Japanese iPhone - different hardware so no jailbreak/unlock/tether?

[purple]

I am about to buy an iPhone but would like to clarify the situation here before making the purchase.

A number of people have told me that Japanese iPhones have some different hardware which means that many of the advantages of jailbreaking can't fully work on them.

I would really appreciate some help/advice/answers to any of the following:

1. Of course most of the time I'll be happy to use Softbank, but I occasionally travel overseas and would like to use the phone when in Australia, the UK and Asia. I have been reading that by Jailbreaking and installing Ultrasn0W this will allow an iPhone to be unlocked. Does anybody know if this strategy will work for a Japanese iPhone so I could use local sim cards when travelling?

2. All Japanese phones have the shutter sound switched permanently on while taking photos, something I really hate. Will jailbreaking allow me to turn this sound off?

3. Similarly for tethering - are Japanese iPhones similar to those from other countries in that I will be able to tether to my MacBook Air after jailbreaking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Shakes Spear]

I am about to buy an iPhone but would like to clarify the situation here before making the purchase.

A number of people have told me that Japanese iPhones have some different hardware which means that many of the advantages of jailbreaking can't fully work on them.

I would really appreciate some help/advice/answers to any of the following:

1. Of course most of the time I'll be happy to use Softbank, but I occasionally travel overseas and would like to use the phone when in Australia, the UK and Asia. I have been reading that by Jailbreaking and installing Ultrasn0W this will allow an iPhone to be unlocked. Does anybody know if this strategy will work for a Japanese iPhone so I could use local sim cards when travelling?

2. All Japanese phones have the shutter sound switched permanently on while taking photos, something I really hate. Will jailbreaking allow me to turn this sound off?

3. Similarly for tethering - are Japanese iPhones similar to those from other countries in that I will be able to tether to my MacBook Air after jailbreaking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

[society mike]

^^ Really? Yes to all 3?
My friend just tried different SIM and it won't work, he had to get the thin film thing that goes on the SIM to get it to work on US carrier.
I tried tether with my wifes iphone4 and it won't work. Jailbreak on it doesn't fully work either.


OP, you could just get an Android phone through Softbank (DesireHD) and unlock/root everything yourself super easily. NO camera sound, tethering out of the box, etc.

There are threads on this subject already anyway with all your questions answered, search.

[Shakes Spear]

^^ Really? Yes to all 3?
My friend just tried different SIM and it won't work, he had to get the thin film thing that goes on the SIM to get it to work on US carrier.
I tried tether with my wifes iphone4 and it won't work. Jailbreak on it doesn't fully work either.


OP, you could just get an Android phone through Softbank (DesireHD) and unlock/root everything yourself super easily. NO camera sound, tethering out of the box, etc.

There are threads on this subject already anyway with all your questions answered, search.

Well, there's no hardware difference between the J-version and any other, so the unlock should work fine, although I've never done it myself.
I use MyWiFi for tethering and it works fine. I also have the latest jailbreak which also works fine.
Mind you, I'm not saying the iPhone is best. To be honest, I'd rather have an Android phone as I am a big Google fan, but I'm very satisfied as is and I have a large number of invaluable apps.

[purple]

Very happy to hear your replies - and to know these functions will work. Thanks for the comments.

I looked at Android phones too but to be honest there are far too many ways they don't meet my needs. Yes, tethering is easy and it does have some excellent functions etc. but I don't like any of the handsets available, the OS leaves a lot to be desired, and to synch with my Mac isn't so easy. I know it's perfect for some, but just not my cuppa tea.

I'm a Google fan too, but given my workflow is all on Mac the iPhone works better for me.

[Shakes Spear]

Very happy to hear your replies - and to know these functions will work. Thanks for the comments.

I looked at Android phones too but to be honest there are far too many ways they don't meet my needs. Yes, tethering is easy and it does have some excellent functions etc. but I don't like any of the handsets available, the OS leaves a lot to be desired, and to synch with my Mac isn't so easy. I know it's perfect for some, but just not my cuppa tea.

I'm a Google fan too, but given my workflow is all on Mac the iPhone works better for me.

If you can't get the unlock to work properly you still have a couple of options.
Provided you can find WiFi (and that's a big if in the States), you can use Skype for all of your calling needs, including video.
If you can't find WiFi and you MUST get online, SoftBank offers an international 'packet full' plan for about $15/day.
Not cheap, but as I said, if you've gotta have it it's there.There are details about it on their site.

[purple]

If you can't get the unlock to work properly you still have a couple of options.
Provided you can find WiFi (and that's a big if in the States), you can use Skype for all of your calling needs, including video.
If you can't find WiFi and you MUST get online, SoftBank offers an international 'packet full' plan for about $15/day.
Not cheap, but as I said, if you've gotta have it it's there.There are details about it on their site.

Yes, I'm wanting to have local calls and tethering wherever I go. Softbank's $15/day is unacceptably expensive - if I'll be travelling for a month, it would be cheaper to buy another iPhone in the country I travel to!
I guess that might be a possible last resort - a second phone for my travel needs - but the necessity of such action really would be stupid and annoying. As was pointed out, it's not a technical issue as both iPhones and Android phones have the capability. This would just be a blatant example of the Japanese iPhone being deliberately crippled by Softbank.

