Softbank Prepaid USIM - Internet Access

[trolld]

First off I apologize for digging the topic of Softbank up, believe me I know its be discussed to death, but I have a slightly different angle: Prepaid Data.

I've gotten MMS working fine (props to xda-devs and BeeGee on that one). Internet though, it seems, uses slightly different proxy settings (or there is an entirely unknown APN). I've spent the last few days becoming immersed in the entire discussion.

Because this is PREPAID, the flat rate information obviously does not apply as there is no flat rate for prepaid AFAIK. If I use the flat rate info (or CABs) I can't establish a data connection (and get an error).

BUT After trying tons of combos I can _almost_ access the Internet via my phone. Connecting the phone to a PC and troubleshooting it reveals I can get full DNS resolution when using:

APN: mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp
Username: softbank
Password: <starts with a 'qce' and so forth>

I can't actually connect to anything directly though.

I can open up a port to 8080 to vfkkwapproxy.vodafone.ne.jp and it appears to be a HTTP/WAP proxy. However if I specify that as my HTTP proxy on the phone or PC I get this error:

お客様の端末からはご利用になれません。
(WJ46140E)

The error actually varies depending on the browser. The above is FF for the PC. Opera and IE for the phone will give slightly different numbers.

If I try to do a data connection using the following APNs:
ai@softbank
ai@vodafone
ai@connect
I can't establish a data connection, but using the mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp info above I can (which is also what I use for functioning MMS).

Perhapse its the wrong APN I'm using and the blocking is just a symptom of that APN/proxy only allowing MMS? Or I wonder if there is some other proxy information I need to use for the prepaid USIM and it will suddenly work.

Its such a tease that DNS will resolve any domain name (www.cnn.com, etc) but blocks actual connections :P

Anyone have any ideas?

I was thinking that perhaps someone here had the non-flat rate proxy information that was different from the ai@ stuff I had been trying, too.

Any help would be appreciated, I feel like I'm so close to totally winning the war against Softbank ...

[aussiebum]

+1... if someone could get the right settings that'll be great. going to Japan again in a couple of weeks and would really like working 3g internet...

[trolld]

I've done a ton of testing with the APNs. (Again this is for a prepaid USIM) Here is what doesn't work. I'm hiding all but the first letters of the passwords because you can find them easily somewhere else.


APN Username Pass Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
softbank error
softbank ai@softbank softbank error
softbank ai@connect softbank error
softbank ai@softbank c29m********* error
open.softbank.ne.jp opensoftbank ebMN************ error
open.softbank.ne.jp softbank qcef************ error
open.softbank.ne.jp opensoftbank qcef************ error
open.softbank.ne.jp open001softbank itTA************ error
open.softbank.ne.jp open ozRt************ error
webopen.softbank.ne.jp softbank qcef************ error
vodafone ai@vodafone vodafone error
open.softbank.ne.jp softbank ozRt************ error
vodafone vodafone@connect vodafone error
vodafone ai@connect vodafone error
ai@connect vodafone error
vodafone@connect vodafone error
ai@softbank softbank error
ai@connect softbank error
ai@softbank error
error
vodafone error
*99# ai@softbank softbank error
*99# ai@connect softbank error
*99# softbank softbank error
*99# softbank qcef************ error
*99# error
AI@vodafone vodafone error
AI@softbank softbank error
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp softbank qcef************ connects, MMS only
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp error
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp ai@softbank softbank error
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp softbank softbank error
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp opensoftbank qcef************ error
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp ai@softbank qcef************ error
mailwebservice.vodafone.ne.jp vodafone qcef************ error
mailwebservice.vodafone.ne.jp softbank qcef************ error


I did what I consider to be about as comprehensive attack on the proxies I've seen on the internet for softbank as well as trying some combos just for the hell of it while connected to the mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp APN.

Proxies using the mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp APN (Which allows MMS)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
sbwapproxy.softbank.ne.jp:8080 error WJ46140E
webopen.softbank.ne.jp:8080 timeout
vfkkmmsproxy.vodafone.ne.jp:8080 error
vfkkwapproxy.softbank.ne.jp:8080 unresolveable
vfkkwapproxy.vodafone.ne.jp:8080 error WJ46140E - forbidden
sbkkwapproxy.softbank.ne.jp:8080 unresolveable
sbwapproxy.softbank.ne.jp:8080 error WJ46140E
mmsopen.softbank.ne.jp:8080 error WJ46086E
smilemms.softbank.ne.jp:8080 error
sbmmsproxy.softbank.ne.jp:8080 error WJ46086E
mailwebservice.softbank.ne.jp:8080 unresolveable
mailwebservice.vodafone.ne.jp:8080 unresolveable


The errors I get are actually HTML content that comes from the proxy. There are two codes with associated text with them, my friend has translated them for me.

