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I go to JA a lot so i just bought a cheap phone down there and buy minutes when i go down. I think i paid about 35 US for it and minutes are cheap down there. If you go too long without using your phine though i think the card somehow expires and you have to get a new one so i just leave it with a friend who uses it every now and then to keep it fresh.
I'm glad to see this thread, will be buying a phone in December. So, if you don't add more credits within the specified time period, the sim card expires, correct? How much is a new sim card if needed? Is there any way to top up online?
a new SIM card alone is something like 700 $J - about 7-8 $US
and yes, the SIM (and therefore 'your' phone number) does expire after some amount of time if it's not used - i can't ever remember how long..... 60 or 90 days (??). If you have Digicel, you can top up online (to keep SIM and phone number active) either through the Digicel website using their 'Digicel Webflex' , or on ezetop.com. (Not sure how to top up for Claro)
If you have been diligent about toping up every 2 months while at home, will the phone be ready to go as soon as you land, or do you have to do something to "reactivate" it (like add more credit)? I have never been able to get the old sim to work, even if I topup online.
my phone works as soon as i turn it on - but some people say they've had to add some credit when they arrive, to re-activate the phone before it will work.... i really have no clue what the deal is with that -
Yeah... only tried once to keep my sim active but when I got there... it was dead! Was not sure if I did something wrong.
I keep the sim and top off on line. Depending on how long I've been gone I may need to top off but all my minutes are there.
I bought a cheap Coral phone from Digicel on my 2nd trip - back then was about $25. I like having the same Jamaican ph# every trip so work/friends/family at home can reach me in emergency. Plus all my saved Jamaican contacts are stored away, I don't have to re-enter them all in a loaner phone.
I shopped at Digicel store on last trip for phone for GF and cheapest phones were closer to $40 than $25, but that is route I would go if you just want your own cheap phone in Jamaica - rather than buying in US. You still have to make a stop at Digicel store. And you run the risk a cheap phone won't work on their network - I brought a few down last trip for gifts, and even though were unlocked GSM, Digicel said they couldn't work on their network. If you want a full-feature modern phone, like a Blackberry or Android - those are VERY expensive in Jamaica and I would follow other's advice and buy an unlocked phone on online discount or auction site.
I've just used OnLine Topup on digicel's website to add minimum topup (under $5) on first of every other month - my phone has worked soon as I got off the plane every trip without doing anything extra. Not sure why other's are not able.
Maybe because my phone is an old Cable and Wirless and now is Lime???