JLG: SMS finally became useful in Japan
INTER-CARRIER SMS SERVICE LAUNCHED AMONG MAJOR CARRIERS
Starting on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, NTT Docomo, Softbank Mobile, au and E-mobile started inter-carrier SMS services. You can now send a SMS message to your friend who are using different carrier in Japan.
In Japan, people quickly adopted using email to exchange the short messages, such as i-mode, decoration email.
However, the people needed to know other party's email address in order to send. On the other hand, SMS only need to know the mobile (Ktai) number in order to send a text message.
Previously, SMS was only available within the same Japanese carriers (NTT and Softbank could send international SMS). Now people can freely exchange a SMS message between Japanese carriers but it does cost a few yen per message.
The following is the pricing of sending a SMS message to another carrier.
DISCLAIMER: The pricing and the system may change
NTT Docomo
| Service Name: | ショートメッセージサービス (SMS) |
| Domestic Send: *1 | 3.15 yen / msg |
| Domestic Send: *2 (International Roaming) |
100 yen / msg |
| International Send: *3 | 50 yen / msg |
| Receive: | Free |
| Number of character: | 160 latin characters (Hankaku) or 70 Japanese characters (Zenkaku) |
*1 - Send a SMS message to other Japanese carrier from Japan
*2 - Send a SMS message to other Japanese carrier from outside Japan
*3 - Send a international SMS message from Japan to other carrier outside Japan
Softbank Mobile
| Service Name: | SMS |
| Domestic Send: *1 | 3.15 yen / msg |
| Domestic Send: *2 (International Roaming) |
100 yen / msg |
| International Send: *3 | 100 yen / msg |
| Receive: | Free |
| Number of character: | 140 latin characters (Hankaku) or 70 Japanese characters (Zenkaku) |
au
| Service Name: | C Mail (Cメール) |
| Domestic Send: *1 | 3.15 yen / msg |
| Domestic Send: *2 (International Roaming) |
100 yen / msg |
| International Send: *3 | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Receive: | Free |
| Number of character: | 100 latin characters (Hankaku) or 50 Japanese characters (Zenkaku) * Latest models (June 2011 or later) may be able to send 160 characters or 70 Japanese characters after firmware update |
E-Mobile
| Service Name: | SMS |
| Send Domestic: *1 | 2.1 yen / msg |
| Send Domestic *2 (International Roaming) |
50 yen / msg |
| Send International: *3 | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Receive: | Free |
| Number of character: | 160 latin characters (Hankaku) or 70 Japanese characters (Zenkaku) |
Katz Ueno
As the Editor-in-chief & Producer of YokosoNews, Katz wants to show Japan to the rest of the world. Read more »