WJ46086E: エラーが発生しました。リクエストが不正です。means; an error has happen. Your request is injustice.

WJ46140E: お客様の端末からはご利用になれません。means; with your phone(type of phone) you can use it.

The last one makes me think if I play with the User-agent I might get it working. Trying that next, but if that is the case I find it unlikely that anything except for Opera or other spoofing-enabled browser will work (so no Facebook app, weather widgets, YouTube, etc etc).

I'm less than hopeful as well because the Softbank store assured me the phones they do sell /w prepaid USIMs don't have web browsers or any way to access the Internet - but you can connect via USB and do it with a laptop. Meaning there should be no restrictions.

[trolld]

Went through and tried a bunch of different User-agents with no luck:

SoftBank/1.0/934SH/SHJ001/SN359416021923029 Browser/NetFront/3.5 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
SoftBank/1.0/920SH/SHJ001 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
SoftBank/1.0/930SC/SCJ001/SN355159020117946 Browser/NetFront/3.4
SoftBank/1.0/830N/NJ002/SN356756020446453 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
SoftBank/1.0/730SC/SCJ001/SN356756020446453 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
SoftBank/1.0/730SC/SCJ001 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
SoftBank/1.0/X05HT/HTJ001 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; *HTC/X04HT*) Opera 9.50

Then I figured, well the 707SC is a model sold /w prepaid and tried:
SoftBank/1.0/707SC/SCJ001 Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1
(using the vfkkwapproxy.vodafone.ne.jp:8080 proxy)

And I stumbled on a way to access the Keitai/Settings page normally only accessible by hitting the "Y!" button on real softbank phones.

Any URL will pull up the settings page, prompting for PIN and letting you adjust your email address and other settings. This means there is no need to bring in a non-Softbank phone with USIM to a Softbank store to change your email address (via having them put the USIM into one of their demo phones, you changing your settings and returning your USIM).

.... Which is pretty cool, but a) I already had them change my address and b) unfortunately this hardly helps me get Internet access.

But I found it interesting.

The site ultimately redirects to this as a base URL: http://nocharge/GATEWAY/

I tried a few variations but didn't stumble on anything except error messages.

At this point I'm ready to give up, but am posting these combos so if someone does stumble across something they can check to see if I've tried it.

I may try attacking the "nocharge" site a bit, but I find it unlikely to yield anything useful in getting me real access.

Sigh.

[halogen-9000]

This thread awakened long-forgotten memories of an article seen years ago.

http://thomer.com/howtos/nstx.html

Maybe useful.

[trolld]

Hmm, definitely a good idea. No ICMP is let through it seems, but DNS definitely does work.

The main issue to leveraging this is that I need a Windows Mobile client for it to work. I'm not interested in using my phone as a modem /w a laptop (which I bet I could get working with Linux). I want Internet on the phone itself to work.

Softbank doesn't appear to allow DNS queries to other servers aside from theirs otherwise I could do some dirty port 53 proxying on one of my own servers.

I'm going to keep digging along these lines and see what I can find.

[halogen-9000]

Even if you get this to work, won't you be paying the ridiculously expensive tethered data rates that apply for prepaid cards, i.e. 16 yen/6 seconds, which would drain a 3000 yen prepaid card down to zero in less than 20 minutes?

[trolld]

Not with what I'm trying to do, no. I'd be using the MMS APN (because that is the only one which I've been able to connect to) which is flat 300/yen per month.

Also, the data rate is not _that_ expensive. I worked it out to be around 700/Yen per MB. Yes its not cheap, but seriously moving that much data is not my plan. Just some mobile sites and what not. "Just to have it in case". I don't plan on uploading pictures and video to Facebook, etc.

Also right now I'm faced with _losing_ most of my 3,000 yen calling credit because its going to expire after 2 months. All I do is MMS, which is a flat rate of 300 yen per month. But credit expires after 2 months, so ...

