I may be going to Japan in March and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on keeping costs down for using roaming data services while I'm there. I am pretty sure my phone will work. It is an HTC Aria from AT&T. I mostly want to be able to use Google Maps because I'm going to be functionally illiterate without some assistance. How much data will my Gmail app use? Should I disable certain applications to save on bandwidth usage? How expensive could this really get?


The AT&T website gives me these rates for roaming in Japan.

Quote :

"Roaming: Calls Placed/Received While in Japan AT&T Standard International Roaming $2.29 AT&T World Traveler $1.69 AT&T Canada $2.29 AT&T Mexico $2.29 Data Usage: All GPRS pay per use rates are $.0195/KB, except in Canada rate is $.015/KB Text, Picture and Video Messages: Send Text Message $0.50 per message sent Send Picture and Video Messages $1.30 per message sent Receive Text, Picture and Video Messages Home pay-per-use or package rates apply to all text, picture or video messages received when roaming internationally. Please visit http://www.att.com for details. "

2/10/2011 3:16:18 AM

unlock your phone, buy a japanese prepaid sim when you get there. do not for 1 second consider using data abroad.

2/10/2011 3:20:05 AM

^yep.

To give you an idea, i used google maps for a weekend trip to canada two years ago (also on my iphone). In two days of GPS usage on google maps, I racked up a $120 data bill.

2/10/2011 3:45:55 AM

agree with the above, but if all you really want/need is GPS capabilities, you can buy a decent hackable GPS from craigslist for about $50

i took my tomtom on my honeymoon to italy and switzerland and we used maps downloaded from gpsunderground...better than you'll get on your phone, but it may not be worth the trouble/cost for you (not that's hard)

[/zomgillegality!]

2/10/2011 6:31:54 AM

does anyone have any info on unlocking the HTC Aria and using a pre-paid SIM on it?
this phone has 4 three-point screws that hold the back on

I'm reading on GPSUnderground too

so its fairly easy to hack a GPS then?

2/10/2011 11:49:23 AM

Quote :

"do not for 1 second consider using data abroad."

2/10/2011 12:01:05 PM

^^ both of the tomtom one XLs i "hacked" were pretty easy...i assume garmin is easy, too, but i haven no experience with them

2/10/2011 1:52:19 PM

nicer garmin is NOT easy. encrypted maps

2/10/2011 3:08:14 PM

how about a Garmin nuvi 1100?

2/10/2011 3:59:53 PM

IBT
http://verizonmath.blogspot.com/

2/10/2011 11:08:33 PM

don't rent a softbank SIM - go with any of the other telcos

i'll be in japan march 23-april 5

2/11/2011 8:20:10 AM

Quote :

"nicer garmin is NOT easy. encrypted maps"

good to know...i'm looking to pick up another GPS, and i was pretty much looking for anything that ends up being a good deal...i only have experience with tomtoms and they're crazy easy (if slow due to the retarded USB 1.1)

2/11/2011 10:21:11 AM

i should qualify my comment with the fact that I don't have a garmin meant for turn by turn, but for geocaching. i believe the nuvi line is actually made by another company that garmin just sells the brand to

2/11/2011 11:24:13 AM

via slickdeals, tomtom units found using the link below are 20% off using code DTMCO96N

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=pe_69560_18775550_fe_txt_1/?docId=1000657691

i have the XL 340TM, which is a 4.3" 2gb model that has lifetime maps and traffic (HDTraffic module (power plug with GPRS modem built into it) and it's $84 with the coupon and will load any 1gb or 2gb map

the XXL 540TM world edition is 5" with lifetime WORLD maps and traffic...$176 after coupon, which is probably more than you want to spend, but it wouldn't require any hacking

the 340S (text-to-speech, which you DO want, but no lifetime maps or traffic) refurb is only $67...should be the same hardware...the 540S is only $10 more

[Edited on February 11, 2011 at 1:25 PM. Reason : just got another 340TM for my wife so no more needing to remember to put it in the right car ]

2/11/2011 1:05:33 PM

340 TM best value for money gps!!

2/12/2011 8:59:06 AM

the 540TM is $27 more and comes with a free case...personally, the extra 0.7" isn't worth the extra cost, but just thought i'd throw that out there as the price has come down slightly since i posted the link, and now it comes with a free case

2/12/2011 12:05:07 PM