www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The economic productivity of prostitutes, and of many other workers, would be increased by an easier availability of cell phones. They wouldn't have to wait to run into a former client in person. In Nicaragua and many other countries, you can purchase a SIM chip and/or minutes at the local 7/11 store. Actually, I'm note sure about the chip. I got mine (in Nicaragua) at a specialty store. The number was still good when I returned a year later. I only needed to add minutes by purchasing a card at a corner grocery.

Can someone update us on the details of buying a local SIM chip and minutes in Costa Rica, assuming that we bring our own GSM tri- or quad-band telephone?

Can NOT be done. The I.C.E network is completely controlled by the government and you need to be a "resident" to obtain a line.

Get a temp US "pay as you go" phone from a vendor like Cingular, then use that down in CR. Just a suggestion.........

The CR cell phone issue has been covered in many threads here over the years. I suggest you do a search on the topic. The CR cell phone industry is governed by a monopoly ICE. There are not enought GSM lines to go around although 300,000 were added at the end of the year.

ICE will only rent lines longterm to residents. As far as I know there is still no way to buy a sim from a store. There are companies out there that will rent you a sim but I have not dealt with them.

I recently returned from CR and due to a little research my amigo and myself were able to rent SIM chips from a local distributor for 9.95 per day, using my own cell phone (make sure it is Tri band and Unlocked.
This included all local calls within the country, was able to make Int'l calls using the same phone if I wanted to pay 1.99 per minute. We chose to go the Vonage route with the laptop and the Hotels we stayed in have WiFi so that was no problem as the Vonage account has a Miami telephone number, calling the states from the Computer Vonage line is the same as making a local call in the states.

I know the question has been covered before. But not for a while. I was seeking an update. Thanks. Acutally, in Nicaragua the company is also gov't, called Enitel; it's the telephone company. So that's no excuse.

Chea20 wrote:



No one was making excuses for the policies of the Costa Rican government they were advising you of the policies. What the phone company in Nicaragua does has no effect on the phone company in Costa Rica.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I was looking into buying a GSM phone in Rio but decided to wait and buy on ebay. A GSM phone in Rio is about $150 US and I'm seeing them online for under $100.

1) My understanding is that all I would need is an unlocked GSM phone and I could use it in any network that will sell/rent me a SIM card. Is that correct?

2) Is there any difference between an unlocked triband phone like you used in CR and an unlocked GSM phone?

3) Also, I take it in CR that company gave you a SIM card with a temporary number so that unless you had that exact SIM card next time you rented from them your number changed.. Is that about right too?

Anyone that knows the answer(s) feel free to chime in.

1) Correct

2) No, there is no difference

3) Correct

Triband and the newer quadband are bands of GSM. I purchased my phone on Ebay several years ago, an Ericson for $60. Just make sure it's sold unlocked. Even if you own the SIM chip for a system, it's supposed to expire (and the phone number with it) after several months if not used. But mine has revived, with the addition of a minutes card, after months or even a year of disuse in Nicaragua and the Philippines.

You can rent in SJ. I got one last month. Go to reservations@cellulartelephonerentals.com or call Enrico at 866-863-8735. They will meet you at the airport with phone and charger. He'll e-mail your # before you leave. Paid $29 for 3 full days of local calls. If you lose the phone he'll charge you $200. When I left I gave it to desk clerk at the DR for Enrico to pickup later.

hey CB!
i have an unlocked gsm quadband phone
will Enrico just rent/sell the sim card?
thanks!

_________________
Pachuko
AKA Man In Black

This is exactly what I did, I also have an unlocked Quadband and I rented the SIM card, did not inquire about purchasing it. Would be intereted if you could, pease inform if you fnd out what the cost per month of having an unused SIM card (monthly charge) that was just used on your trips.

thanks ChicagoGuy!

i will be renting for a few days
but will inquire about buying sim card
and report back...

_________________
Pachuko
AKA Man In Black

a Cingular phone purchased in the US works perfectly in CR.

don't rent a cell down there. my friend got ripped off by a company recommended by the concierge at the Presidente

Do not know what company your friend used that ripped him off but the company our old friend Rico owns has gotten constantly good reviews.

http://cellulartelephonerentals.com/

Worth checking out.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine