Re: CELL PHONE INFO
This information was kindly provided to me by Jim Hinsch. It was a personal email, but I have had so many request, I think it best posted here.
My thanks to Jim for this comprehensive information
Tom
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I always bring my phone down. The service is analog, but most digital phones have analog capability as well. The exception are some of the Sprint PCS phones are digital only and work only on the sprint PCS system. Make sure you know how to change your phone to select system A or B, as if you use Tricom, they are an "A" carrier, Codetel is the "B" carrier. On my Motorola StarTac, this is done by pressing RCL-Asterisk.
If you want to receive calls, which is free, you will have to take your phone to one of the programming centers for TriCom or Codetel, pay about RD$500-700, and wait 1-3 hours while they program it for a second phone number and set it up to use that number. You will need to know how to switch back to your USA phone number (aka, NAM) when you get back, but that procedure should be detailed in the book that came with your phone. It takes up to 24 hours to be able to receive calls after activation.
Tricom sells 2 different kinds of cards, the Amigo and the CellCard. The Amigo is for use only if your phone has been programmed. I was told this and never tried it on an unprogrammed phone. The other is the CellCard, which is the one I use and I've only been able to find it at the large call center in Santo Domingo (I actually have a friend pick me one up before I arrive). The CellCard is good for up to 45 days after 1st use. You set your phone to use the A type carrier and make your call. You will be prompted to enter the card number. They sell for RD$350 and give 30 minutes for calls to the USA or 800 numbers. That comes out to about US$0.73/min. More time for local calls. Local calls cost about US$0.45/min.
Codetel also sells a card, which I have bought at the airport, where you dial a local number and are prompted for the card number and the number you wish to call. This is also for phones that have not been programmed. It works find but I noticed I was unable to call the numbers in the USA that have new area codes and this problem also exists when making calls from their call centers, although the problem does not exist for residential Codetel phone service (calling from people's houses that have Codetel as their carrier). As of a few months ago, Codetel was charging US$1.27/min. for local calls, more than double that of Tricom, but prices may have changed. I'd visit their web page to get current pricing.
I use my cell phone for convenient calls home. The cheapest way to call the USA is with a prepaid calling card. Ronnie, the owner of Ronnie's beach bar next to the Don Juan Hotel sells them in various increments from US$5 to US$100 and the per minute cost is US$0.28 and they can also be used in the USA to call back to the Dominican Republic. They work from any pay phone. Call a toll-free number from the DR or from the USA (different numbers depending on what country you are calling from), enter the number you wish to call and the calling card number. I tried using this card in conjunction with my cell phone, but the cost to call the 800 number was the same as a direct call to the USA.
With all these plans, you can call anywhere in the world, and if your cell phone is programmed to receive, you can receive calls from anywhere in the world.
Another option is to rent a cell phone at the airport. I don't think the office would be open at 11p, but you never know. You go in and give them a credit card number, they spend 20 minutes on hold until they get someone to activate the phone, and then you have a fully functional cell phone for making and receiving calls. You also get wall and auto chargers. The cost is RD$20/day (US$1.25/day). Incoming and outgoing calls cost RD$16/min (US$1.00/min), plus tolls for long distance (long distance within the DR is not extra). The rental office is on the upper level (departure level).
You can stop into any Codetel or Tricom office to find out which locations will program your phone and how much it will cost exactly. I hope this helps.