I think basically its a non-starter though. ICMP traffic is blocked and while I can get _SOME_ DNS traffic through it does not appear to be enough to use wmiod and iodine (the only TCP via DNS tool I've found with a WindowsMobile client). Here is what I've tried: http://www.it.teithe.gr/~kontam/#

I can see the DNS requests come through to my server but the client reports a general error on handshake. Looking at the source code to the WM client it looks like basically its not getting anything back (though I can see my server is sending it). It would appear that Softbank is stripping off the data to the R-types this tool uses.

Its a shame though, I'd happily pay a higher rate for data. Its just nobody seems to know the APN info for prepaid cards. I know its possible as its listed as a feature on the Softbank website and catalogs -- but they say of course "only on Softbank phones". Which means again, some hidden username, password and APN.

Why would I happily pay such a high rate? I had a rental phone here last year for 2.5 months and it cost me about $400. I don't want to sign a contract as I'm here for 3.5 months this year (and only have a temp stay visa). So if I can stay under like 15,000 JPY per month, I'm still technically 'ahead' ... and using my Touch Pro is way better than the cr*ppy rental phone.

[halogen-9000]

B-mobile sells a prepaid sim-card for data access (8400 yen, 500 minutes). You'd have to sim-swap whenever you wanted to use it, but it may be an easier option. They also have a prepaid, no-contract, 3G USB data modem, whose sim card may also work for you.

http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/android/index.html
http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/3g.html

[halogen-9000]

Its just nobody seems to know the APN info for prepaid cards. I know its possible as its listed as a feature on the Softbank website and catalogs -- but they say of course "only on Softbank phones". Which means again, some hidden username, password and APN.

Could you point out where you saw this being listed as possible? I never saw this listed anywhere, but never looked very hard, either. I have the latest Softbank handset catalog in front of me now (Autumn 2009) and if I'm reading p. 35 correctly, it says you can't use web on the prepaid plan. It says that "data transfer" is possible, but I guess this refers to the USB modem (tethering) capability.

[halogen-9000]

According to this page, ai@softbank should work for prepaid data access:

http://www.japanmobile.jp/product/229

[trolld]

According to this page, ai@softbank should work for prepaid data access:

http://www.japanmobile.jp/product/229

Definitely does not work, was one of the first things I tried (and just tried again as well).

I updated my list of non-working APN/Username/Password combos on the first page of this thread.

I am tempted to call SoftBank one last time and tell them I have one of those handsets and internet isn't working. They swear there is nothing to 'enable' for Internet to work but I wonder if that isn't the truth and there is some switch they need to throw (and hadn't because I don't have an SB phone).

[trolld]

Could you point out where you saw this being listed as possible? I never saw this listed anywhere, but never looked very hard, either. I have the latest Softbank handset catalog in front of me now (Autumn 2009) and if I'm reading p. 35 correctly, it says you can't use web on the prepaid plan. It says that "data transfer" is possible, but I guess this refers to the USB modem (tethering) capability.

I believe its saying tethering only because the pre-paid phones are not advanced enough to browse the web on there own. It has to be going through the same process though, unless I'm missing something.

[halogen-9000]

I believe its saying tethering only because the pre-paid phones are not advanced enough to browse the web on there own. It has to be going through the same process though, unless I'm missing something.

I don't think this is correct. My prepaid can browse HTML files fine if I copy them to the phone. I suspect that I can't actually connect to the net from the phone because SB locked it down in the phone somehow (I can't get to the network settings menu to check anything).

Now, two interesting things.

1. I think if I subscribe to unlimited mail service, I will be able to connect to a limited series of web pages from the phone itself, to set up mail settings. But I'm pretty sure I won't have full internet access, because the manual says so. As I said, maybe SB locked down the phone with some crippled network settings. Since it's locked I can't play around with the settings myself.

2. If I tether to my PC using the provided software and USB cable, it uses the ai@softbank access point (that's what the PC software shows). I suspect I will have full internet access, because the manual implies so (but at a horrendously expensive time-based, not volume-based, rate).

Now the funny thing is, if tethering uses ai@softbank and can get full Internet access (mind you, I didn't test this), then why can't you do that from your phone?

Maybe the PC-based tethering software is doing some hanky-panky to get the connection going.

I think a prepaid deal like the b-mobile I mentioned earlier might be easier. However reading more closely, the b-mobile android sim card says you're only supposed to use it in a GDD phone, not other phones. Caveat emptor.

