"Louise Bremner" <dame_zumari@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1ghzv81.5ilis6d5qww5N%dame_zumari@yahoo.com...
> necoandjeff <spam@schrepfer.com> wrote:
>
> > "Louise Bremner" <dame_zumari@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:1ghzh9a.fi8gpof2h6bxN%dame_zumari@yahoo.com...
> > > Michael Cash <mikecash@buggerallspammers.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 09:13:58 GMT, dame_zumari@yahoo.com (Louise
> > > > Bremner) brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:
> > > >
> > > > >It's not often we need mobile phones, but just sometimes (maybe
once a
> > > > >month, or even less), messages get crossed and one of us ends up
> > waiting
> > > > >in the wrong place or the wrong time, unable to contact the other.
This
> > > > >time I'm covered in mosquito bites.
> > > > >
> > > > >So what's the cheapest option for a pair of mobile phones with
> > > > >absolutely no frills whatsoever, that will rarely be used?
> > > >
> > > > A couple of pre-paids ought to do the trick. The per-minute charge
is
> > > > outrageous if you call out on them, but if you limit yourself to
> > > > incoming calls you can get by for about 1,000 per month (each).
> > >
> > > *ouch* Still seems expensive, especially since one of the phones would
> > > be ringing the other.
> > >
> > > Yeah, yeah, I know the companies providing these services are not in
the
> > > least bit interested in letting consumers have a simple pay-as-you-go
> > > system.
> >
> > Well, it's a slightly modified version: Pay-out-the-ass-as-you-go.
>
> Yup--1000 yen per call, since we'd probably be activating a new card
> each time (or would it be 2000 yen, with the receiving end also
> activating a card?).

No, no. You pay 1,000 yen for a pre-paid card, and the card ticks down as
you use up the minutes. The person calling doesn't need a card (unless they
have the same kind of phone.) I can't remember how many minutes 1,000 yen
will get you but it isn't that bad at all. I used a phone like this when I
was on an extended business trip in Japan a few years back and it worked
quite well. The only problem I recall was finding convenience stores that
actually sold the cards. I still have the phone and one unactivated card
ready to use when we hit Narita in October (until we get real phones
anyway.)

Jeff