[tweetmeme]For those not following the story, Japan is set to release a SIM-locked contract-locked iPad with Softbank, and obviously, Japanese folks are a little more than annoyed. Some of them have been emailing Apple’s new unofficial PR spokesman, who also happens to be their CEO. “Actually, the version of iPad sold in Japan does accept international SIMs.”, replied Steve Jobs, but there is no change in the Apple Japan website, nor in Softbank’s policy. Here’s one American in Japan voicing his problem with Steve, Apple Japan, or both. In language that might offend you. — Ed
Steve Jobs loves to point out other peoples’ mistakes. He likes to tell customers that it’s not his fault. It’s their country’s fault. Well, if Steve Jobs’ recent email about the SIM locking of the iPad in Japan is to be believed, Steve himself doesn’t have the facts right. He’s somehow under the impression that the iPad is unlocked over here when both Softbank and Apple Japan’s websites say it is. Which is it, Steve? Either you’re lying or you don’t know what’s going on with your magical new product in one of your biggest markets. If it really is SIM-locked, Steve looks like an idiot. If it isn’t, Steve should find out whose fault this whole mix up is and fire their ass. Either way, every Apple fan in Japan is rightfully pissed for being treated as second-class customers. And if it’s really just a mix up, I can’t get an iPad day-one because I wouldn’t buy into this greedy scheme of theirs and pre-orders have been halted already. Obviously enough people were willing to take Apple Japan and Softbank’s nonsense, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they left it this way because they’re seemingly succeeding, shitty deal and all. Either way, it’s left a vile taste in my mouth, and it has me questioning whether or not I’m going to buy an iPad here. I do not want to give in to their chicanery. This type of bending over in Japan is typically limited to adult films and I can’t believe Apple would try to screw us like this.
But Brandon, why not just get a a wifi one and buy a portable wifi thingamajig? Because I still have to sign another contract for two years and the monthly price is twice the iPad deal. I don’t even care about signing a contract for data service. The price per month is pretty much the same as it is in the US and the coverage is probably better here. The practical reason for my rage is that, should I want to use my iPad in America, I can’t use AT&T. I’d have to pay ridiculous roaming fees to Softbank. And if I happen to move back to America, I can’t use my iPad. My ‘on principle’ reason for being angry is that evey other country gets unlocked iPads. And to top it off, they’re treating it like it’s an iPhone contract, but they won’t even subsidize the damn thing. They’re charging full price and locking me into another contract. You know, if they were all SIM-locked, I probably wouldn’t even be angry. It’s this whole being treated differently thing that gets me. I get stared at like a circus freak and treated like a leper enough here as it is, I don’t need an American company that I give lots of money to collaborating with my oppressors.
Update: Steve Jobs replies to Gabe Glick’s prodding: “Our website and Softbank are wrong, and we are getting them the correct information ASAP. The website should be fixed soon. Sorry for the confusion.” I guess that settles it then.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Get your own facts right before posting headlines like that. Have you actually used a Japanese iPad? Do you know for yourself whether it’s possible to remove the Softbank SIM and put in an AT&T one when you go to the USA with a Japanese iPad?
It seems to me what Steve is saying here is, “Yes, the Japanese iPad is sim-locked to Softbank when used in Japan, but if you go abroad you can put international SIM cards in it and use those just fine in foreign countries. But when you go back to Japan, it’s back to Softbank for you.”
No?
That website you linked to is pretty much split between people angrily claiming they’ve been screwed over royally from using a Japanese iPad anywhere in the world, those suggesting what I’m suggesting, and those saying that they’ve been screwed by importing US iPad 3G models and now they can’t get a Softbank SIM separately to use in the iPad.
I know nobody has used one yet. That’s what I said – but I do think it seems pretty clear that what I suggested is what the situation is.
1) If you imported a US iPad and can’t get hold of a Softbank SIM to use in it, tough. Hopefully Softbank will sell you a contract and a SIM.
2) If you get a Japanese iPad, you’ll be forced to get a Softbank contract and SIM.
3) If you take your Japanese iPad abroad, you’ll be able to use international SIMs.
But no, folks are interpreting it the way they want to, and lashing out.
None of this changes the fact that the story is entitled “Get your facts right, Steve.” but there don’t appear to be any facts he’s got wrong – not least because nobody can really prove it either way, but also because what he’s suggesting seems to be logical.
Steve didn’t say that did he? He just send out another super short email that neither confirms nor denies a specific fact. No one has explicitly said how using the iPad overseas will be for Japanese customers. They did however say it was unlocked in the keynote. Not so here. And after Japanese residents picked up on this, they had a chance to update the site to say it is unlocked, but they haven’t.
I’m not questioning what Apple said about the Japanese iPad before it was released, or getting into the whole “Why is it locked?” debate. It’s locked. That sucks. But look, what I am saying is that Steve says it can take International SIMs.
