I bought my first SIM-free iPhone in Hong Kong.
When I bought it, SIM-free phones were barely widespread in Japan.
Japanese mobile phone companies had such a strong monopoly that it was impossible to freely insert and remove SIM cards.
Purchasing a phone required filling out numerous forms, making it difficult to purchase one unless you had a permanent job.
That’s why I was so nervous when I bought an iPhone at an Apple store for the first time.
As a Japanese person, I was shocked that I could buy a cell phone as easily as I would buy clothes or shoes.
It shows how outdated Japan is.
When I went to a Japanese mobile phone company after returning home, the store staff was surprised to see my SIM-free phone and asked me about the SIM-free system.
Even the mobile phone staff didn’t know what it was!
Since I bought a SIM-free phone, traveling abroad has become so much easier.
Before I got a SIM-free phone, I used overseas plans from very expensive carriers and rented a WiFi router. Both were extremely expensive and it was really difficult.
Japan has very strict rules in all aspects, not just when it comes to telecommunications devices.
Since returning to Japan, I’ve been able to reduce my mobile phone bill to about one-fifth of what it was before by using a low-cost SIM card.
Of course, I’ve continued to buy new SIM-free mobile phones in Hong Kong since then.
