www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I use both vonage and skype. Both will serve the purpose and very cost effective way to communicate with the states. For the traveler that owns a laptop, skype is probably the most practical. In both cases you need to carry a device with you. With vonage, you need to bring your vonage box. With skype you need a computer with head set.

The good part about Vonage, if you transfer your home phone service to vonage, you can bring your box with you and they won't even know you have left town.

I use Vonage in CR and my friends and family can call me with a local call.

I must stand corrected. I just received a call from CR. Chica no longer has a "PRIVATE" number. The number showed up on my phone as well as the "197" prefix for the calling card. So, I guess you should check to see if the phone you are using has a private number or not.

dapanz1

Valuable info here for those that need it. Would someone read these posts and add to/ subtract from/ amend any info? I haven't the need or expertise to do so, but I have heard CR illegalized VOIP.

jazzbocr the thread dumpster diver

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Where did you hear that VOIP was illegal in CR???

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I just got a call from SJO. IM GONNA BE A DADDY!!! Four pages now of back and forth "my phone is better than your phone" or something like that! This strikes me a funny!

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

VOIP is TECHNICALLY illegal in Costa Rica. At this time, pre CAFTA implementation, ICE is the only entity allowed to offer any type of phone service and they and their affiliate RACSA are the only ones who can offer internet service. However in reality VOIP is alive and well. I use Vonage as do many of my neighbors.

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

Thanks ID. I had no idea that it was illegal. Jazzbo - you were right, and I stand corrected. Damn, I'm such a newbie! (...and I don't want to hear anything from the peanut gallery)!

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I use Vonage here and it shows the assigned numbers. However, calls from Costa Rica show up on my Vonage as, the Costa Rican number, Restricted, Anonymous, and Unknown.

dude. hit the free internet access somewhere and join skype. or use yahoo on your laptop. or an internet cafe.. skype will come up with no number associated with it. its called skype out.

Has anyone tried magicjack? Please give feedback if you have. I'm thinking of trying it.

Magicjack.com

Baddog

I have use MagicJack from Hotel Amistad and the Castillo Hotel. Works perfectly as advertise. You can make calls just like if you were at home and received calls to a local USA number. Highly recommend. Do a search on MagicJack and there is more information available.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

I got MagicJack a few weeks ago, and used it for the 1st time in CR at the end of May (at the SL). It worked perfect! Highly recommended! Plus, you pick your area code and phone number from your local exchange, so when you call the states, it shows up on the caller i.d. as a local number. $20 per year for unlimited use, and you never get a phone bill!

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I have been using Yahoo voice for about 6 months, both in the U.S. and in CR. 90% of the time in CR it works fine, shows my US number. The quality of the calls are dependent on the local internet connection, sometimes an issue in CR. Cost is cheap, my initial $25 is at about $11, after three trips and hours of calls. It is a few cents a minute with the US number from CR to the US.

I also vouch for Magic Jack.I spent 2 weeks in Rio.I was on call for a help desk.My hours were for 8am to noon every day.While I did all my other work from my high speed in my Apt.NO ONE knew where I was at.I took care of Biz.And then when I got back.My boss told me I need to go on vacation and relax that I put in to many hours and calls for support.I told her that I wanted to stay close to my work.But I would like to take time off later in the year when our Biz is slow.Dale Ray

I just looked up MagicJack and it has a 30 day trial period for free that ends today. It looks promising, Unfortunately, you need the jack to plug in your computer.

If you think ahead, MagicJack or Vonage works great. I use Vonage, including a FAX line (for signed paperwork).

The PC's like Skype, Yahoo, et al usually work with a PC. You're sort of stuck near the computer.

I bought a Skype cordless phone that should work like a base. I wasn't sure until I came down here that Vonage would work, so I wanted a backup. So I have the Skype phone available, if anyone is interested.

Anyway, it's nice having unlimited calling to the States without ICE charging our landline phone LD charges.