www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The prepaids are on the GSM system, not TDMA.

TDMA phones don't use SIM cards as far as I know, they are like Verizon Wireless phones in the US.

I did that in July with the first SIM I bought...
My GFs Motorola was being unreliable so when I left I gave her my Samsung tri-band with the prepago SIM to use. She immediately swapped the SIMs so the Samsung was then using her ICE contract SIM and the Moto was operating on the prepago SIM. Both phones worked fine.

It is true that when you purchase a prepago SIM that ICE records your passport # and cellphone IMEI # but that information is for their records only. It in no way restricts the use of the SIM. It will work in ANY unlocked phone.

Orange is correct. The prepago (or even ICE contract SIMs) are for GSM phones. TDMA phones DO NOT use SIMs. Those phones operate on a different technology. I don't know what article whosear was reading but evidently it was BS or he has misunderstood what it said. Here is the link to the ICE website with the prepago SIM info (for the 100th time )...

http://portal.grupoice.com/wps/wcm/connect/web+content/Esp/CatTelecom/Personal/solucVoz/Prepago/

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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

today A guy working at the phone store in the san pedro mall told me there were no more sim cards available untill after the first of the year. Does anyone have any info on sim cards availability?

It was an archived La Republica article. No BS...scanned the headline and first paragraph.

Maybe the store can't get any. Go direct to an ICE office. I went to the one in Pavas. They told me the same thing and then I pressed them a little harder, low and behold, they had plenty.

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Just my 2C...

Had no trouble at the ice office yesterday around 1pm

Bill

Which ICE office, Bill?
I have heard of others being turned away at the downtown office but then finding the SIMs at the Pavas office.

I have also heard of some people at the ICE offices refering to them as "tourist" SIMs. You might try that and see if they understand.

By far the best bet is to get yor SIM at SJO on your way in. Otherwise it is really hit or miss. We can only hope that this situation improves over time as the ICE employees learn of the program.

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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

Thursday afternoon the ICE guy at the airport booth said they have plenty of SIM cards and he hasn't heard of any shortage until 1/1.

At least at the airport.

mh

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mh

Picked up SIM card tonight at 12/12/09 at ICE booth in baggage claim. Got it around 8:30 pm. Guy said card would not be active till morning. That is the latest.

Baggage claim area in SJO

Bill

Where can you get a card refilled here in town

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Knowledge speaks...Wisdom listens

My understanding is that you have to go to an ice office to refill the card. However if you dial #150 on the phone there is an option to refill the card. How that works, I don't know because I paid cash for the card at the ice office in pavas.

The ice employees that helped me in the Pavas office referred to the program as "pre-pagado" which is obviously pre-paid. I never heard them or anyone refer to the card as "tourist SIM".

When I arrived in October I stopped at the ice office in the baggage claim area of the airport and they had plenty of chips there. However once you leave the airport you cannot get back into that baggage claim area because of security.

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Just my 2C...

To get a refill, you can either go into an ICE office or they may sell them around town, at places where they sell prepaid phone cards, but I'm not sure.

You buy a recharge card (looks like a prepaid calling card), dial 147, and enter the code and you're recharged.

I uploaded the recharge card onto my webspace to show what it looks like: http://home.roadrunner.com/~orange/prepaid_sim.jpg (it has already beeen used so the code is no good )