Would be interested to know if you get this going, but I still think it's gonna drain your prepaid balance faster than you can say "Oto-san".

P.S. Supposedly in January 2010 the carriers will be required by law to provide network connection settings to allow third party phones on their network.

[diamondX04HT]

P.S. Supposedly in January 2010 the carriers will be required by law to provide network connection settings to allow third party phones on their network.

Wow!!! this is gr8 news :eek: ....is it applicable to Japan?
where did u learn of it...interesting... :D

[halogen-9000]

Do a google search for "in 2010, Japanese law is forcing the carriers". I'm looking for more information on this, myself, but I've heard it from a lot of places.

[diamondX04HT]

Do a google search for "in 2010, Japanese law is forcing the carriers". I'm looking for more information on this, myself, but I've heard it from a lot of places.

Yeah not much info about it on the internet. But lets keep our fingers crossed and hope such laws are changed. Will make life lot easier for people like us... :)

[trolld]

Yeah I heard about the 2010 thing, unfortunately it won't help me this time around (only in Tokyo until Dec 15th, then back to Thailand). I'm sure I'll be back in Nihon again next year though most likely, so hopefully then :)

Hal: Interesting but I don't see how it could do anything that couldn't be done on the phone. Are you in Tokyo?

I'm back in the USA right now on a 1 week visit, but will be returning next week.

[halogen-9000]

Hal: Interesting but I don't see how it could do anything that couldn't be done on the phone.


True, but if it's sending a magic word that is not to be found anywhere outside of the PC tethering software, it could require sniffing the wire/analyzing the program, both of which seem rather tedious.

Have a look here for the files:
http://jp.samsungmobile.com/pc/en/lineup/707_2download.html


Are you in Tokyo?

We regret to inform you that the information you requested is released only on a "need to know" basis. :D

Still, if there are any questions you think I might be able to answer, give me a holler here... I'm nothing but an interested prepaid user, however.

[halogen-9000]

Well, I charged up my prepaid phone and did some tests. Results are not encouraging.

1. I had to apply for long mail service first.
2. Then, from the SB phone I was able, for the first time, to access an online mail settings page from the phone's built-in browser: i.e. limited web access. However the phone denied arbitrary URL access with an error page saying I could only access the pages for my mail settings.
3. The Samsung PC tethering software recognizes the phone, tries to use the ai@softbank access point, but fails to connect to the Internet at all. It tries to dial, then an error appears both on the phone and the PC that the connection was severed.

All in all, this basically confirms exactly what you discovered.

This page pretty clearly says it is impossible to access the Internet from prepaid plans: http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?p=590486#post590486

This is in line with the general SB statement of "no web on prepaids".

The *only* concrete evidence I have that tethered access is supposed to work is the "Softbank prepaid service guide 3G" (http://broadband.mb.softbank.jp/mb/premobile/pdf/prepaid_guide.pdf) from 1 year ago which explicitly says on p. 78, in English, "Data communication - connect handset to PC via USB cable to use it as a modem. Handset + cable -> Establish an Internet connection for PC use / Data communication rate: \16(with tax)/6 seconds".

If I wanted to complain I could try to take that manual as evidence, with my phone and USB cable, and demand that they show me how it works. However I expect that would be pointless and they would just say, "sorry, the manual is wrong, it doesn't work" - which is basically the result we've found so far.

I would love to be proven wrong on this, but I'm not sure I see much hope.

EDIT: Reading p. 35 of the prepaid service manual in Japanese, it seems that 2 items were lost in translation to English on p. 78. The original Japanese says (a) "64K/UDI" data transmission is possible and (b) Usable from APPLICABLE HANDSETS. Therefore, this "data" seems to be NOT 3G data, but "64K/UDI" data, whatever that is. And your handset has to support it, which mine apparently doesn't. Maybe this can shed some more light on the situation.

[halogen-9000]

Try the "64K digital communications" access info provided here:

http://mb.softbank.jp/en/products/data_com/c01si.html

It didn't work when I tried it, but my phone may not support "64K digital communications".

EDIT: Whoa, dude! The *7300 didn't work when I tried to use it in the PC tethering software. I dialed the number from the phone directly and got an audio carrier tone, just like the old-fashioned modems! This may be a dial-up service and you may need a modem in your phone for this to work.