Free iPhones

Today, I went on a hunt for a new cell phone. My current Verizon Wireless free-with-2-year-contract cell phone has been great. But its $1.62/min international calling rates make it rather hard for Deniz and I to continue our heated collegiate debates on the nutritional value of mochi cakes.

What an exciting opportunity, to be buying a new cell phone in the land of electronics innovation! The 5-story Sony showroom in Tokyo showcases new electronics that won't reach the U.S. for five years. I was thinking a cell phone that transforms into a mini-robot dog that barks my name would be cool. So I started my hunt in the illustrious business district of Yokosuka: Blue Street (yes, it is actually blue). Good choice. Blue Street is packed with shops selling shiny, hypnotic phones from the three phone service providers in the Japan: Softbank, Au, and NTT Docomo.

Spinning around like a stereotypical American girl in a foreign glitter country, I suddenly spotted a sign: "16 GB 3g iPhone, 0 Yen." Now, I may not know how to read Japanese, but it's kind of hard to miss a posterbord sign screaming free electronics. So I took a number and waited in line behind the 10 other salavating Americans ahead of me. It was no joke. They really were giving iPhones away free with two-year service contract. Apparently Apple has not been able to sucessfully compete with the gazillion other Japanese phones on the market. Japanese don't want techie apps; they want high quality pics, texting, and the ability to watch TV on their phone. Sorry Steve Jobs, the Japanese just don't get excited as we do about having a virtual zipper on their phone. Must be a cultural thing.

So I got a free iPhone. I agreed to pay $45/mo for data service, and $20/mo for phone service that allows me to make calls for $0.11/minute anywhere in Japan. Huh? Great deal on the data, but what's up with the calling plan? Au and NTT Docomo offer a couple hundred free minutes before charging you. Not Softbank. Softbank is known for high tech phones and limited to no cell coverage. Well, no matter. Skype calls on my iPhone are free, and like the 10 other homesick Americans in line ahead of me, most of my calling time will probably be spent calling home anyway. Good rationalization, right? Only one problem. You need wifi for Skype, and Japan is a land of locked wifi. I spent the day today wandering around Yokosuka, periodically checking for public wifi. After a long day, finally found it in only one spot..... McDonalds.

So was the iPhone a good choice for a cell phone in Japan? Not sure. I haven't had time to think about it. I'm too busy playing with my virtual transformer dog.

Cell phone trinket in Kamakura