In Japan, I use a SoftBank Prepaid phone. Yes, it lacks a lot of nice features, but everything I have to do is make some calls and send some emails. I don't need more, really. Plus, it's very cheap.

Actually, I don't know much about all this cellphone stuff. I never cared about. But if I had to buy a contract phone, nothing is cooler than the Pantone softbank phones, they're really awesome!!
20colors.jp

thanks for the advice so far. i've been leaning towards AU and now that you say they do student discount (i'll be a student if i go) i'll definitely have to look into that.:vsign: