There are several ways to use your smartphone when you go abroad, just like when you are in Japan, but the easiest is the international roaming service provided by each mobile phone company. NTT DoCoMo started offering "Packet Pack Overseas Option" as a new international roaming service for data communication from March 15th. Immediately, I went abroad and checked its usability.
Normally, smartphones can be conveniently used in various situations, but they are even more valuable when going abroad. You can check your current location and route on a map, keep in touch with family and friends in Japan on SNS, and enjoy communication with local people using a translation app.
There are several ways to use your smartphone abroad. For example, the method most people currently use is to rent a mobile Wi-Fi router for overseas. You don't have to make any changes to your smartphone, and you can easily use it by connecting via Wi-Fi. The charge varies depending on the destination, but it can be used for around 1000 yen per day, and it can be used by multiple users, so rent one mobile Wi-Fi router for a trip with a friend. You can also use it like this.
However, when renting a mobile Wi-Fi router for overseas, the departure date and return date are counted in the number of days, and because it is a rental, compensation costs etc. are incurred, so it exceeds 10,000 yen for a trip of about one week. It is not uncommon for them to end up.
Another method is to purchase a prepaid SIM locally, which is often written by writers, including myself, in this magazine's "Minna no Keitai". Prices vary depending on the destination, but in general they are available at the same or slightly cheaper rates as we normally use in Japan.
For example, when I bought it at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, Spain, a package of 4.5GB for 10 euros (about 1350 yen) and 6GB for 20 euros (about 2700 yen) was sold. However, in the case of prepaid SIM, you can not purchase it unless you search for a store that sells it and explain it in English or local language, and you also need to know the charge system of the prepaid SIM of the mobile phone company to some extent. The hurdle is a little high. If it is sold at an airport, you can buy it immediately, but it is not uncommon for you to go out into the city, search for shops of each mobile phone company, and run around for inventory.
At the same time, it is necessary to prepare a smartphone that unlocks the SIM lock, and it is also necessary to consider the compatible band of the mobile phone company at the destination, so it is hard to say that it can be easily used by many people.
On the other hand, the most common and easy-to-use international roaming service provided by each mobile phone company is. Since the start of 3G services, international roaming has gradually become available, and with the exception of some models, most smartphones sold by each mobile phone company can now be used overseas as they are. In particular, since smartphones have become mainstream, the use of data communication has expanded more than voice calls.
However, the international roaming service provided by each mobile phone company has long been said to be expensive, and many users have the image of "international roaming service = high billing".
Initially, the international roaming service provided by each mobile phone company was set at a charge of about 24.4MB (200,000 packets) per day for 1980 yen, and if it exceeded that, a maximum charge of 2980 yen per day was set. It is calculated that it will exceed 20,000 yen for a one-week trip, and in addition to this, because the unit of "1 day" is counted in Japan time, even though I spend only a few hours at the destination, one day In some cases, the amount was charged and the price was even higher.
By the way, this rate setting service is still provided under the service names of "Overseas Pake-hodai" by NTT DoCoMo, "Overseas Double Flat-rate" by au, and "Unlimited Packets Overseas" by Softbank.
In response to this situation, NTT DoCoMo started a service called "Overseas 1day Pake" in December 2013. This service aims to make it easier to use data communication when traveling overseas, and can be used up to 30MB for 24 hours after the start of use. Since the user can decide the start timing for 24 hours, if the destination arrives at midnight, it can be used to start from the next morning. Charges differ depending on the country and region, and three types of charges were set: 980 yen / 1280 yen / 1580 yen per 24 hours.
However, the amount of data communication of 30MB is small, and when it exceeds this, the communication speed is quite slow at 16kbps for both transmission and reception, so some people said that it can only be used at limited timing.
Next up was the "World Data Flat-rate" launched by au in July 2016. The charge is set at 980 yen per 24 hours, and the data communication volume is deducted from the flat-rate data volume contracted in Japan. If you are an au STAR member, you can use it once a month for free, and the authors have repeatedly covered it in "Minna no Keitai" of this magazine. Initially, the service was limited to 32 countries and regions, but since October 2017, it has expanded to more than 150 countries and regions, covering more than 99.9% of au's overseas users.
