Cellphones

[pdimanche]

Good morning everyone!

Can someone please tell me what kind of cellphones work in DR? I recently sent a beautiful little cellphone to my Girl in Santo Domingo, and she tried to have it connected, however, she was told it cannot work in DR. Can someone tell me what kind I should send.

Thank you for your help

Pat

[N&D]

Originally Posted by pdimanche

Good morning everyone!

Can someone please tell me what kind of cellphones work in DR? I recently sent a beautiful little cellphone to my Girl in Santo Domingo, and she tried to have it connected, however, she was told it cannot work in DR. Can someone tell me what kind I should send.

Thank you for your help

Pat

I'm not sure what type of cell phone you sent or where your from but me being from new york I buy cellphones from tmobile. not all cellphones work overthere because they have a chip that prevents you from activated it with any other service that isn't there own. when you go to buy a cellphone don't go to the company. do go to a cellphone electronics store that sells different kinds from different subcribersin that one store. ex: att, verizon, sprint, tmobile. be specific in asking for a cellphone that can be activated and used in dr. there is no sale prices for these phones since your not acivating there.

[MrMike]

There are 4 different mobile phone companies here, all use slightly different technology and I think between the 4 of them they pretty much cover all the bases. Tell your GF to try a different company if one told her it couldn't be done.

[pdimanche]

Originally Posted by N&D

I'm not sure what type of cell phone you sent or where your from but me being from new york I buy cellphones from tmobile. not all cellphones work overthere because they have a chip that prevents you from activated it with any other service that isn't there own. when you go to buy a cellphone don't go to the company. do go to a cellphone electronics store that sells different kinds from different subcribersin that one store. ex: att, verizon, sprint, tmobile. be specific in asking for a cellphone that can be activated and used in dr. there is no sale prices for these phones since your not acivating there.

Thank you N&D

[pdimanche]

Originally Posted by MrMike

There are 4 different mobile phone companies here, all use slightly different technology and I think between the 4 of them they pretty much cover all the bases. Tell your GF to try a different company if one told her it couldn't be done.

Thank you very much MRMIKE

[toneloc24]

If it was a GSM phone, the phones that accepts the service chip (SIM card), she probably needs to go to a wireless store in RD and have the phone unlocked.

Unlocking the phone is basically removing the AT&T Wireless, Cingular, or Verizon security code which restricts you from using your phone on other services. When you buy a phone in RD, chances are this is what was done. Once unlocked, the phone can be used anywhere that the phone's bands are accepted. RD's on the 1900mhz band. USA is 1800.

Orange does this for about $15USD in Sosua, at most. Depending on the phone model, it can be done on premises, if they have the right codes on hand. Or it may take a day or two, since it must be sent to Santiago. I'm assuming it's easier in SD.

Depending on where she is, she may be able to have it back the same day. In Santiago, in the office/shopping park across from the Caribe Tours bus station (not sure of the name, but it's the 2nd Santiago stop if you're coming from SD), there's an Orange office there that would do it in one day. I was quoted RD$350 just to unlock it. Drop it off in the morning, get it back within 4-6 hours.

Hope this helps.

[pdimanche]

Originally Posted by toneloc24

If it was a GSM phone, the phones that accepts the service chip (SIM card), she probably needs to go to a wireless store in RD and have the phone unlocked.

Unlocking the phone is basically removing the AT&T Wireless, Cingular, or Verizon security code which restricts you from using your phone on other services. When you buy a phone in RD, chances are this is what was done. Once unlocked, the phone can be used anywhere that the phone's bands are accepted. RD's on the 1900mhz band. USA is 1800.

Orange does this for about $15USD in Sosua, at most. Depending on the phone model, it can be done on premises, if they have the right codes on hand. Or it may take a day or two, since it must be sent to Santiago. I'm assuming it's easier in SD.

Depending on where she is, she may be able to have it back the same day. In Santiago, in the office/shopping park across from the Caribe Tours bus station (not sure of the name, but it's the 2nd Santiago stop if you're coming from SD), there's an Orange office there that would do it in one day. I was quoted RD$350 just to unlock it. Drop it off in the morning, get it back within 4-6 hours.

Hope this helps.

Thanks alot TONELOC,

[R.Dennis]

I have a TMOBILE sidekick phone here in the states that I would like to activate in Santo Domingo/Boca Chica for a week when I arrive with pre-paid phone card minutes. Is this possible to do and if so does anyone know a price and how I would obtain calling cards for my GSM/SIM Card Tmobile sidekick phone? Thank You!

Originally Posted by toneloc24

If it was a GSM phone, the phones that accepts the service chip (SIM card), she probably needs to go to a wireless store in RD and have the phone unlocked.

Unlocking the phone is basically removing the AT&T Wireless, Cingular, or Verizon security code which restricts you from using your phone on other services. When you buy a phone in RD, chances are this is what was done. Once unlocked, the phone can be used anywhere that the phone's bands are accepted. RD's on the 1900mhz band. USA is 1800.

Orange does this for about $15USD in Sosua, at most. Depending on the phone model, it can be done on premises, if they have the right codes on hand. Or it may take a day or two, since it must be sent to Santiago. I'm assuming it's easier in SD.

Depending on where she is, she may be able to have it back the same day. In Santiago, in the office/shopping park across from the Caribe Tours bus station (not sure of the name, but it's the 2nd Santiago stop if you're coming from SD), there's an Orange office there that would do it in one day. I was quoted RD$350 just to unlock it. Drop it off in the morning, get it back within 4-6 hours.

Hope this helps.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by R.Dennis

I have a TMOBILE sidekick phone here in the states that I would like to activate in Santo Domingo/Boca Chica for a week when I arrive with pre-paid phone card minutes. Is this possible to do and if so does anyone know a price and how I would obtain calling cards for my GSM/SIM Card Tmobile sidekick phone? Thank You!

I see the Tmobile logo on a lot of the Orange phones here, (France Telecom) they should be able to activate it for you (of course you know you won't be able to keep your number)

[toneloc24]

Go to Orange in Santo Domingo. Ask your cab driver or hotel reception for the nearest location.

I'm not familiar with the T-Mobile phone set-up. But if you have a SIM card here in the US, and if your phone is locked, see my previous message.

An Orange SIM card costs about RD$350, I believe. You buy the calling cards in various increments. I believe the highest is RD$275, but it has 300 minutes/credits or so. The lowest is either RD$50 or RD$100. Calls are cheap as hell there.

If you speak/read Spanish, check out the Orange website:

www.orange.com.do

I only know this because I just went through this process last month. Hope it helps.