That’s all he said.
I’m *suggesting* that the reason he said that is because it *can* take international SIMs. I’m *suggesting* it can only take them when the Japanese iPad is taken to a foreign country.
But like you say, nobody knows. So why are you saying “Get your facts right, Steve.”? You don’t know anything either. At least I’m making educated helpful guesses rather than just stamping my feet and wailing.
Owen,
That’s an interesting point. I just checked the US iPad 3G page, and it says something similar:
“Can I use my iPad while traveling outside of the U.S.?
You can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere in the world. Please check with AT&T regarding international 3G usage.”
Against all odds, this gives me hope that you may be right and that the iPad 3G here will be unlocked and usable with micro SIMs outside of Japan. It’s true that the language used on Apple’s site doesn’t explicitly say that it cannot be used with micro SIMs from other countries outside of Japan.
Unfortunately, while it may not outright say that, its wording certainly implies it, and as far as I know there’s no way to apply a SIM lock for one country and have the same device be unlocked in others. Either way, we definitely need more details, and as of now neither Steve’s email nor Apple or Softbank’s web sites are providing them.
I also live in Japan and I think Softbank decision really sucks.
I must add that their 2 years contracts is a real pain.
Also, seeing Jobs’s mail and what Softbank & Apple Japan are saying we could also think at something like:
If you want to use 3G in Japan you can only get a contract with us (softbank).
-> Even if it is not simlock, DOCOMO and AU are not allow to sell 3G contract for iPad.
I hope this statement will change and that DOCOMO/AU offer other plans, making softbank changing their plan.
@Brandon
You quoted (Apple? Softbank?):
“The 3G works with Softbank micro-SIM cards. In Japan, you can’t use micro-SIMs purchased in another country.”
Might an alternate reading be that you can’t use your non-Japanese (e.g. USA AT&T) SIM for roaming in Japan? maybe Softbank wants all the money from Ipad 3G users in japan and doesn’t want to partner with foreign carriers.
If you’re concerned about all this, hold off your iPad 3G purchase a week or two after introduction and see how thing are turning out..
Confirmation:
“Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, an Apple spokesperson said that 3G-enabled iPads sold in Japan will be compatible only with Softbank, and not from rival providers such as NTT DoCoMo, when used in Japan. However, despite that, those iPads can still be used outside of Japan with any provider who uses compatible micro-SIM cards.”
http://www.macworld.com/article/151302/2010/05/simlock_japan.html?lsrc=rss_main
If you look at the update at the bottom, which you must not have, you’ll see my very own podcast got a direct email from Steve Jobs. We posted a link to that news bit in the update.
Any chance Airtel, Vodafone and Apple’s Website in India have been “wrong” all this while about the iPhone in India? Cause that’s exactly what they have been doing here – selling an unsubsidized phone that’s locked to a carrier!
I live in Japan. I have the US Ipad because like everyone else here I don’t want the Softbank roaming charges. Once I had an $ 800 roaming charge from Softbank on my iphone is just two weeks of low usage. Softbank is criminal and predatory.
But the real question not addressed at all here is how could someone with a foreign Ipad get a mico simm from ATT. There are none that I know of for sale by any carrier in the US.
So though the ipads are said to be unlocked, There are no alternative micro simms available in the United States.
Visa versa there is no one here in Japan selling micro simms for the Ipad.
Daniel, you may wanna look at this:
Trim a SIM Card Into a MicroSIM for iPads and Other Devices
http://lifehacker.com/5532554/
How about the other way? I want to get my wife an iPad here in the US but I want her to be able to use it on 3G in Japan when she goes there (approx 2 mos/year). Can she get a SoftBank SIM for a US iPad without a contract? Does anyone know?
Daniel S…here is the deal. While your wife is here she will need a phone. If she has a US iphone she can pick up a simm from Softbank at the airport kiosk for Softbank. I saw this recently at KIX. Then she can avoid ATT roaming on the phone.
Now if she is jailbroken she is in. She can install MyWi 4 on her iphone and broadcast her connection to the ipad.
Or she can buy one of those pocket wifi broadcasters at say Bic Camera and use that.
But she will need a phone is she is here that long. So go jailbroken.
Hmmm, all of this is just too much headache. I wish Apple was not so closed. I will simply wait and not buy the damn iPad. This was the use case Steve himself was selling in the initial press conference announcement, enough battery life for a flight to Japan. But you can’t use it when you get there? Ridiculous. I love the Apple products I use for work, but chose an Android phone because I hate AT&T. Again Apple’s restrictions in how customers can use their product will turn me off from buying one. I appreciate the amazing innovation and leadership from Apple, but I will simply wait for alternative tablets to catch up and buy one of those that does not restrict it’s customers. Thanks for the info, you have saved me $700.