PP, On my thread about Blackberrys in SD you advised getting a GSM and using the Claro system. Since I purchased a CDMA unlocked because of cost I wonder if when it is set up with Claro it will be slower than what you suggested using Claro with the GSM? Also, is it possible the Galaxy mentioned might be the Chinese version with dual sim cards? Yes, Verizon sold their DR business to Carlos Slim, the Mexican who supposedly is the world's richest man. I also have a Tracfone which was used only for traveling and has expired. Since you seem to be the one of the experts kind enough to give advise, do you know if this can be unlocked in the DR? Back in the summer folks on the internet claimed it couldn't be. Maybe it can now. Since Carlos Slim owns Tracfone maybe he has really made the unlocking next to impossible.
I have the specs for Claro's CDMA frequencies somewhere, I have to find it. For data speed, the main thing to look for is that your phone matches their 3G frequencies...see below
Claro
GSM Data frequency
2G - GSM 850, GSM 900 (also known as EDGE)
3G - HSDPA 850
AT&T (Note, the 3G is the same as Claro's)
2G - GSM 850, GSM 900 (also known as EDGE)
3G - HSDPA 850
T-Mobile
2G - GSM 850, GSM 900 (also known as EDGE)
3G - HSDPA 900
I am going to switch my DR phone to an AT&T phone for this same reason...my Sprint phone works on EDGE GSM 900, and it's painfully slow.
As for Tracphone, I just did a quick google search and saw all sorts of unlock services for Tracfones. Note that you didn't give a phone model, so I did a broad search.
Tracfone is an
MVNO that operates on AT&T & T-mobile's network for GSM. That should work just fine with Claro if you can unlock it. Speed of internet depends on which network it was setup to use (refer to the link to check how).