Question To SoftBank X Series Users

[Grant Barker]

What is the difference between PC Direct and Access Internet?
What do they refer to please?
What do we have to do to incur charges for these?
This might help:
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/important/20080618_2/index.html
Even if we pay for Unlimited Packet Discount - are there any popular internet apps that we should avoid because of unexpected costs?
(For example YouTube via Coreplayer or something?)

Finally: Are there any financial/packet risks using apps on the phone while it is charging from the USB via the PC?

Much appreciate any advice.

[larsuck]

What is the difference between PC Direct and Access Internet?
What do they refer to please?
What do we have to do to incur charges for these?

Okay, this is complicated, but I think I have it figured out pretty well.

Unlimited Packet Discount is the flat rate data plan for Softbank. The minimum cost is always 980, but the maximum cost depends on how you use the internet.
If you use a regular Softbank phone (not X-Series) and stay within their "walled garden" of sites that pay Softbank to be in the walled garden then the maximum cost is 4200.
If you use a regular Softbank phone (not X-Series) and don't stay within the walled garden, then the maximum cost is 5985. (This is called PC Site Browser)
If you use an X-Series phone (with the proper AP which comes preinstalled on the stock ROM), then the maximum cost is 9800.

The introduction of the iPhone brought yet ANOTHER flat rate plan into being. It is called Packet Flat-rate Full. It starts at 980 and maxes-out at 5985. Though it is too soon to tell for sure, it seems that this flat rate applies to all phones and all methods of accessing data.


This might help:
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/important/20080618_2/index.html


If I am reading between the lines correctly, the most prevalent thing that site says is that you shouldn't use your phone as a modem for your PC.

Even if we pay for Unlimited Packet Discount - are there any popular internet apps that we should avoid because of unexpected costs?
(For example YouTube via Coreplayer or something?)

Not that I know about. Except for using it as a modem for your PC, you should be able to do anything you like with it. However, I am sure they will find a way to screw you if they really want to. One caveat:
Make sure you have the flat-rate AP installed if you are not using the stock Softbank ROM. Otherwise you could be using the open, non-capped (and muuuuch more expensive) AP.

Finally: Are there any financial/packet risks using apps on the phone while it is charging from the USB via the PC?

Yes actually, in a way there may be. Many programs update automatically when cradled, assuming that there is a live internet connection available from the PC. If the PC is not connected, or if it is behind a proxy, or if Activestync is being stupid, these automatic updates could default to your cellular connection.
The best way to make sure you aren't risking packets is to go into your commmanager and turn your cellular radio off.

PS, Kudos for putting this in the Networking section where it belongs instead of tacking this on one of the long, already disjointed Softbank-themed discussions in the Hermes and Kaiser sections.

[Grant Barker]

Thanks very much for the effort and attention to your reply.

I'm still not 100% sure what the differences are between PC Direct and Access Int?... (My PC Direct is taken care of by my packet discount but my access internet is over $1000 that I have to pay. Talk about an expensive screw up!)
内訳　アクセスＩＮＴ＠０．２円　５２５２１８Ｐｋｔ (Access Int)
内訳　 ＰＣダイレクト＠０．０８円　６０６３８Ｐｋｔ (PC Direct)

I assume it isn't too easy to use the phone as my PC modem accidentally?
I'm trying to cover all bases and not make the same mistakes again.
(I'm getting paranoid just plugging the USB cable in to upload a cab file - at least until I figure out my bills with SB staff)
(It is a little confusing just getting this bill when I reverted back to the original rom and default settings on September 1st and paid my $550 SoftBank bill on Friday (2 days ago)
(Thanks for your PM too.)

[yukster]

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your bill...

Maybe you can help us figure out exactly what happened by giving us a list of the Apps you have on your phone, and how frequently you use them. There is a lot of misinformation floating around on the Internet regarding using the X series on Softbank, so by putting as much information as possible on threads like this will go a long way. First off, what device are you using (probably the X01HT with a non-oem ROM)? What AP were you using? And finally, what apps were you using?

I have been using a stock X02HT for several months, first on the Unlimited Packet Discount plan (980-9800), and for the last month, on the new iPhone/X Series plan (5985). I have never had a huge bill yet. I use on a regular bases Hotmail and Gmail (IMAP) access using Pocket Outlook, PIE, ActiveSync OTA, Pocket Weather updates, random applications updates (Resco, etc), and IMPlus. I can safely assume that all of these activities are safe.

[Grant Barker]

Well first of all it's a SoftBank X01T (Toshiba G900) which isn't supported on this forum as far as the phone model is concerned.
However, many of us share quite similar SoftBank billing plans, rates or charges.
At the end of the day - I changed the rom and used the wrong Access Point and password - from what I can tell. (SoftBank - don't even entertain the idea of talking about this stuff). For a couple of months I hardly used the net with the new rom and my bill was small.
Then I bought CorePlayer and decided to test it's built-in YouTube client on a couple of occasions. That's when all of my money was sucked out of my pockets, life and near future.
SoftBank tell you ONE DAY after you reach your first $500. So by the time you find out - you have possibly doubled that.
Like many phones - updates are not offered by SoftBank for this model.
Although I was trying not to be on the defensive - the SoftBank telephone rep already had me shaved and shackled as soon as I mentioned that I changed a few settings on my `Windows PC phone'. I quote "That's what people with Windows do."
I should have reminded them that it's the Mac lovers who are happy to spend a little more.

Anyway - if you need more info - I'll be hanging around Tokyo station with a cup in my hand. (No disrespect to anyone intended).
Cheers.

ps. For the record - I went back to the original rom with default connection settings.

[larsuck]

Anyone looking for information about Softbank's flat rate Access Protocol, please refer to the following thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=441400

Thanks.

[ascanio1]

@ larsuk,

My request is network related so I didn't know if I should post it here or attached to the end of the other Softbank threads...

In any case, thanks to Grant and larsuk for explaining what happened to me when I surfed the web from my PC, using my Nokia with a Vodafone (SB) USIM testing my phone's modem adapter and my 3G connection.

I applied for the SB unlimited data plan in view of a trip around Japan as I wanted to use my Nokia as a PC modem. I tested my phone's modem adapter and my 3G connection by surfing the web from my PC for a couple of days and all went well...

That is until my next SB bill hit me! It was monstrous! Almost 7,000US$!!!

I managed to talk my way out of it with an understanding SB representative who waived almost everything considering my obvious good faith. Japan may totally lack any traces of common sense or practical thinking but I love the genuine kindness and its kind of "paternalistic" approach to laws and regulations: they do let off first time offenders with a warning.

Anyway, thanks for explaining waht happened! Now... I know that this forum doesn't support Symbian but, RayBmade a very handy Softbank cab which seems to work miracles on Windows and Android and I couldn't find anything like it on any Symbian forum. Any chances that that cab may find its way into the Symbian world or any way to modify the APN on a Symbian device?

I have now bought an hTC DHD from Softbank and I wonder how I survived on Symbian for so long but, still, I'm not ready to throw away my N8 (I need 2 phones for 2 numbers).

Thanks...

Tommaso