In response, NTT DoCoMo had a campaign last year to limit the amount of data communication when using overseas 1-day packages in some target areas. Initially, only China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Guam, and Saipan were added, but the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico were added. Needless to say, this is a countermeasure against au's global data flat rate, and it can be said that it was a measure that shows that NTT DoCoMo is preparing a similar service.
Following this trend, NTT DoCoMo's "Packet Pack Overseas Option" is finally being offered. The basic configuration is the same as au's World Data Flat-rate, with a charge of 980 yen per 24 hours, and the amount of data communication is deducted from the amount of data contracted with Packet Pack.
The user can freely decide to start using the service, as in the case of the overseas 1-day package. The number of countries and regions that can be used is 205 from the beginning, and it can be said that it covers most areas where Japanese people travel for travel and business trips.
One thing to note about the Packet Pack overseas option is that you need to apply in advance. You can apply at a docomo shop or by phone, but if you are accustomed to using a smartphone or computer, access "My docomo" and use the docomo online procedure [Confirm / Change Contract Details]-[International Services]-[Packet Pack Overseas Options]. It would be easier to apply at.
Also, when applying for the Packet Pack overseas option, you will be asked to cancel the overseas 1-day package at the same time. With the start of the Packet Pack overseas option, the overseas 1-day package has stopped accepting new applications on March 14, and you cannot re-subscribe after canceling the contract, but the Packet Pack overseas option will be the successor service. Virtually no problem.
By the way, even if you forget to apply and go to your travel destination, you can apply by connecting to the tethering of your companion's terminal or Wi-Fi of the hotel and applying from My docomo. This time, one of the trials on multiple terminals was based on this situation (traveling without applying for the "Packet Pack Overseas Option"), but I was able to apply without any problems.
Also, from March 15th to September 30th, NTT DoCoMo is conducting a campaign in which d points equivalent to once a month will be presented when using the Packet Pack overseas option. It is a countermeasure against au's world data flat-rate au STAR membership benefit (free once a month), but it can be said that it is a nice benefit for first-time users.
After applying for the Packet Pack Overseas Option, download and set up the application used for the Packet Pack Overseas Option. For the packet pack overseas option, use an application called "DOCOMO Overseas Use".
This is the same application as when using "Overseas Pake-hodai", and you can operate by selecting the contracted side from the launched screen. When you start it for the first time, the tutorial screen is displayed, and items that need to be set are displayed. Specifically, just switch [Mobile network]-[Mobile data communication]-[Data roaming] in the terminal to [On]. However, be aware that if you switch data roaming on on a line for which you have not applied for the Packet Pack overseas option, data communication will occur when you travel overseas.
Well, as for the actual operation, as mentioned above, I decided to prepare multiple lines this time and try it. The first thing I tried was the AQUOS R SH-03J, which I usually use, and before leaving Haneda Airport, I applied for a packet pack overseas option at My docomo, and at the same time, I applied for an overseas 1-day package. I have canceled the contract. I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, where I was accustomed to, and arrived at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport after 6 o'clock in the early morning.
After arriving, I turned off airplane mode and waited for a while, then an SMS was sent. The content was written that "Packet pack overseas option is applied", and it was explained that it can be used for 980 yen (fixed amount) per 24 hours. If you tap the link of the dedicated website "http://c.dkaigai.jp" written in the SMS, you can also start using it from there, but first of all, the above-mentioned [docomo overseas use] application I tried to operate from.
When I started the [DOCOMO Overseas Use] app, the [Packet Pack Overseas Options] page was displayed. The last four digits of the contracted line are displayed in the "contracted line number" at the top of the screen. Tap [See details] displayed in the upper right of the screen to display the contents of the packet pack overseas option, and tap [Start using] to display the confirmation screen and then actually start using it.
A little different from au's World Data Flat-rate app is the "Check usage data amount" link displayed under [In use]. Tap here to display the "Confirm usage data amount (current month)" page of My docomo after authenticating your d account. If the model supports biometric authentication, it can be linked with d-account authentication, so if you register in advance, it will be less troublesome.
