www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I suppose that would be possible. I don't believe that they will sell a SIM without the buyer having a phone to put it in. They do use a passport for ID and check (and record?) the IMEI number of the phone of the passport holder/purchaser. I don't believe that anything says that you have to activate the SIM immediately.


I wonder if the owner's name really matters. It is only a record of the original purchaser. What if you sell or give away your phone? There is no contract and it up to the user to recharge or allow the SIM to expire.

I left my cell phone and SIM that I bought in Oct with my GF in CR with instructions to recharge it each month for c2.500 until I return in Jan. I told her to go ahead and use the phone to make calls since it will be paid for. I doubt that it will matter to ICE that it is her using the phone/SIM and not me.

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

I did the same thing as Western, left cell with girl and each month she puts more minutes in for me. It does not matter who uses the phone just as long as you continue to put minutes in so it does not expire.

Why do you keep paying just to keep it active when you could just pick up a new SImn at the airport the next time you come in?

Orange, I don't know this from personal experience but, if you read a few posts back, there's been a few times when ICE doesn't have any prepaid lines available. My understanding is it's happened twice since August.

mh

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mh

My thought exactly. ICE's track record hasn't been stellar so far with the prepaid SIMs. Until I feel certain that I can pick-up a new SIM evertime I visit it only costs about $4 a month the keep the SIM active. And the custodian can use the airtime and maybe save a couple of bucks off of their cellular bill.

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

I picked one up at the airport Saturday, no problems.

BND

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Dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians

Glad to know the program is still up.. Be down in a couple of days..

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"THE TRUTH IS' EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HURT YOU. YOU JUST GOTTA FIND THE ONE WORTH SUFFERING FOR"
Robert Nesta Marley

Any updates on this guys? Also, do you guys know what time the ICE offie at SJO close? I'll be arriving at 9pm at night.

I have an unlocked QUAD band Samsung Blackjack. It should work, I believe CR is 1800 mhz band.

Speedmaster:

The last update was only 3 days ago. That's pretty current.

I don't know what hours they work. I wouldn't doubt if they are a very Tico-like regular business hours, 9AM to 6PM. I've only bought there at around midday.

Can someone advise if they have found the ICE desk open early or late?

As far as your Blackjack goes, it should be fine for CR. Hope you get your SIM okay. Let us know if they were open that late.

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

I'll report back. I have the BlackJack 2 and even installed Garmin XT with Costa Rica Maps. I checked all my hotels and even Del Rey/Strip bars are in the POI database! GPS in Costa Rica. Oh hell yeah.

Garmin has maps for CR now?!

I want them!

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

Garmin doesn't have them. It is another company/3rd party that supplies map for Costa Rica that work on Garmin devices. Google "Garmin Costa Rica GPS" There are sites that give you full links to buy (or get them via torrent). Garmin XT works on any Windows Mobile phone.

http://www.gpstravelmaps.com/costarica.php

It is good. It has hotels as far away as Mal Pais/Limon/Dominical. Very current.]

If anyone is interested, Ebay has Blackjack2 and Motorola q9h phones. Quad band with GPS. I think they would be the best phone/gps combo for CR. I got mine for $60 and tested it with several Prepaid SIMs.

I purchased one yesterday in the PM 4:00. I found out these conditions:

The SIM is not only registered in your name and passport, but it is registered the phone which it is put into. Supposedlly it will only work with that phone, and cannot be transferred to another phone. You must have the apartado (phone) with you, as they will register it, and activate the card.

Supposedly, you cannot purchase them anywhere else except the airport kiosk.

Lastly, there is a link to check at ICE if your phone can use the prepaid card.

http://portal.grupoice.com/wps/wcm/conn ... homol/0gsm

My purchase went smoothly.

Let me add a bit of confusion.

I didn't ask about the different systems, but I'm reading an article from last January that says that the prepaids are used on the TDMA system.

Hope this helps more than confuses.

Easy to find out, ask somebody if you can use their phone for a minute. Put in your pre-paid SIM in their phone and see if it works. I'm guessing that it will.