To make buying a mobile phone even more complicated, each cellular phone, PHS or pager provider offers a different pricing system. Jeffrey Strain looks at what's on offer.


Cellular telephones
Cellular phones, or keitai, (unlike PHS phones) have the advantage of being usable virtually everywhere you travel in Japan. Cellular phone charges vary from company to company, although sign up fees have now all but disappeared. Contract processing fees will generally cost about JY3000. The standard monthly fee depends on the phone plan you choose and ranges from JY2100 to JY4900. Most companies offer discounts for contracts over a year long. International calls can be made by registering with KDD, IDC or ITJ (see below).

Cellular phone rates are still significantly higher than standard phone rates, although they vary widely depending on the company and the time of the call. A rate of JY30 to JY40 a minute from NTT DoCoMo for a standard cellular phone call gives a general idea of where rates currently stand. The newest keitai start in the JY20,000 range. Older models can be bought at less expensive prices and some for as little as JY1.

PHS telephones
Personal handy system (PHS) phones are basically a scaled down version of a cellular phone. These were once extremely popular because their cost structure was significantly less than that of cellular phones. Over recent years, however, keitai costs have declined steeply, closing this cost difference. The result has been a decrease in PHS subscribers as more people choose keitai.

A PHS phone's main difference with a cellular phone has in the past been its major disadvantage. PHS phone calls can only be made and received within 50 to 150 meters of a regular PHS antenna and 500 meters of a larger, new model antenna. If you're not near an antenna, you can't make a call. This was a serious problem until recently. Now PHS is fighting back with competitive rates, excellent reception and dynamic phones. For those who do most of their calling in a localized area, PHS phones are a viable option to cellular phones. PHS antennas continue to sprout up all over, including inside subway and train stations.

PHS fees vary from company to company. The monthly service fee is approximately JY2500 and pager service may cost extra. PHS rates are now similar to cellular phone rates at approximately JY40 a minute for a local phone call.

International calls
In order to be able to make international calls from your PHS or cellular phone, you must first register with one of the Japanese long distance carriers. Registration is free and you can call KDD (0120-786-001), IDC (0120-03-0061) or ITJ (0120-87-0041) in Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog or Thai as well as English and Japanese. You are not required to make a deposit if you pay your charges through your credit card. Otherwise a deposit will determine the monthly maximum you can spend on international calls using your mobile phone. For example, the minimum deposit of JY10,000 allows for up to JY20,000 in international calls each month. Your deposit will be refunded at the end of two years or when you terminate your long distance contract.

Reprinted by permission of Kansai Time Out.