Can I use my cell phone in Japan

[volcs0]

I will start poking around T-mobile's site, but I thought I would get some insight here.

This is my phone:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/Deta...98c1fa73ff



That's not our picture, though. ;-)

I really just want to be able to send my wife text messages while I'm in my conference.
Calling home to the states is less of a concern, since we will probably have email access there.

[microchip13]

No. 100% Different.

[MacMagus]

Japan is notoriously unfriendly to outsiders' cell phones.

Rent one at the airport if you need a cell phone. Otherwise, I suggest using a disposable Gmail account. If you need sMS, you can email messages to a cell phone and they will appear as SMS messages to the recipient.

http://64.233.187.99/search?q=email%20sms&hl=en

Then use any computer at the business center at your hotel or at the conference to send and receive messages.

[volcs0]

Good advice. Thanks.

Been reading about cell phones in Japan - sounds like the airport rental is about $10/day plus per-call charge. No thanks.

I will use the computer for SMS, and my and I will have to keep in touch the old fashioned way.

[voodoopenguin]

A friend has recently come back from a trip to Japan and he kept in contact via his iPod Touch using the many free wifi areas he found. This was email and we are in the UK but it might be a thought.

[MGS_forgot_password]

Back in the 2G days, Japan was incompatible with everybody else.

But now, in this 3G era, they have UMTS service. Unfortunately, they do it on a completely different frequency band.

Back to volcs0's question: the answer is no.