[mr.sumo.snr]

When I had to visit the UK twice in February I picked up a Huawei E585 MiFi device on a PAYG plan with 3 UK. it worked perfectly with my Jpn iPhone giving me wireless access anywhere - good enough for Skype calls in fact. It cost 70 UKP and came with 3Gb of data pre-loaded. When I next visit I'll just top it up. It also worked perfectly with my Lenovo mini-note. Coolest feature was being able to tag my parked car's location on Google maps then wander round Bath, Salisbury and Oxford without having to waste time remembering my way back to the car.

For calls in the UK I just stop at the first Tescos after I land and pick up whatever T-Mobile telephone they have available for 30 quid or less (T-Mobile gives me the best signal in my mother's very rural location).


--

[Shakes Spear]

Yes, I'm wanting to have local calls and tethering wherever I go. Softbank's $15/day is unacceptably expensive - if I'll be travelling for a month, it would be cheaper to buy another iPhone in the country I travel to!
I guess that might be a possible last resort - a second phone for my travel needs - but the necessity of such action really would be stupid and annoying. As was pointed out, it's not a technical issue as both iPhones and Android phones have the capability. This would just be a blatant example of the Japanese iPhone being deliberately crippled by Softbank.

You can add AT&T and Verizon to your "blatant example" list as well.
There are countries that sell unlocked phones and if having one is imperative due to extended travel, you may want to consider purchasing one of those.

[purple]

You can add AT&T and Verizon to your "blatant example" list as well.
There are countries that sell unlocked phones and if having one is imperative due to extended travel, you may want to consider purchasing one of those.

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear with my point. I wasn't meaning to suggest Softbank were the only such example but rather that they're very tight - a single network with a single data plan, not being allowed to get a sim from Softbank for an unlocked UK phone, no pay-as-you-go options, not being able to buy an unlocked phone, no tethering etc. If every smartphone had similar limitations in Japan it would be easy to accept, but given the point that Andriod phones have many of these features available, it seems Softbank are particularly restrictive in their iPhone terms.

When I had to visit the UK twice in February I picked up a Huawei E585 MiFi device on a PAYG plan with 3 UK. it worked perfectly with my Jpn iPhone giving me wireless access anywhere - good enough for Skype calls in fact. It cost 70 UKP and came with 3Gb of data pre-loaded. When I next visit I'll just top it up. It also worked perfectly with my Lenovo mini-note. Coolest feature was being able to tag my parked car's location on Google maps then wander round Bath, Salisbury and Oxford without having to waste time remembering my way back to the car.

For calls in the UK I just stop at the first Tescos after I land and pick up whatever T-Mobile telephone they have available for 30 quid or less (T-Mobile gives me the best signal in my mother's very rural location).
--

That wireless option sounds really useful. Thanks for the info. For a bit of web browsing/blogging/email 3GB should last a long time.
I have one of those cheap T-Mobiles from my last visit with a pay-as-you-go option so for calls that'll do.

[sansam]

Hi all...When i travel overseas i got unlocked my i phone through online unlock service provider...My i phone is precious to me..So that i unlock it from this http://www.mobile-unlocker.com/unloc...-phone/rs2wp2/ nice and reliable service provider ....Also it was working well for a long time without causing any problem...Hope its helpful to all our whom they need to unlock their phones....

[Shakes Spear]

Hi all...When i travel overseas i got unlocked my i phone through online unlock service provider...My i phone is precious to me..So that i unlock it from this http://www.mobile-unlocker.com/unloc...-phone/rs2wp2/ nice and reliable service provider ....Also it was working well for a long time without causing any problem...Hope its helpful to all our whom they need to unlock their phones....

Thanks for you tell to me so reliable and good service provider! i also my i phone too precious to me. I working well for long time too!

[Trichophyton-in-my-pants]

I heard a rumor that the newest iPhone models in Japan are not jailbreakable. Does anyone has experience/info on this? The older models are a piece of cake.

[edin日本]

Very happy to hear your replies - and to know these functions will work. Thanks for the comments.

I looked at Android phones too but to be honest there are far too many ways they don't meet my needs. Yes, tethering is easy and it does have some excellent functions etc. but I don't like any of the handsets available, the OS leaves a lot to be desired, and to synch with my Mac isn't so easy. I know it's perfect for some, but just not my cuppa tea.

I'm a Google fan too, but given my workflow is all on Mac the iPhone works better for me.

You do know that iOS will run on several of the most popular Android phones?

Why not choose the Android phone you like and get a jailbroken version of iOS for it?

[Shakes Spear]

I heard a rumor that the newest iPhone models in Japan are not jailbreakable. Does anyone has experience/info on this? The older models are a piece of cake.

Not sure what you mean by newest. I'm running 4.3.3 jailbroken with no problems whatsoever.
Can't speak for what iOS5 will offer in the way of a deterrent, but I'm guessing it won't take more than a few hours for it to be cracked as well.

[Shakes Spear]

Very happy to hear your replies - and to know these functions will work. Thanks for the comments.

I looked at Android phones too but to be honest there are far too many ways they don't meet my needs. Yes, tethering is easy and it does have some excellent functions etc. but I don't like any of the handsets available, the OS leaves a lot to be desired, and to synch with my Mac isn't so easy. I know it's perfect for some, but just not my cuppa tea.

I'm a Google fan too, but given my workflow is all on Mac the iPhone works better for me.

As evilone posted on another thread, the new Galaxy S II is looking sweeeet!!
If I wasn't committed to my iPhone (and happy too) I'd be all over that!