Trying to figure out the cell phone thing...

Doing last minute planning for my impending reach this week. The only thing I have not taken care of is the cell phone issues. I am not totally savvy on this topic and would love some advise from the experts. Was just going to leave my phone home, but realize it will be needed occasionally. My question is, will I be able to buy a plan that will work on an iPhone which does have a SIM card but is currently with another carrier that does not have international service. Can I assume I could just buy a sim for that to use while in JA. Will it affect the phone when I return?Or is it best to just bring and use my galaxy no longer connected to a service...it then being my toss or giveaway....I know there is something about unlocking because of cdma or GSM, is that going to be a factor? I have read up , and if locked , pretty sure I can do the unlock myself.
I would appreciate any advise or insight...

Anabeth, follow the link below to a prior discussion on your post:

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...light=digicell

Good luck,

VVHT

Thank you VVHT for the help.
If I am understanding what I read, since I do have an iPhone 6, I should simply be able to purchase a SIM card from digacel as they do support both CDMA and GSM. I will reread tomorrow to make sure I got it right and didn't miss anything.
Ultimately I'd really love to just unplug completely and leave it home...but fortunately not possible as work will follow me :( wherever I try to hide....retirement sounds better everyday...getting closer lol

Yes, if you have an iPhone 6 all you need to do is by a Digicel sim and you're good to go. Add minutes as you need them and they also have a decent data plan if you want that.

If your phone is still on contract and was not purchased unlocked, most likely it is locked to your carrier and will not work with a different SIM.

~Moose

Thanks Ras WAlleye and Moose
I am not under any contract...gave that up years ago when Nextel went wayward with Sprint. Just go with whoever has best service and cheap everything plans. Had Virgin Mobile for a few years until, again Sprint got involved and botched up that service too. SO now it is Straight Talk....until they too displease me lol. GOt the iPhone because of the SIM card and easier to switch carriers if needed. Wasn't thinking international at the time, but turns out a good decision!
WIll confirm tomorrow once we land!
Walk good

Hi Anabeth, also see my thread about the plans here:

Digicel Plans

Just remember, their Voice/Texting and Data plans are separate.

~Moose

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CosmicMoose

If your phone is still on contract and was not purchased unlocked, most likely it is locked to your carrier and will not work with a different SIM.

~Moose

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Moose, all Verizon iPhones come unlocked from the start. I can't speak for other carriers.

We had hoped to purchase a sim card for digicel and found that they were out of stock when we arrived, so ended up buying a cheap phone and have been topping it up every 3 months for less than $5 US - great advice from the folks here!

I bought a Jamaica Digisel phone for about 50 bucks. Put a new sim in each year for 10 bucks add in some minutes for more bucks.
I use it for taxis...I call you when I finish dinner. 21st Century...I love it.

Just an FYI if you have Verizon as a carrier you can do an international plan that is $10/24 hour period and you can use your current data, text and talk plan. I did this when we went to London and loved it because it is a 24 hour period so if you don't use it a day you don't get charge. Plus, then I had data if I needed and didn't have to purchase hotel WIFI.

With a Digicel sim you can get a 7 day data plan for less than $2 US per day.

yeah use an unlocked quad phone in Jamaica.....you can buy dem in N America and bring dem down
buy GSM phones that use like AT&T or T-mobile etc and you can unlock them yourselves by getting the codes on Ebay.......
quad means they can use either Digicel or FLo network.......or buy a phone in Jamaica as they are cheap enuff.......
Digicel is the carrier to use....though nothing wrong with Flo except der signal weak in some areas..
Digicel had a special this Summer and you could get a Sim for a likkle over $300J's....normally they are almost $600J's
the Flo sim cards are only $300J........but locals hate chatting with you since you can burn up all der Digicel credits..

most locals and tourist put credit on der phone and then select the plan dem want so der data on the phone for FB, Whatsapp, etc
you have 2 different 7 day plans currently on Digicel....$650J for 1GB or $350J for a 500GB...mi find the 500GB is plenty for mi..
a lot of locals like the 2 day plans.......dem like $130J's for quite a bit of data.........so most choose dat......
of course you can add International calling too...but seriously if you are only going to make some brief internationals calls....
you don't need the international plan.......international are for those that have to chat a lot........a real lot....ha ha

dat mi 2 cents.......or mi 2J dollars worth......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

If you have Sprint..the international plan is free..20 cents a minute incoming and outgoing..unlimited texts..so I gave up my Digicel phone...

Big ups and respect for everyone's advise and or 2j. Been here since Saturday and was wondering and laughing at myself why I even worried. Using an iPhone 6 and as was able to just put a digicel sim in. For loaded plan less than 10 us. The funny thing is I have pretty much unplugged, occasionally in the morning or evening hitting up the message boards a Likkle, but haven't had need for the phone....not worried about home, don't wanna know.
Picked the perfect place to stay for this reach. Everthing I could need is within reach,a few steps from the gate :cool::cool: lovin the life these past few days whether it be perched on the cliff, walking the road to miyard, or out past the light house for some patties. Only thing can't do is snorkel the wata not cooperating.Not sure if that will happen this reach. A Likkle sad but really no problem.
Just remembered one of you guys is big on snorkeling, marko or markospoon? Any insight on this? I am assuming this time of year, these water conditions are almost constant...but one can always hope, stranger things have happened lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Papa Georgie

I bought a Jamaica Digisel phone for about 50 bucks. Put a new sim in each year for 10 bucks add in some minutes for more bucks.
I use it for taxis...I call you when I finish dinner. 21st Century...I love it.

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Yes sir

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anabeth

Only thing can't do is snorkel the wata not cooperating.Not sure if that will happen this reach. A Likkle sad but really no problem.
Just remembered one of you guys is big on snorkeling, marko or markospoon? Any insight on this? I am assuming this time of year, these water conditions are almost constant...but one can always hope, stranger things have happened lol.

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yeah the snorkeling was great all Summer up to the middle of August when mi left and only one day mi couldn't go in..........
with the Tropical Storms and Hurricanes that go thru the Caribbean later part of August thru beginning of October the wata probably gets iffy.....
mi personally usually not in Jamaica during this time of year cause mi have enuff in Florida to worry about......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko