Thread: Cellphone question...

I was thinking about bringing a cellphone with me to use on SXM. I know in other countries you can take an unlocked GSM phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for it. How's it work there? Any particular phone that I should bring, or do they all seem to work?

Thanksss...

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

I was thinking about bringing a cellphone with me to use on SXM. I know in other countries you can take an unlocked GSM phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for it. How's it work there? Any particular phone that I should bring, or do they all seem to work?

Thanksss...

i dont think the brand really matters...as long as it is a gsm phone that is unlocked and atleast dual band...triband might be better...u can get it unlocked here at a place next to mailbox for 20 bucks....u come down and get set up with telcel or uts...the two gsm providers....it is prepay so no month fee....however i think uts offers a monthly package if you want to do so.....

i have a phone that friend was going to throw out....it worked...came here got it unlocked went to telcel got a sim card and 20 buck prepaid card for 40 bucks...then i went on to cards4students.com...signed up and got call back service brings down calls to home to 20cents a minute.....also if you have a frequent flyer account with american airlines....cards4students actually gives 1 mile for every dollar.....

the skipper

Originally Posted by AssyrianSkipper

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

I was thinking about bringing a cellphone with me to use on SXM. I know in other countries you can take an unlocked GSM phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for it. How's it work there? Any particular phone that I should bring, or do they all seem to work?

Thanksss...

i dont think the brand really matters...as long as it is a gsm phone that is unlocked and atleast dual band...triband might be better...u can get it unlocked here at a place next to mailbox for 20 bucks....u come down and get set up with telcel or uts...the two gsm providers....it is prepay so no month fee....however i think uts offers a monthly package if you want to do so.....

i have a phone that friend was going to throw out....it worked...came here got it unlocked went to telcel got a sim card and 20 buck prepaid card for 40 bucks...then i went on to cards4students.com...signed up and got call back service brings down calls to home to 20cents a minute.....also if you have a frequent flyer account with american airlines....cards4students actually gives 1 mile for every dollar.....

the skipper

Sounds good, thanks for the info...

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

Originally Posted by AssyrianSkipper

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

I was thinking about bringing a cellphone with me to use on SXM. I know in other countries you can take an unlocked GSM phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for it. How's it work there? Any particular phone that I should bring, or do they all seem to work?

Thanksss...

i dont think the brand really matters...as long as it is a gsm phone that is unlocked and atleast dual band...triband might be better...u can get it unlocked here at a place next to mailbox for 20 bucks....u come down and get set up with telcel or uts...the two gsm providers....it is prepay so no month fee....however i think uts offers a monthly package if you want to do so.....

i have a phone that friend was going to throw out....it worked...came here got it unlocked went to telcel got a sim card and 20 buck prepaid card for 40 bucks...then i went on to cards4students.com...signed up and got call back service brings down calls to home to 20cents a minute.....also if you have a frequent flyer account with american airlines....cards4students actually gives 1 mile for every dollar.....

the skipper

Sounds good, thanks for the info...

My 2 cents for what it's worth, go with UTS and stick with GSM. TDMA on the island is worthless, especially with overpriced ECC. And I believe that UTS has the lowest local calling rates, which are billed in 10 second incriments, at 25 cents/minute. I don't think any of the other companies do that..... I know if I make a 35 second call on ECC, I lose the full 40 cents.

I just wish I knew about this from the beginning when I got to the island.

Originally Posted by Shikima

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

Originally Posted by AssyrianSkipper

Originally Posted by FutureDoc2be

I was thinking about bringing a cellphone with me to use on SXM. I know in other countries you can take an unlocked GSM phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for it. How's it work there? Any particular phone that I should bring, or do they all seem to work?

Thanksss...

i dont think the brand really matters...as long as it is a gsm phone that is unlocked and atleast dual band...triband might be better...u can get it unlocked here at a place next to mailbox for 20 bucks....u come down and get set up with telcel or uts...the two gsm providers....it is prepay so no month fee....however i think uts offers a monthly package if you want to do so.....

i have a phone that friend was going to throw out....it worked...came here got it unlocked went to telcel got a sim card and 20 buck prepaid card for 40 bucks...then i went on to cards4students.com...signed up and got call back service brings down calls to home to 20cents a minute.....also if you have a frequent flyer account with american airlines....cards4students actually gives 1 mile for every dollar.....

the skipper

Sounds good, thanks for the info...

My 2 cents for what it's worth, go with UTS and stick with GSM. TDMA on the island is worthless, especially with overpriced ECC. And I believe that UTS has the lowest local calling rates, which are billed in 10 second incriments, at 25 cents/minute. I don't think any of the other companies do that..... I know if I make a 35 second call on ECC, I lose the full 40 cents.

I just wish I knew about this from the beginning when I got to the island.

UTS Chippie is a very new company. Their service started midway through 2nd semester and even at the beginning of 3rd semester, it sucked in the Cupecoy area(just ask Ditch Doctor). It has gotten alot better and I recommend it over Telcell anyday. I'll stick to my ECC as I never use my phone anyways, and it's easier to get ahold of me on valuemd... <===sad but true

So... you couldn't have used it when you first got here

Originally Posted by microphage

UTS Chippie is a very new company. Their service started midway through 2nd semester and even at the beginning of 3rd semester, it sucked in the Cupecoy area(just ask Ditch Doctor). It has gotten alot better and I recommend it over Telcell anyday. I'll stick to my ECC as I never use my phone anyways, and it's easier to get ahold of me on valuemd... <===sad but true

So... you couldn't have used it when you first got here

I used ECC for 1st through 3rd and was happy with their coverage, but they were a bit pricey. Made the switch to UTS in 4th and have been satisfied with their coverage, but mostly 'cause they are a TON cheaper than ECC.

Aloha,

dont forget to add that UTS also has the cheapest rates to call the USA. i believe it is about only 40 cents/min. that is a lot cheaper than the other companies.

hey all

question about minutes on mobile phones.

in the usa, they charge minutes to the one calling as well as the one getting the call (i.e. double dipping)

in europe, the person receiving the call (incoming call) is not charged anything, i.e. if someone is calling my cell, my minutes do NOT get used up.

how does that work at rock central?

Originally Posted by TheAlchemist

hey all

question about minutes on mobile phones.

in the usa, they charge minutes to the one calling as well as the one getting the call (i.e. double dipping)

in europe, the person receiving the call (incoming call) is not charged anything, i.e. if someone is calling my cell, my minutes do NOT get used up.

how does that work at rock central?

Receiving calls is free... but making it costs money.

Originally Posted by TheAlchemist

hey all

question about minutes on mobile phones.

in the usa, they charge minutes to the one calling as well as the one getting the call (i.e. double dipping)

in europe, the person receiving the call (incoming call) is not charged anything, i.e. if someone is calling my cell, my minutes do NOT get used up.

how does that work at rock central?

the same as in europe

u get a call ur minutes no used...u make a call ur minutes used

the skipper