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Yahoo! BB ADSL with vs. without NTT

This chart shows the pros and cons of using Yahoo! BB with vs. without NTT phone service.

There are links to application forms at the bottom of the chart.

Pro (positive) points in Green & Con (negative) points in Red
Neutral points in Black

Comparison Points

With NTT Service

Without NTT Service

Usual time to Connection?
If you have NTT phone service already:
6 working days (M-F).

If you don't have NTT service yet:
Generally 10 days to 3 weeks.
3 - 6 weeks.

Home visit needed for Yahoo! BB connection?

No.
(If you don't already have NTT, a visit for that might be needed (25% chance).
Yes.
A visit is always necessary.

Is Japanese language needed to apply for service?

No.
BBapply will provide an English application, make all arrangements for both YBB and NTT connections and supply detailed info in English on setting up and using the services.

Maybe.
BBapply provides all the services as at left except one. You (or an associate) might have to make a phone call in Japanese to Yahoo! BB to arrange a connection appointment. YBB's privacy policy prevents us from making that call for you.
(Note 1)

Are there Connection Charges?
Phone line: None if you already have NTT service connected and working.
 Otherwise, fee is 2,940 yen. In rare cases, cost may be up to 11,000 yen or so. ADSL: Charge pro-rated ¥84/month over 60 months–forgiven if service ends early. (Note 2)
Phone line: None.
ADSL: Charge pro-rated ¥84/month over 60 months–forgiven if service ends early.

Are there any calling restrictions?
No.
Calls may be placed to any number.
Yes.
Without NTT phone service you cannot call some 050 numbers issued by some other internet providers.

Comparison Points

With NTT Service

Without NTT Service

What Identification Documents are required for application?

If NTT phone service is connected already:
Any ID showing birth date.

Otherwise you need:

  • Alien Registration Card or
  • Foreign Passport plus two documents from city hall or
  • Diplomatic documentation or
  • Military Identification Card

You need:

  • Alien Registration Card

Not accepted:

  • Foreign Passport
  • Diplomatic documentation
  • Military Identification Card

Procedure when moving residence?
Both NTT and Yahoo! BB service may be transferred to the new location by telephone request in English. Formal application and copies of ID are NOT needed. Both NTT and YBB services may be connected on moving day if sufficient notice is provided (usually 2~3 weeks).
(Note 3)
New application must be filed, including ID showing new address BUT such ID cannot be obtained until after the move. Time to connection at least three weeks after moving. If a new alien card is to be issued, add 2~3 weeks more onto that.
(Note 4)

Pause service while on vacation to save money?

No

Is the phone number portable? (Keep same 050 number when you move anywhere in Japan?)
No

Comparison Points

NTT "Lite"
Rented Line
(Note 6)

NTT "Regular"
Owned Line
(Note 6)

Without NTT Service

Monthly Cost?
(Inc. all YBB & NTT billed fees ex. tolls for calls.)
376 yen more per month than Non-NTT type
From 149 yen less to 113 yen more per month than Non-NTT type and must own or buy line.(Note 7)
From 149 yen more to between 113 and 376 yen/month less than NTT type.

Sample of Actual Costs

This chart shows the monthly charge to use the 8M service including everything except the tolls for calls you make.

NTT monthly phone rates vary according to the population of the service area. See Notes on Prices.

Prices are in Yen
(tax included).
NTT "Lite"
Rented Line
NTT Regular
Owned Line
Without
NTT Service
Yahoo! BB Service (pay YBB)
3,366
3,366
5,038
NTT Phone Service (pay NTT)
1,785 to 2,048
1,523 to 1,785
0
Total Monthly Cost
5,151 to 5,414
4,889 to 5,151
5,038

Detailed Pricing Info:

Application forms:

Apply for Yahoo! BB plus NTT Phone service
(Connect NTT service and then add Yahoo! BB)

Apply for Yahoo! BB without NTT Phone service
(Don't have NTT phone service and don't want it)

Apply for Yahoo! BB only
(Have NTT Phone service already–add Yahoo! BB)

Notes on Prices:

  • NTT monthly phone rates vary according to the population of the service area and type of line (tone or pulse). Rural areas and small towns are the lowest and large cities are the highest. Pulse is cheaper in rural/small towns but the same as tone in large cities.
  • Yahoo! BB Services are 9 yen/month higher in Westen Japan (East Japan land line numbers begin with 01~04; West Japan 05~09)
  • Prices shown include taxes and are rounded to the nearest yen.
  • *Rates in effect as of July 31, 2007
  • The pricing structures of Yahoo! BB and especially NTT are very complex. The prices shown here are the basic charges but include all the required charges such as modem rental, etc. Not included are optional services such as BBTV, Wireless LAN Pack, call forwarding, number display, or NTT discount plans. Your actual may vary if you order such optional services.

