www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Gentlemen,

I have a question and I searched the forum but couldn't find an answer.

This is the first time I will be carrying my T-Mobile cell phone to SJO with me for some reason. I am told by T-Mobile that my career in SJO would be ICE. What I need to know is when I call US from my cell phone, will it display my cell number or some weird ICE number as caller ID?

Thanks,

TIG.

ICE is indeed the mobile vendor there. I would assume that either your own number (which is locked into the phone) or no number will show as your caller ID. Expect to pay stiff per minute charges. I'm not familiar with T-mobile phones, but if you have a smartphone and can get a Skype app for it, that's the way to go!

That is probably the best way to go. The Skype. Thanks.

Edit: Ahhh....not so sure anymore about that. I think that data roaming charges would be in the same ball park as calling charges.

Tmobile service does not work at all in SJO. If you have a phone that supports either UMA (blackberry) or a newer android phone that supports wifi calling you can place and receive calls using your number in most places that have wifi.

If your phone is not carrier locked you can get a SIM card from ICE before you leave the baggage area at the airport. This will replace the phone number with a local one. All calls will use this number. If your phone is still under contract tmobile won't give you an unlock code.

I know that wifi calling worked in the SL and Dunn Inn.

First you need to call T-Mobile and ask them to enable international roaming on that phone number, there is no charge for this but they don’t automatically do it you need to ask for it.

When you are in Costa Rica and call a number in the states you dial 001<area code><number> the caller id will show up as your normal number nothing different. If someone in the states calls your number while you are in Costa Rica your phone rings just like normal.

The charges for voice calls are $2.29 per minute both incoming and outgoing. If you use data you will be charged $15.00 per MB.

There are many cheaper alternatives.

Go on ebay and buy an unlocked cell phone for $50, 3g if possible for a little more, and buy a SIM card at the ICE kiosks at the SJ airport or elsewhere and make your calls. Your caller ID will show up as "unknown" or with the actual sim card assigned telephone # depending on if your calling a regular USA tel or cell# or if calling a Magic Jack number. Search SIM cards on this board and you'll find a wealth of info.

All great answers.

I have Tmobile, but have never roamed in SJO. I have an unlocked BB Bold 9700 that supports UMA over wifi, so when I want to call the US I hop onto a wifi network for free LD calls, which show on Caller ID with my regular number. UMA calling works at SL, Amistad, and Hotel M with voice quality ranging from adequate to choppy at all three hotels.

Since it's unlocked, I can also pop in a ICE prepago SIM card and use that as well to call the US -- the prepago international LD rates are pretty reasonable.

For walking around town I carry a cheap unlocked Motorola.

mh

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mh

Dont do it! The rates are incredulus. The local calls and back to the states. Been there. Not good. Try cheap kolbi phone fron ICE about $32 easy to start. Buy after you land and exit your flight. In the lobby of SJO before you go to immigration or luggage claim! Phone comes with charger, radio en CR, memory for music, text messaging, local and international calls. Prepaid of course!

I love it.

Every visit to CR I just activate with $10.00 / 5,000 colon por minutos!

No 500 cellbill when I get back!

fitty

New T-Mobile phones have wifi calling enabled and free, just need to connect to your hotel wifi.
That is if you have wifi calling enable t-mobile phone.

UMA over wifi -- i.e. free wifi calling -- has been available on some Tmobile phones (i.e. Blackberry Curve and Bold) since 2009.

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mh

Thanks guys.

Wifi calling it is. I have it and tested yesterday.