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You can pretty much make the deposit anyplace that accepts ICE bill payments. I wasn’t aware that ICE could charge your credit/debit card. We pay our ICE bills via HSBC’s online banking, so we’ve never tried having them debit our account. That’s news to us.
If you make this happen while you’re here next and before you actually move here, maybe somebody locally could pay your bills for you.
Not only can they accept payments, via debit card, in my local (Arenal) office, but I paying the monthly bill online direct from my bank account is actually very easy. Don’t know about them automatically debiting my account, and never did care for that option, anyway.
Don’t hold my feet to the fire but I believe a phone must be able to receive a frequency signal of 850 mhz. Also if you get the internet service using the phone it would have to include a USB port.
BTW, the ICE phone I have charges while it is connected to my PC. Because the USB port and the charging port are one in the same. This is probably true of other models too.
Also since the internet service is a seperate pay item. Your minutes are not affected while you are connected to the internet through the phone.
David
Has anyone connected this 3G network to their laptop or any other computer for internet service?
Bandera[quote=”fincatenorio”]Just in case anyone was wondering the internet service available from ICE with the new 3G network works excellant in areas where high speed internet is not available. Yes, this is an additional fee monthly but in our case worth it until the internet service are brought into our area. I also like the ability to log onto the internet via my handset anywhere I travel in CR. I went with an ICE povided phone because I was too paranoid that my cell phone I brought from the US would not work with this system.
I opted for a HUAWEI hanset, it’s a touch screen phone that works amazingly well considering I had no idea who they were. I wanted the Motorola phone that ICE indicated they were going to offer but that was not available afterall in the Tileran office. And I didn’t need nor want the bells and whistles that the two Nokia’s they offered and were more expensive monthly on the same plan I have. F.Y.I., ICE offers 4 phones for their various plans.
I also like the fact ICE offered me a $6 a month trial on the internet service through the 3G network. I was told after my first month ICE will offer 3 levels of service for the same, $12, $18 and $24, the latter no doubt the Cadillac version but still one hell of a lot cheaper than anything I ever had in the US. If anyone has experience with this tier system can you inform as to what each tier offers?.[/quote] Thanks for the information, being a new transplant from Florida to LaFortuna and having just aquired a cell phone (which by the way wont receive in Nuevo Arenal) i can receive Calls within Costa Rica and sometimes calls from the US, I will rectify the situation when I return to CR from Florida in a few days..much appreciated the trial period and prices for the internet, thanks for sharing your knowledge[quote=”sueandchris”]We also have a Ltda. How long does it take (with the proper paperwork from our attorney) to actually obtain cellphone service under the name of the Ltda.? Also, do you have to have a utility bill to do so? The reason I ask is I wonder if I should try to get this done next month on our final short trip before our move in July?
Hmmmm…..[/quote]my corporation went through within 3 weeks
Thanks Carol and William:
Thanks for your reply.
Our corporation has been established for some months. Do you mean that your cellphone order was processed in three weeks after you presented your Ltda. paperwork? Thanks!
When we and others got cell service from ICE, it happened in a matter of an hour or so. Once you’ve talked to the clerk, you go pay the deposit, bring back the receipt, they give you the chip or install it for you, and off you go. The worst part is waiting to be waited on.
This all assumes that you have legal standing (citizenship, residency or a Costa Rican corporation) to get the service.
I’m bringing my Motorola Droid down with me next time…it’s Wi-Fi and Skype ready….should be able to make long distance and land line calls with that (I hope):?
Regarding cell phone activation at the airport for non-residents. The following is from a travel forum.I added a link on the bottom.
ICE does, indeed, offer a prepaid cell phone service, that is available to Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. I think it is probably brand new…but I am here now, and am using it.
You can purchase a prepaid SIM at 2 locations in the airport: the ICE desk outside gate 8 (I believe), and the one downstairs at baggage claim (before exiting customs). I was told that the SIM cards can only be purchased at the airport. The SIM cards come preloaded with various amounts from 2500 colones ($5) up to 10000 colones ($20). 2500 colones expires in 30 days, and 10000 expires in 60 days. I was told recharging is easy. You will need an unlocked GSM phone in which to insert the chip (I’m not sure what bands ICE uses, but I’m sure google can tell you). There is no additional charge for the SIM itself.
Costs:
texts to local cell phones are super cheap
calls to local number and cell phones, I was told, cost about 80 colones per minute
Calls to the states, I was told cost about 250 colones per minute
I can’t get mine to send texts to the US or other countries (rather, the people on the other end report they don’t receive them).I was also told it is easy to recharge the phone and extend the expiration by purchasing phone cards at local banks and grocery stores, but have not yet needed to do this.
Hope this helps…
Will this internet connect with your laptop?
Stan[quote=”redfish1223″][quote=”sueandchris”]We also have a Ltda. How long does it take (with the proper paperwork from our attorney) to actually obtain cellphone service under the name of the Ltda.? Also, do you have to have a utility bill to do so? The reason I ask is I wonder if I should try to get this done next month on our final short trip before our move in July?
Hmmmm…..[/quote]my corporation went through within 3 weeks
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