Which cell phone provider offers the BEST international calling/texting plan??

CandaceL87

New member
Mar 24, 2011
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Hi, I am getting ready to move to DR in a few weeks, and I wanted to know who is the best cell phone service provider out there? I will be living in Punta Cana if that helps... I would like to be able to keep in touch with my friends and family in the US just as I do now...

Basically, does anyone offer unlimited international text messaging? ( I'm a HUGE texter!), decent data/internet plan, and a good international calling plan would be great as well!

I have looked at Claro and Orange's websites but wasn't able to get a clear understanding of the plans they offer.

I'm sure that there have been PLENTY of threads on this topic already, so I apologize for the redundancy. :squareeye
 
Nov 25, 2008
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its normal not understanding the plans these companies, sometimes its like playing 3 card monte; you just don't know where the offer is
 
Feb 7, 2007
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Calls to USA, Canada, PR are charged as local off-network calls.

The provider whom you should chose depends on whether you want pay-as-you-go prepaid, flex, postpaid, etc. Foe pay-as-you-go prepaid, Viva is the cheapest. For postpaid, it's a close call between Orange and Claro. Claro has more extensive 3G network but EDGE data speed suck big (about a speed of 36.6k dialup). Orange is catching up with 3G coverage and its EDGE data speed (for use with non-3G devices) is the best in the DR and comparable to the slowest DSL connection. Viva's data services suck BIG, speed is virtually zero at the peak times of day and comparable to Claro's EDGE speed (which is bad) in off-peak times.

The best rates you can get with Business plans on Orange, but for that you have to have your company. No company will offer you fully open (postpaid) plans. They will allow you to sign up for flex plans (prepaid/postpaid hybrid) where you prepay the minutes plan at a slight (about 5%) rate disadvantage to the fully open postpaid plan for the same number of minutes. After you use up your minutes you enter scratch cards but your minutes will be charged at the plan rate (e.g. if you get 60 minutes for 300 pesos, after you use up your minutes when you enter 100 pesos scratch card your minutes will cost the same 5 pesos per minute, etc.). In the DR you get free incoming calls and are not penalized to go over your minutes. In many cases the over-the-plan minutes are actually slightly cheaper than in-plan minutes.

The flex hybrid plans and postpaid plans require a contract of 12 or 18 months, but give you 30-50% cheaper calling than pay-as-you-go prepaid.

The pay-as-you-go minutes are at about 10-11 pesos per minute on Orange and Claro, and about 7.50 pesos (recently raised) on Viva.

On Claro pay-as-you-go you get 1 free favorite number (setup fee 50 pesos) and you can call up to 5 minutes per call free. then you can hang up and redial. You also get one favorite number for free SMS message-sending, but only within Claro network (no USA numbers).

You can get data plans both prepaid and postpaid, and they cost the same. Many prepaid data plans (e.g. Blackberry) can be gotten at day/week/two-week/monthly package. Claro has APN open on all prepaid Blackberry plans and does not limit data usage on APN so you will not have 3G speeds reduced. On postpaid plans it limits the data usage to 500MB per months at 3G speeds and after that the speed is reduced. Orange does not have APN open on prepaid plans, only on postpaid. It has an unofficial policy (at the moment) that it does not reduce 3G speed regardless of your data usage.

You can get Iphone plans and other smartphone plans in both Claro and Orange. But if you want smartphone (non-BB plan) I suggest you get Blackberry Social prepaid on Claro, costs RD$750 per month with taxes, because it has an open APN and can be used in any smartphone and even tethered with laptop. See here: http://www.dr1.com/forums/living/115959-trick-cheap-3g-internet-claro.html and http://www.dr1.com/forums/east-coas...an-cell-number-internet-without-contract.html
 

tragoddess

New member
Jul 7, 2011
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Tragoddess

Tragoddess: I am also planning a move to Punt Cana, we have to connect.
Hi, I am getting ready to move to DR in a few weeks, and I wanted to know who is the best cell phone service provider out there? I will be living in Punta Cana if that helps... I would like to be able to keep in touch with my friends and family in the US just as I do now...

Basically, does anyone offer unlimited international text messaging? ( I'm a HUGE texter!), decent data/internet plan, and a good international calling plan would be great as well!

I have looked at Claro and Orange's websites but wasn't able to get a clear understanding of the plans they offer.

I'm sure that there have been PLENTY of threads on this topic already, so I apologize for the redundancy. :squareeye
 

carib

New member
Jul 16, 2002
142
6
0
why?

I live in Punta Cana (NOT Bavaro) for 6 years, and after living in other areas of the DR. May I ask, why would you want to live here? What are your expectations? By the way, may I suggest that you do not confuse PC with Bavaro

Carib
 

CandaceL87

New member
Mar 24, 2011
49
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No offense, but I know the difference between PC and Bavaro... I'm moving there to teach... and I don't have any expectations, when you come with expectations you usually end up disappointed..
 

stallion

Mr. Main Event
May 28, 2004
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I live in Punta Cana (NOT Bavaro) for 6 years, and after living in other areas of the DR. May I ask, why would you want to live here? What are your expectations? By the way, may I suggest that you do not confuse PC with Bavaro

Carib

What does this have to do with best cell phone provider?? This is hijacking.
 

gandolf50

New member
Apr 17, 2011
157
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If you get a land line there are plans available for about 18U$D from the US to your number. Unlimited calling. "Phone Home" is one.
 

Squat

Tropical geek in Las Terrenas
Jan 1, 2002
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Orange (...) has an unofficial policy (at the moment) that it does not reduce 3G speed regardless of your data usage.
Indeed, same goes for my Flybox (Plan NetHogar)... it has been 2 months that I enjoy unlimited data plan, for the same price: 1907RD$ !!!! I was wondering if there was any mistake (!!??!!)