iPhone users in Japan must manually apply for new discounted data plan
Submitted by The Japan iPhoner on Friday, 6 March 2009One Comment
Softbank today confirmed for iPhoningJapan that the new discounted unlimited iPhone data plan (4,410JPY down from the current 5,985JPY) will be made available to existing iPhone users – from April 1st 2009.
There will be no change to the existing data plan, so iPhoners wishing to pay less for unlimited data will need to manually apply for a change in contract.
Doing so will result in the standard 2-year contract being renewed, thus if you change your plan on the 1st April 2009, the contract will be extended until 30th March 2011 (but can be cancelled at any time in exchange for a 9,960 yen fee).
Does anyone else think that current users are being screwed here? I am forced into a 2 year contract again because I am an early adopter. I won’t be in Japan for 2 more years, but because I bought the iphone early I am forced to pay a higher price?
I will sign up for the new reduced price, and then just leave the country without paying the cancellation fee, and I have no intention of feeling guilty about it.