www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yesterday while I was in the airport baggage area I did my normal routine and went over to the ICE both and bought a 199 card. Just to make conversation and practice a little Spanish while waiting for my bags, I asked the agent if she knew when pre paid SIM cards would be available to non residents. She said to me right now and she has them, after I picked my jaw up off the floor I repeated that I am not a resident and she said no problem.


She hands me small brochure with the rate information. They have three denominations 2500c 5000c or 10000c and they all have different rates and expiration times. The 2500 is 30 days and 40c pleno “daytime” and 32c reducido “nights”. The 5000c is 45 days and 37c pleno and 30c reducido. The 10000c is 60 days and 34c pleno and 28c reducido.

I think OK let me take one for the team and find out if this thing works so I ask her for a 5000c card. She took a copy of my passport and the IMEI number from my phone. She then takes a few minutes and enters my info into the computer. She the gives me a small package with the SIM card and a single page contract with my phone number circled. After you insert the SIM and turn on the phone it prompts you for the PIN number that’s on a separate card included in the package. You need to re enter the PIN when ever you turn the phone on.

I first try making a call from my hotel room to the cell phone and it goes right through. I then do the opposite. On the first outgoing call you get a recorded message from ICE and then the call goes right through.

So far I’m a happy customer but keep in mind a few things if you try this.

First you need a GSM phone capable of 1800mhz basically any quad band and most tri band phones. It also must be UNLOCKED. If you got it through a T-mobile or an AT&T plan I can almost guarantee it will NOT be unlocked unless you did it yourself or paid someone to do it.

Second all the paper work phone prompts as well as my conversation with the agent are all in Spanish. Even the menus on the phone change to Spanish with the ICE chip installed.

Good news, thanks for the info!

Great news. Thank you for sharing.

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A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

I think we'll be seeing the pricing from the cell phone rental places changing a little from their $10/day rip-off rates, to something more sensible.

Would a dual band 900/1800Mhz phone work in CR?

I assume that as long as it works on 1800Mhz it can by dual, tri, or quad, right?

I read the paper and some CR internet sites everyday and I was not aware of this program. My friend got a prepaid chip a few months back but was told he had to be a resident. I thought they were out of lines for those also. Maybe this is a test program at the airport or something. As in the future this service will be offered by ICE.

About time CR joined the modern world. I will stop by ICE downtown today to see if this is available everywhere.

I would be very surprised if it does not work. I say try it just turn in the phone when the plane lands and see if you get a signal and the provider shows ICE. This way you will know before you buy the chip.

Fyi:
Every dual band phone that I have ever seen are either 850/1900 very popular or 950/1800 far less popular.

It's called prepago if that helps.

I would like to know where you can buy refill cards. I you find out anything in regards to refills please post it.

I’m going to the terra mall in a little while and I know the have an ICE booth there. I’m going to ask if I can buy a refill cards there.

Thanks

My friend buys the prepago cards at any ICE office. I am not sure if any other merchant carries them as most people are not aware of this and not that many have been released.

Thanks for posting this helpful info.

How about this? It's a no-name phone, but it's $20.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0371984447

Thanks for the info..i should stop by to check it out when i land

Holy Jumping SIM Cards, Batman!

For this single post, you, sir, are my candidate for CRTer of the year. Thank you very much for the information.

mh

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mh

Thanks for the update FMC1!
I'll be sure to stop at the ICE booth at the airport on Monday for a prepago SIM.

Do you know if you can buy additional cards and activate them as needed?

_________________
Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Yes I do now.

Walk into Mas x menos and go over to the booth where the Ticos are waiting to pay their phone or electric bills, at the one down the block from the hotel presedente it’s immediately to your left as you walk in. Tell the agent you want to recarga su prepago and tell her how much 2500, 5000 or 10000. She will give you a register receipt with a 14 digit PIN you then call 147 on the phone with the prepaid SIM choose option 1 then enter the PIN number at that point is when the credit is active and the clock starts.

With 10000c as long as the calls are local and you were to make every call at the full daytime rate you get almost 300 minutes. The international rates are not listed on the brochure I have, but I did try a call to the US to see if would work and it does. The call lasted about 15 seconds and cost 150c, so we are talking in the 600c per minute neighborhood for a call to the states needless to say there are much cheaper alternatives.

Here is a little side bar.
That SIM will expire in 30, 45 or 60 days depending on which you buy. So let’s say you are in CR for two weeks then go back to the US and return to CR in 3 months your SIM is expired and that phone number is recycled, you only get a 5 day grace period. I guess you could give the SIM to your favorita along with a hand full of cards so she can recharge it every month or so if you want to keep the number.

I'll did through the box of used phones I have and get one of them unlocked. Thanks.