By the way, the "usage data amount" displayed on My docomo seems to update the information relatively quickly, and after displaying it, play the video on YouTube etc. and check it again, the usage data amount has increased sharply. rice field. Speaking of greed, I would like it to be displayed in the [DOCOMO Overseas Use] app, but I hope it will develop in the future.
Next, to start using the service from the dedicated Web page, access "http://c.dkaigai.jp" from an SMS link or the like. When the web page is displayed, tap [Start using] as in the case of the [docomo overseas use] application, and after the confirmation screen is displayed, the use will start. By the way, once you access the dedicated web page from the SMS link etc. and register it in the bookmark, it is convenient to check the remaining time etc. later even when using the [DOCOMO Overseas Use] application.
The basic flow is the same for iPhone, apply for "Packet pack overseas option" in My docomo in advance, and switch on [Mobile data communication]-[Communication option]-[Data roaming] in [Settings]. Keep it. After arriving at your travel destination, you can operate from the [docomo overseas use] app or start using from the dedicated website described in SMS, access My docomo from the link in the app, and "use data". You can check the amount.
"Packet Pack Overseas Option", which NTT DoCoMo launched on March 15, is an international roaming service that can be used at a reasonable price of 980 yen for 24 hours. Basically, it uses the same mechanism as au's World Data Flat-rate, and although it is in the form of a campaign, it is trying to counter the benefits of au STAR with the benefits of d POINT. Since it is a latecomer service, we also consider usability, such as preparing a link to check the amount of data used, and making it possible to immediately display the mobile data communication settings required for use in the Android version of the application. Has been done.
It is troublesome to apply in advance, but as far as I tried this time, if I can access My docomo from my travel destination using Wi-Fi etc., I can apply on the spot and start using it immediately. It can be used in more than 200 countries and regions, covering most areas visited by Japanese users on trips and business trips, so it can be used with peace of mind. It is not a high-priced charge like "Overseas Pake-hodai", but there are no strict restrictions on the amount of data communication like "Overseas 1-day Pake", and users can decide when to start using it, so a wide range of users can easily travel. It can be said that it is a service that can utilize smartphones by using international roaming first.
So far, the packet pack overseas option has basically the same specifications as au's world data flat rate, so I would like to see more features unique to NTT DoCoMo. It doesn't matter if it's a campaign that uses d POINTs, and I want you to demonstrate your originality in the fee structure and time.
Also, this is an idea of the editor-in-chief of this magazine, but considering that there are many business users, only the overseas usage including the packet pack overseas option is summarized in a minute total and billed to the company separately. It may be good to have a service that can create a book.
With NTT DoCoMo launching the service following au this time, the era of international roaming data communication is entering the era of 980 yen for 24 hours, and the image of "international roaming = high billing" is likely to be a thing of the past. Softbank is lagging behind, but although they are limited to the iPhone, they also have the advantage of being "all-you-can-eat in the United States."
In some countries and regions, there will be many cases where you can use it at a lower price than the international roaming services of each of these mobile carriers. For example, in Bangkok, which I visited this time, as the author and other authors mentioned in "Minna no Keitai" in the past, the counters of local mobile phone companies are lined up in the arrival lobby of the airport, and prepaid SIM cards are available at a low price. Can be purchased. The plan I saw this time was as cheap as 299 baht (about 1000 yen), with up to 3GB available in 8 days. Moreover, the staff are so accustomed that even if you hand over the terminal with the Japanese menu, you can easily set it. It seems that there are so many travelers from Japan, but there are few countries and regions in such an environment, and it is possible that you will run around looking for a prepaid SIM card, or even if you insert a purchased prepaid SIM card, it will not work well.
In that respect, international roaming, which allows you to use the terminal you normally use with the same phone number, allows anyone to start using it immediately without the need for troublesome settings or adding apps. The merit of being able to use your usual smartphone overseas while maintaining its usual usability is considerable. From spring to summer, there are many opportunities to travel abroad, but if you have a chance, you should definitely try this service.
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