How much do data and voice cell phone plans cost in Japan, where cellular service is ubiquitous?

Question

So I hear that just about everybody in Japan has a kick-*** cell phone with awesome data service. Since I can't read Japanese, I was just wondering what a standard cell phone plan with unlimited data and a reasonable of amount minutes costs over there?

Mostly I am asking because I want to see if us USA consumers are being hoodwinked by the telecom companies, or if they charge a reasonable fee. Since they are obviously a cartel (how about them all raising SMS fees in unison) the only real price comparison can be done by looking at foreign companies.

Answer 1

You can check cell phone plans by yourself.

http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/

http://www.au.kddi.com/english/index.htm...

These are the 3 largest cell phone companies in Japan.

Answer 2

Depends on how much talk time you want.  I had a plan with KDDI that allowed me a sliding fee plan for data.  I think that it capped out at $40 though.  As for voice, it cost me like 30-40$ a month.  I think that most of the time I used email instead of talking to people though.  All in all it cost me about 40-50$ a month but the most it cost me was about 80 when  went data crazy.  You can always get a smaller voice plan.  I think that cell phones in japan are a million times better than those in the west...

The phones certainly are!