Updated on April 12, 2008

The thing with Japanese phones nowadays is that a software unlock to allow it to work on your run-of-the-mill GSM network outside of Japan is almost impossible. There are so many little quirks and security things to circumvent that it really isn't worth the time of hackers to deal with it. Not saying that there aren't people making progress on software reprogramming solutions, but what most people have discovered are SIM hacks, little microchips on films that you slap on to your SIM that fools the phone into working on your network.

Also, if you have corrections or contributions to this guide, drop me a line!

SIM Hack (PSS-SIM for Sharp)

SoftBank phones are pretty easy to work get working now, but NTT DoCoMo phones are a whole other mess. Here are some results of the testing done on them with various SIM hacks in Canada.

With contributions from darthchili, the good folks on HowardForums and the Keitai Krazy Facebook group; if the SIM type is not listed it is not known to work with the hack/phone combination.

i-smartphone 2008
- P905i (any SIM version/type except for Rogers 4000 SIMs)
- N905i (Rogers 3030 and 3040, Fido SM32, tests on other SIM versions are pending)
- Has a signal-dropping problem at high speeds, drops closer to 80 km/h when on the SkyTrain. Haven't tested it while driving quick on the ground, but will soon enough. I'm thinking this one is put together better, or has better programming than the Next SIM V7 as of right now.
- UPDATE, Apr. 11: Just had the first Signal Loss of Doom™. Went above 80 km/h on the SkyTrain again, lost the signal as usual, but then it didn't come back. Got it back at home after my own version of "SIM CPR" -- I took it out, naked SIM in a Rogers-locked phone, called, took it out, put SIM hack back on, plunk in iPhone (cuz strangely enough, the i-smartphone 2008 doesn't work in Rogers-locked phones wheras the version of the Next SIM I had did), waited a loooong time while it looked for signal, got it, plunked the whole thing back in my P and all is well.

Next SIM V7/i-SmartSIM 2008 (Revision 4)
- P905i (Rogers 3030 and 3040, tests on other SIM versions are pending)
- N905i (Rogers 3030 and 3040, tests on other SIM versions are pending)
- Has a signal-dropping problem at higher speeds, drops at 60 km/h when on the SkyTrain AND while on the road.
- UPDATE, Apr. 11: Replacing my unstable Next SIM with the next revision of it (revision 5). Supposedly works with Fido U0.02, AT&T in the States and should also work with Rogers' 4000 SIM. Will update on results when I get it and test it.

Hyper256
- 920SH (any SIM version/type)
- 904SH (any SIM version/type)
- 804SH (any SIM version/type)
- P905i (Fido M32 SIMs only)

PSS-SIM for Sharp
- 920SH (any SIM version/type)
- 904SH (any SIM version/type)
- 804SH (any SIM version/type)
- SH905i (any SIM version/type)
- P905i (Fido M32 SIMs only)

iNEX 804SH
- SH905i (Rogers 3030, 3040, Fido ST32)

China 3GP (obsolete, replaced by i-smartphone, Next SIM/i-SmartSIM)
- SO905iCS (Fido ST32)
- SH905i (Fido ST32)
- 920SH (any SIM version/type)

The Rogers 3030/3040/4000 SIMs were rejected by the P905i with both the Hyper256 and the PSS-SIM.

How to Tell What SIM Version/Type You Have

Rogers Wireless SIMs consist of 20 numbers to form the identification bits. The first eight are the same among all SIMs, with numbers nine through 12 dependent on the version:

3030 -- "Rogers AT&T"
3040 -- "Rogers Wireless"
4000 -- "Rogers Wireless" with a red back and says UICC on it

4000 SIMs are currently in circulation.

Fido SIMs of the past will say M32 on the back after the 20 numbers, whereas newer ones just have five sets of xxxx numbers.