Losing Money Over Your Pocket Wifi Plan? JP SMART WIFI Makes Your Life Smarter | Guidable - Your Guide to a Sustainable, Wellbeing-centred Life in Japan

Losing Money Over Your Pocket Wifi Plan? JP SMART WIFI Makes Your Life Smarter

By Alex Gray May 28, 2020

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified) Vietnamese

Are you using pocket wifi? Can it keep up with your new lifestyle?

Using Pocket Wifi in a Changing World

With more time at home, we use more Internet. As COVID-19 remains prevalent throughout the world, we are urged to stay at home when possible. With an uncertain future ahead of us, it’s easy to assume we would all like to cut-down and save money wherever we can.

[Smart Communication Environment]: How Can I Save Money?

Are you living off your mobile data, having to pay for more data every time it reaches the limit? Or is your Internet being too slow? Maybe after a review of your current Internet environment, you feel that you want something faster and cheaper but the thought of going through another application process puts you off? Here to help is JP SMART WIFI, a pocket wifi rental system created with foreigners in mind.

An Unexpected Pitfall: Communication Costs in Japan

In Japan, many people feel they pay a comparatively high telecommunication fee. It could be the case that is that the three major operators NTT Docomo, KDDI (au), and SoftBank control the market while providing similar services and prices in order to be competitive. Together these mobile network operators (MNO), who own their own network facility, make up for about 90% of the mobile phone market. Many people continue to use MNOs for their seemingly attractive packages where the phone terminal price is deducted monthly from the phone bill. But these come with the binding contract of two years. And it’s hard to determine if this actually is a good deal without being able to compare the price of the model. If you want to break the contract earlier than two years, say if you are leaving Japan, for example, it is necessary to pay a hefty cancellation fee. 

[Smart Communication Environment]: Why is JP SMART WIFI Such Good Value?

JP SMART WIFI holds great value for foreign residents in Japan because it’s so easy to use. It’s made by the same company as JP SMART SIM which was voted as the best SIM card by foreign nationals. So they know what foreigners in Japan want. They also know the difficulties usually faced by foreign residents when trying to apply for a phone or an Internet contract. And finally, they are very accessible as they offer support in English, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

The wifi device offered with JP SMART WIFI is a Cloud wifi device that provides Internet service from Docomo, Softbank, and AU. The best-telecom company in your area will be selected for you based on your address, so no spotty service. It can connect up to 5 devices, weighs only 151g, and has a 12-hour battery life, which will be great for keeping connected on the go, in the future.

Let’s look at the three main reasons why JP SMART WIFI is popular with non-Japanese residents. These three reasons are: great connection, no contract duration limits, and an easy application. So what stands out for JP SMART WIFI?

Point 1: Ease of Connection! No Communication Restrictions!

As a “Cloud wifi” service, you can use JP SMART WIFI anywhere, anytime without communication restrictions. Watch videos on Netflix, Skype with your friends, and play games whenever and wherever you like.

JP SMART WIFI has two data plan sizes you can choose from. Are you often misplacing or breaking things? You can add their Safety Support Pack for 500 yen/month which cuts the cost of device replacement due to misplacement in half (from the original price of 20,000 yen to 10,000 yen) and allows free replacement if the device is damaged.

Point 2: No Contract Period Restrictions!

Many other telecommunication companies require you to enter a two-year contract when applying for a phone or internet service. If you want to cancel the contract before the term is up, expensive cancellation fees must be paid. But with JP SMART WIFI you can cancel your contract anytime, which is especially useful for overseas residents in Japan for a shorter stay. You can even change your plan if you want, and changes will be reflected in the next month. And the best part, the first month is free if you commit to a contract for more than three months.

Point 3: It’s Easy to Apply.

JP SMART WIFI makes it easy for foreign residents to apply. You can even apply from your home online. Major telecommunication companies require proof of residence, Japanese bank accounts, and an understanding of Japanese to navigate the complicated application process. But it’s different with JP SMART WIFI. All you need to do is register and upload a photo of your Residence Card to use as your identification. 

