www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I use WhatsApp.

I have a dedicated iPhone 3 I use only for CR. Since it only has a Kolbi ICE SIM card in it I had to register WhatsApp in country. The registration is completed by them sending you a text message to that specific phone number.

That's important to know because when I finally decided to go ahead and get WhatsApp I was home in the US and could not complete the registration!

Once registered you can use WhatsApp anywhere via wifi. Too bad you can't register via wifi. And you have to register to a specific phone number, not the phone itself (say, for example you swap SIM cards....).

I use it to say hello to friends (guys as well as chicas) while I'm here in the US, to set up dates with chicas prior to my arrival in country, and to communicate while in CR. Its a great tool.

It is also excellent for sending/receiving photos, voice recordings, and videos.

I have a Spanish/English translator on that phone so I can very easily copy text and paste it back and forth from WhatsApp...really helps with communication.

I have read that there are some security issues with WhatsApp. You might want to google that. Since I only use it with one phone that has limited contact and personal info on it I don't sweat it.

I'm the same, RM ... but a quick note on registering whatsApp ... I bought an Android (Samsung Galaxy 3) clone for use in CR, and I popped in my ATT sim card in the US to test it. I installed WhatsApp through this card, and then when I got to CR and popped in the ICE card (Claro), WhatsApp worked with no issue (even on a different network and phone number).
Now that phone supports two sim cards, so maybe that had something to do with it.

oh, and to the OP: every CR chica I wanted to keep in tough with happened to use WhatsApp.

After you register, you can swap out SIM cards and it will still work. You can register your phone in the US and just bring it down and switch SIM cards.

Exactly. No need to wait until you have a CR sim card to get WhatsApp installed.

I initially had issues getting WhatsApp to recognize the contacts in my phone. Make sure you enter the numbers in as suggested on their site.

If you are adding foreign numbers (outside the country registered at), you need to use the country code too.

If you are adding foreign numbers (outside the country registered at), you need to use the country code too.

I have a Smart phone but a Tica i know doesn't. Can i still text her using Whatsapp?

No, whatsapp requires both parties to have it in order to work.

The next step is to buy her a smart phone.

Thanks. NOT!