Hey everyone, I’m paying over 100$ a month with a last minute contract I made with AU when I first got here. However, I’m passed the contract time, so I want to switch. I want a 20-30gb voice/data plan Additionally, is it possible to keep my phone number when switching?
Thanks for the help everyone!
8 comments
Most MVNOs will be around a quarter of that
Don’t usually recommend Rakuten. But after giving it a try for the last 2 months, I can honestly suggest it. Especially with the new plan they are starting next month where you have unlimited roaming on au network if there aren’t any Rakuten towers near by.
if you’re happy with au network coverage just switch to their povo 2.0 plan? and you can use MNP to keep the number.
I have ahamo (docomo) and have been pretty happy with it.
Even if you had a contract on AU, you can switch to povo at any time.
1.0 if you use a lot of data, 2.0 if you never use your phone.
I’m incredibly curious how you managed to get a 14,000 yen a month bill for cell service on AU though! It seems almost impossible no matter what options I pick??
If you transfer using MNP most service providers give discounts and cashbacks. Last year, I transfer to docomo from AU using MNP, I was able to buy iPhone SE for 1200yen. Sometimes they also give cashbacks.
MNP means transferring using the same number.
Okay so here is what I do, it might not be great for everyone.
1. I have OCN mobile one. The plan I have is for 100MB per day, with voice and SMS, for 1200 jpy per month.
That’s fine for line, Google talk, web browsing, and a little bit of YouTube.
For a charge of like 350 you can add another SIM card, so I have another card for my work phone, another one for my banking phone (don’t ask…) And I’ve got my GPS. Altogether like 2500 per month after taxes and all that.
I bought my phone directly from Sony, so sim lock, no bloatware, and none of the “support” stuff. I pay Sony like 5000 per month until it is paid off, but the phone is super high spec and I plan to keep it for at least 5 years. (The direct models are higher spec than the carrier models even though the prices are similar).
I also have a UQ Wimax 5g router so I can use my laptop out and about. That is like 5500 per month all in, and unlimited data for practical purposes. (There is a limit of 15gb per 3 days, but the consequence of exceeding the limit is that they will throttle you too 1mbps during rush hour the following day. 1mbps is still completely usable, even for streaming video).
Obviously I can use the router with my phone too, so I carry it if I think I might really heavily use data for some reason.
Given that I have wifi at home and work, there’s not much reason for 100mb per day not to be enough though.
Besides OCN, there is Sony nuro mobile and a host of others. Both OCN and nuro mobile use Docomo’s network. There are other providers that use Au or even let you choose.
Whatever you do. Do not change to UQ. Sucks ass. I would change but I’m just lazy.