Scroll down to see other notes.

Notes:

  1. In order to comply with Japan's consumer privacy law, Yahoo! BB requires the applicant (him or herself) to make certain contacts with the company. For most account-related matters, the English Account support line can handle the call, but arranging the visits by technicians is only done over the Japanese-language support line, because only they have access to the schedules of the technicians. Hence, that must be done in Japanese. Normally, having a bilingual friend or associate standing by the phone to assist will be acceptable but having someone else (e.g., BBapply.com) make the call without the applicant present is not.

  2. Cases of additional NTT connection costs are actually somewhat rare. The most common reason for extra charges is customer request to move a jack to a different part of the residence. In any case, if extra charges apply, the installer will attempt(!) to communicate that fact to you and get approval. (Pay attention if they start stringing wires!) Yahoo! BB connection charges are prorated over 60 months (¥84/month) and forgiven if service is ended before 60 months.

  3. The comment on moving procedure for users with NTT phone service assumes that the NTT phone service at both the old and new locations have the same keiyaku-sha meigi-nin (the Contracting Party who arranged the phone service).

    If you are the Contracting Party or the Contracting Party allows moving the service, then the number and service, etc., will be portable and transfer can be arranged by phone without reapplication.

    The Contracting Party will (probably) be you if the phone service was arranged either by BBapply.com or by you yourself (not your employer or landlord, estate agent, etc.).

    4. If (1) the NTT service was arranged by your school or employer without need for you to provide an ID to NTT, or (2) the NTT meigi-nin will change for any other reason, or (3) if the NTT service is not transferred but rather is stopped and then restarted, then the procedure when moving to a new address will be the same as if there were no NTT service.

    To verify the keiyaku-sha meigi-nin for the line, you can call NTT. Instructions are here.

  4. The comment on moving procedure without NTT service assumes you have non-NTT YBB service and will continue with that at the new location.

    If you decide to change to YBB with NTT service at the new location then net access can be arranged a bit more quickly--about two to three weeks after you move. In some cases, it may even be possible to have the service connected within a few days of the move. Include a comment on your application that you are moving and BBapply.com will advise on how to get connected most quickly.
  5. Comment on the portability of the 050 telephone number for NTT users assumes that the NTT line kanyu-ken meigi-nin on the new service will be the same as the meigi-nin for the prior location, i.e., situation is the same as for moving procedure. If the NTT meigi-nin changes, then the 050 number must also change. (See Note 3 for more info.)

  6. Traditionally, "buying a phone line" (actually, a "phone subscription right") has been quite expensive. NTT charged ¥72,000 for them until late in 2004 when the price was dropped to 36,000 yen. In the last few years, NTT has been subjected to increasing competition and the market has forced the street prices for 'phone lines' to drop to the lowest levels ever.

    As of this writing (Jan. 8, 2008), BBapply can arrange the purchase of NTT phone line subscriptions for about ¥9,000, including tax. This can be arranged at the same time we arrange your phone service. No meeting or visit to an NTT office is needed. The lines are guaranteed 'clean' (i.e., no outstanding unpaid bills) and the subscription right is registered in the name of the buyer. When you are finished using the phone service, you may sell the subscription right to anyone at the market prices in effect at that time.

  7. NTT monthly phone rates vary according to the population of the service area and type of line (tone or pulse). Rural areas and small towns are the lowest and large cities are the highest. Pulse is cheaper in rural/small towns but the same as tone in large cities. See either the NTT East or NTT West sites for detailed NTT pricing info (English).

  8. When used with NTT phone service, Yahoo! BB internet service may be paused while on vacation, etc., to save money. The service may be paused for any length of time but only full calendar months will be credited and there is no pro-rating for partial months. For example, if the service is paused from July 20th until September 5th, the month of August will not be charged but full charges will apply for July and September.

Fine print, important notices, disclaimers, etc.

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