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i just saw in AM Costa Rica that the telecom legislation is once again on hold until after Arias leaves office. personally, i am happy with ICE as a government monopoly; it keeps the costs low and so far i have no complaints about service. it’s one of the perks of socialism! does anyone know who the big competitors are going to be in this new game? and i wonder just how expensive it’s all going to get when the big guys roll into town. i heard, but have not confirmed, that after CAFTA passed in Nica cheap cell phone rates went out the window.
i hope you are right. i can’t remember ever seeing a list of potential players, and the requirements they must have are quite stringent. i also don’t now who is servicing Nica but what i heard was that the basic cel phone service went from $8.00 to $50. if that happens here, i will send up smoke signals rather than pay prices like that.
Well, maravilla, at least you and I have the choice to pay the $50 (if that’s what it turns out to be). To many Costa Ricans, that choice would be between talking and texting or eating. I cannot imagine how this population could absorb that kind of cost.
And I, too, am perfectly satisfied with ICE’s landline and cell services. We have a different, also satisfactory, service for Internet access, so what would induce me to pay more?
i agree, david. i like ICE and the fact that it is gov’t controlled. i guess that makes me a socialist at heart! my phone bill runs about $14 for my cell; don’t have a landline up here in the campo, but i do have high speed internet for $55 and magic jack, so i am a happy camper with the way things are. the argument that competition is good is a specious argument to me. all it does is drive up the cost of goods, and doesn’t guarantee better service.
John
Thanks
How much is the approximate cost. Can I bring my own modem?
Stan[quote=”jdocop”]Stan, if you’re talking about the new 3g data card modem, the answer is yes.[/quote]
You know, as I reflect on the breakup of AT&T back in the 1980s, I still fail to see any great advantage to customers. My cost for home landline phone service never went down, no meaningful services were added, and customer service fell through the floor. Whatever the supposed benefits of creating the Baby Bells, many have reconstituted themselves into a few regional companies, never reached my level.
A new word of caution . . .
ICE publishes a list of phones that are known to be compatible with their network. If you then go to the manufacturers’ websites, you’ll find all the technical information . . . information that will make your head spin unless you’re an unabashed techie. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that, while some phones are listed as compatible, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re compatible with the [b]3G[/b] network. They may, in fact, be only 2G phones.
Take the Nokia 5530, for example. It’s on ICE’s list, but it’s not a 3G phone. Just ask the guy who owns one (well, two, actually). Don’t make the same mistake I’ve made. Be very careful what you buy.
And now I’m stuck . . .
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]A new word of caution . . .
ICE publishes a list of phones that are known to be compatible with their network. If you then go to the manufacturers’ websites, you’ll find all the technical information . . . information that will make your head spin unless you’re an unabashed techie. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that, while some phones are listed as compatible, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re compatible with the [b]3G[/b] network. They may, in fact, be only 2G phones.
Take the Nokia 5530, for example. It’s on ICE’s list, but it’s not a 3G phone. Just ask the guy who owns one (well, two, actually). Don’t make the same mistake I’ve made. Be very careful what you buy.
And now I’m stuck . . .[/quote]
OK.
#1 buy 3G phone, make sure you ask if it compatible with ICE (we bought the cheapest one we could find in Importadora Monge)
#2 Go to ICE office closest to you, (multiplaza inside BCR had no one in it)
#3 Have available residency card, and your address.Bought phone and had line in less that half an hour!
I could be wrong but I do believe you have to be a resident to obtain a line. There are only 3G ones available.
Okay, say a little more, please. What cheapo 3G phone did you buy at Importadora Monge? And what did it cost?
Thanks,
Dave
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Okay, say a little more, please. What cheapo 3G phone did you buy at Importadora Monge? And what did it cost?
Thanks,
Dave[/quote]
It’s a Nokia 2730, 2.0 mega pixel. Yes it was the cheapest, but not cheap! Still cost 195.000 colones, or around $200 Canadian. Monthly rate is 3500 colones for 60 mins. That’s all I need it for,I have good internet service where I am located in Puntarenas.
Thank you.
As fate would have it, I found a Nokia 2130 [b](Oops! That’s a Nokia 2730-C)[/b] at La Confianza in Grecia for c83,000 [i]effectivo[/i]. It’s dual band with a USB port and a 2.0 megapixel camera. We really only want it for voice and text, so it seemed a good choice.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Thank you.
As fate would have it, I found a Nokia 2130 at La Confianza in Grecia for c83,000 [i]effectivo[/i]. It’s dual band with a USB port and a 2.0 megapixel camera. We really only want it for voice and text, so it seemed a good choice.[/quote]
Sorry David, i made a mistake on the price. It was 95,000 colones – not 195,000. yes thats all I require it for too, and I am not really sure about the texting!!
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