

Of course the "yarimashou" attitude of Son is admirable, but you really get the impression that he's just flying Softbank on a wing and a prayer. There's obviously a lack of advanced planning. Son hastily announces a tethering program that their Chief Technology Officer says their network cannot support, and then announces this buy-back offer. Had more time been taken, they would have realized the legal requirements and easily had complied by the launch of the iPhone 5.