Understanding WiFi/3G in Japan

[Robert Seltman]

I never moved over to the iPhone so I have never understood the difference between WiFi and 3G.
I am considering buying an iPad and need to understand the merits of both models.
With WiFi I can use public access areas free, coffee shops, universities, hotels, as long as I have the appropriate password or if no passport is required. Is that correct?
With WiFi + 3G I can access these public access places plus also access my own web access account, Correct?
Is there some connect charge or would I have an unlimited access anywhere in Japan?

If I take my WiFi device to the USA or other country could I still use that country's WiFi access points? Could I buy a temporary 3G account with ATT while visiting the USA?

If someone has seen a good explanation of all this for Japanese customers who sometimes travel, I'd appreciate the link.

TIA

[Richard/Awaji]

Hi Robert,

3G means that it is connected to a cellular network. Internet access everywhere without having to find a WiFi spot. So for the iPhone, e.g., you pay a monthly bill to Softbank of 5,700 yen, even if you don't use the voice aspect of the phone. The iPad's 3G contract price has not been announced yet. I suppose it will be cheaper than the iPhone, but at the moment it doesn't have GPS, a very handy feature of the iPhone.

WiFi access is the same as for any computer. If it's a free WiFi spot, you don't need a password. If it belongs to a subscription service or private user who sets a password, you have to have the password, which would mean subscribing or being privy to the password.

If you take an overseas iPad to the U.S., of course you can use WiFi spots there or anywhere in the world. I can't say about being able to buy a SIM card from AT&T or whatever -- don't know if the iPad sold in Japan will be sold unlocked to allow it.

[Robert Seltman]

Thank You Richard,
I am starting to get a mental picture about the scope of both iPad products. While there is an in house WiFi system in every university (I work in four different ones each week), they require a password, which in some schools changes every year requiring in  some cases a considerable amount of paperwork. So the 3G and monthly fee seems best. So, just to be clear, there is only one blanket fee for 3G internet access no matter how many times you use it?

Thanks again.

[Richard/Awaji]

WiFi is usually preferable to 3G because it's faster.

If the universities you work at, Robert, have available WiFi, it is likely that it is not going to be a different username and password for each user, but a single password that everyone uses. In which case it should be fairly easy to input once, then the Apple software logs you on automatically thereafter.

I just checked the Softbank pricing plan site: http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/ipad/price_plan/postpaid/
They seem to be offering 2,910 yen/month for a two-year contract, discounted from 4,410 yen/month. Plus 315 yen/month for a "Web fee." That is an unlimited data plan. However much you use you never pay more.
There is a prepaid plan, but with the discount being offered for unlimited, the unlimited plan is recommended.

[Julian Hebbrecht]

I heard that if you take your iPad to the US and use it there you will be charged by Softbank for international usage and that is very expensive it seems. Better check it out what the costs will be if you take it abroad. TheY also told me at the Apple shop that the WiFi iPad can only be used at your own house if you have Airport installed.
II don't know if all this is true though, again better check it out.

[Anne]

I doubt if that is true - when you use WiFi on an iPhone, you can use it at home or anywhere where you have the access username and password, like any computer - why would it be different with the iPad??
Anne

[Julian Hebbrecht]

I don't understand the difference clearly yet.

Does the iPhone and all other cell phones in Japan use WiFi or 3G??

With any cell phone like the iPhone, Docomo, AU or Softbank keitai, you have complete access to the internet, anywhere, anytime, right? But if you take your keitai abroad (provided it will work there) and use it, you'll be charged quite a bit more, I heard, than just using it in Japan.

For your MacBook to have access to the internet, you need to be either connected via a cable at home for instance or be in a free WiFi spot like Starbucks or places like that.

So where does 3G come in then?

[Hound]

Just another question:

With the iPhone 4, you must have WiFi access to use Facetime... but you must initiate the phone call in the normal way (3G), as I understand it.  When you switch to Facetime, it switches to the WiFi network.

So, other than this case with Facetime, how does the phone choose between 3G and WiFi if you are connected to both?


TIA,
-Brian

[Richard/Awaji]

From my experience, since the phone can do 3G and WiFi at the same time, it is programmed to place priority on WiFi. However, if you turn on the phone and it starts to check email, for example, before the WiFi spot is detected, it will check via the Softbank network. Since data plans are unlimited, this doesn't matter much.

Also, by default "overseas data roaming" is turned off.

[Anne]

With an iPhone you can access the internet in 2 ways - firstly, via WiFi, like a computer - a fast method - but you have to have access to a broadband WiFi signal.

OR via the phone system 3G - speed is much more variable, but is this connection is much more available than a WiFi signal for which you know the access name & PW. 

Also (in NZ) the WiFi access upload and download is NOT counted in the "data" you are allowed for free via the phone connection - but any data up or downloaded via 3G is counted towards your monthly allowance of data.

So advantages and disadvantages for both methods.

I hope that helps - and assume it would be the same for an iPad with a Sim card.

Anne

[Julian Hebbrecht]

I was in Yodobashi camera a few days ago and noticed that Softbank has developed some technical gadget that, together with your Softbank iPhone, creates a WiFi environment around you wherever you are so you don't need to look for a Starbucks or other place anymore to use your iPad. Now you can have your portable WiFi cloud around you at all times.

[Hound]

I was in Yodobashi camera a few days ago and noticed that Softbank has developed some technical gadget that, together with your Softbank iPhone, creates a WiFi environment around you wherever you are so you don't need to look for a Starbucks or other place anymore to use your iPad. Now you can have your portable WiFi cloud around you at all times.

So you could use the iPhone's 3G connection to create a WiFi hotspot?  That sounds interesting, Julian.


-Brian

[Julian Hebbrecht]

Yes Brian, that's what it does I understand. Please check it out yourself at Yodobashi camera.
Julian