You don’t need a credit card and can pay the bills at your local convenience store with Smartpit, Alipay, Wechat pay, or a credit card if you do have one. If Smartpit is your choice of payment, there is a detailed page on the JP SMART WIFI website, which explains how you can use it to pay each month at the convenience store. 

To start the application process first, you need to register to apply online; this includes uploading a photo of the back and front of your Residence Card. Then, you should complete the payment (the administration fee and monthly fee for the next month). And that’s it. Now all that’s left is to wait for your device, which will be sent with free shipping.

If you decide you want to leave Japan, it’s easy to return the device too. Contact the Customer Support Center with your information, and send the device back in the pack that came with the kit. The contract termination fee is a cheap 3,000 yen, but it is FREE now if you apply during the campaign.

[Smart Communication Environment] What Can You Do With a Great Connection?

As people are being asked to refrain from going out, it’s becoming easier to do things online with more services available. It’s now easier to get a lot more done from inside your own home. 

As before, it’s possible to use Amazon, Aeon Net, or iHerb for groceries, and supplements and order homeware from Nitori. But now catching up with friends is even easier using social media or online video chats. More companies have asked employees to work from home via video conferencing services. Many clinics now offer online health consultations. Online learning services such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer online courses for people interested in studying from home. Working out from home too is easy with workout apps and Youtube channels offering millions of workout videos already uploaded and some even streaming workouts in real-time. 

Maybe you are craving entertainment? Have you finished watching everything interesting on Netflix and want to practice your Japanese? GYAO! has a free streaming collection featuring movies, dramas, comedy, live concerts (even most of the international films are in Japanese though). Yahoo’s digital marketplace ebookjapan has thousands of free manga available for reading. And there are apps (like the Google Arts & Culture app) and websites that allow you to travel to monuments, museums, and art galleries virtually from your home. 

Video chatting, streaming online courses, and entertainment videos, all these data-heavy services can be enjoyed at home with JP SMART WIFI, without you worrying about getting cut-out halfway.    

Smoother Remote Work

The faster, more stable your Internet is, the more comfortable your online interactions will be. This speedy, stable Internet is essential to working from home. The current favourite for many companies is the video conferencing service Zoom. With JP SMART WIFI and Zoom you can join your weekly company meetings, host, or participate in webinars or virtual events. Zoom even has online tips to help you get started with remote work. 

Enjoy Time With Your Friends

While meeting online doesn’t quite make up for being there in person, it’s still a great way to catch up. While Zoom may be well-known for its video conference uses, it’s also a great online party tool. You or one of your friends need to host the event, invite your friends and then you’re good to go. 

Popular overseas at the moment are online quiz-night events for a new style of the pub-quiz night. One friend plays quizmaster and has everyone else competes for the correct answers. The video party possibilities are endless, working out together, playing board games, watching movies together. Speaking of movies, you could also try out Netflix Party and watch your favourite Netflix drama and chat with friends at the same time.

Another fun video conference element is virtual backgrounds and fun filters. You can download fun virtual backgrounds or try out Snapcamera to add Snapchat’s fun filters to your Zoom call (although don’t forget to make sure those animal ears are turned off before you join your work meeting).

Ready to Get Smart With JP Smart Wifi, the Smart Pocket Wifi?

If, after reviewing your current Internet set-up, you are worried it isn’t good enough for your new online lifestyle, then maybe it’s time to check out JP SMART WIFI. If you apply now, the cancellation fee of 3,000 yen is completely free for when you decide you are ready to leave Japan. With competitive prices, excellent service, multi-lingual support, and an easy, online application what’s stopping you from checking it out!

If you are looking for ways to use your new speedy Internet, or for things to do with your time at home, we’d love for you to check out this article for more ideas.