So I'm ready to upgrade my cell and I will be in CR by the end of Nov. What is a good phone to buy in the States and activate down there that would allow me to make sports plays and check in with the forum? I've heard different things so thought you guys with similar interests (sports degenerate) might have the answer. Thanks for the help.
Verizon Wireless GSM phone can roam here, with an international roaming plan. Not sure about other carriers. It will be expensive. And I don't think you can get data roaming, but it will probably be easier to ask Verizon (and find out their data roaming rates. I heard roaming rates in the U.K. for T-Mobile is $5 per megabyte!) Data here is GPRS.
Roaming is only option. You can't activate your phone here with a local number and pay local rates. You can in Panama, but not here.
ICE SUCKS!
Roaming is only option. You can't activate your phone here with a local number and pay local rates. You can in Panama, but not here.
ICE SUCKS!
You have to buy a phone here, and then wait several months/years for a phone line. You'll need to put the phone line in the name of a corporation (another month or so to set up).
Actually that order should be reversed:
1) setup a Costa Rican corporation (~1 month or buy a shelf corp)
2) once setup, solicit a phone line with name and cedula number of corporation
3) once ICE calls you and says they have a line, go buy a cell phone at a local retail store (you'll need the receipt to get the phone line)
I did 3/2 backwards; the phone is practically obsolete while waiting for a phone line, and who knows where the receipt is anymore.
Actually that order should be reversed:
1) setup a Costa Rican corporation (~1 month or buy a shelf corp)
2) once setup, solicit a phone line with name and cedula number of corporation
3) once ICE calls you and says they have a line, go buy a cell phone at a local retail store (you'll need the receipt to get the phone line)
I did 3/2 backwards; the phone is practically obsolete while waiting for a phone line, and who knows where the receipt is anymore.
Since it is important for my livelihood, I am buying a SA with a phone number, so that part is covered. The next step is where I get lost. I have read that Blackberrys are in country and working as well as Iphones. Should I wait to buy one of those when I come down?
The next question is whether you guys use skype or just pay the cell charges for international calls. For me there will only be a few international calls-say ten a week.
The next question is whether you guys use skype or just pay the cell charges for international calls. For me there will only be a few international calls-say ten a week.
If you're going to be waiting for a phone line, best wait until you have it. New phone models come out, and prices drop.
If you know you're going to have a phone line real soon, buy a jail broken phone in the U.S. and just put in the SIM chip you get for the line. If you need to, you can buy the cheapest GSM phone you can find here to get the line.
No, don't try to buy a Blackberry or iPhone here. At least not until ICE offers one officially at a subsidized price (if ever).
P.S. You might avoid the iPhone. They suck crap on low signal strength, and signal sucks crap in Costa Rica. Maybe a G1 will be better?
