Jamaican Cell Question

I purchased a JA cell phone at Digicel 6 years ago. Ever since purchase, I've topped it off every few months to keep my number active and use every time when in JA. I loaned my phone to a friend and now my phone is completely damaged and not usable (glade plug in leaked all over it). My friend purchased an unlocked cell off of Ebay and my SIM card from my now damaged phone fits in the new unlocked phone.

Will the replacement phone work -- will all my credit and stored phone numbers automatically move to that phone? Will the new phone now have my old cell phone number? I am really trying to avoid a trip to Digicel so I hope my questions can be answered here.

My old Ja cell is getting replaced this year with a new unlocked one. I am assuming all will work. I took an iPhone 5 down last year but it was going to cost me more to get it unlocked down there than here so I passed and used the old one. I will pass on the old one to a friend there......

yes a digicel sim will work in any unlocked phone

May have to transfer the numbers over, not all phones store them on the SIM. Additionally, if you use the MyDigicell app, it will show you when your service would drop if not topped off.

~Moose

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Originally Posted by Jamerican71

Will the replacement phone work -- will all my credit and stored phone numbers automatically move to that phone? Will the new phone now have my old cell phone number? I am really trying to avoid a trip to Digicel so I hope my questions can be answered here.

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you didn't say when was the last time you topped up the phone........

Will the replacement phone work --
Yes if the sim is still active....

will all my credit move to that phone?
depends......usually they expire within so many days......

all my stored phone numbers automatically move to that phone?
probably not.....depends if you stored them on your sim or not....

new Digicel sim is $588J....new Flow sim is $500J...easy enuff getting one...just make sure you have your passport and phone with you

Cool Runnings, Marko

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Originally Posted by Marko

depends......usually they expire within so many days......

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Credits expire? That's thievery! You pay for something and get nothing?

~Moose

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Originally Posted by CosmicMoose

Credits expire? That's thievery! You pay for something and get nothing?

~Moose

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Much like software licensing you are not buying anything. You're paying for the right to use it under conditions defined by the user agreement.

Cap

Ok I've run the question past Digicel and this is what they said:

"Prepaid vouchers give specific airtime. When the airtime expires, the remaining credits cannot be used until the number is reactivated.

You can view airtime for each top-up here: Check Digicel Airtime

You may also dial *124# to check your airtime to see when your credit will expire."

I then asked "But the credit just doesn't disappear, you just can't use it until you top-up, then the previous credit is still useable?"

"That's correct"


Hope this helps :)

~Moose

I can't access the Digicel network while in the US. I last used my cell in December and I top off about every other month with my last top off last week. My now damaged phone always worked and that SIM is now in the unlocked phone

"May have to transfer the numbers over" I was trying to avoid a trip to Digicell so I won't know until I land if my number was stored on my SIM or not.

Thanks all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jamerican71

"May have to transfer the numbers over" I was trying to avoid a trip to Digicell so I won't know until I land if my number was stored on my SIM or not.

Thanks all.

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Your cell number will definitely be attached to your sim; your contacts however may not be.

You can always turn the new phone on and check your contacts without it needing to be on the Digicel network.

~Moose

Surprised you can't access digicel in the US. My phone roams on the T Mobile network when at home. Maybe you live in an area with spotty T Mobile coverage (which isn't uncommon).

We'very had the same SIM since 2012. One time I went a year without topping it up. Still works. This past July I popped the SIM into an unlocked phone I bought on ebay. No problem.

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Originally Posted by Jamerican71

I purchased a JA cell phone at Digicel 6 years ago. Ever since purchase, I've topped it off every few months to keep my number active and use every time when in JA. I loaned my phone to a friend and now my phone is completely damaged and not usable (glade plug in leaked all over it). My friend purchased an unlocked cell off of Ebay and my SIM card from my now damaged phone fits in the new unlocked phone.

Will the replacement phone work -- will all my credit and stored phone numbers automatically move to that phone? Will the new phone now have my old cell phone number? I am really trying to avoid a trip to Digicel so I hope my questions can be answered here.

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Last year, I spilled water on and ruined my J flip phone with the SIM having lots of credit on it. Linston took my old phone to Digicel and had the old SIM put in a new flip phone. Worked great for the rest of the trip!

Not only is Linston a good driver, he is a good guy to have in your corner!

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Originally Posted by CosmicMoose

Your cell number will definitely be attached to your sim; your contacts however may not be.

You can always turn the new phone on and check your contacts without it needing to be on the Digicel network.

~Moose

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DUH!!! Thanks for pointing this out b/c I really didn't even think about that- I think my mind has checked out. I just tried that and my contacts don't show up. I power up the new phone and it says Digicel so the SIM card must be working. I will have to be okay with losing the contacts but I don't want to lose my number or credits. It looks like I will be stopping by a digital store next week. My friend who damaged my phone also gave me some cash for a replacement phone so I will do that.

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Originally Posted by Mike_D

Surprised you can't access digicel in the US. My phone roams on the T Mobile network when at home. Maybe you live in an area with spotty T Mobile coverage (which isn't uncommon).

We'very had the same SIM since 2012. One time I went a year without topping it up. Still works. This past July I popped the SIM into an unlocked phone I bought on ebay. No problem.

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The original phone was purchased in Jamaica and I've never been able to use it in the states. I always got a no network message. This "new" unlocked phone also gave me the same message.

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Originally Posted by tahrheel

Not only is Linston a good driver, he is a good guy to have in your corner!

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Thanks. Makes the old man proud!

Jamerican71:

If your phone is Android there is an option in your contact settings that allows you to display contacts from the SIM, the phone or both. Check that out as you may have contacts on the SIM that you are not seeing

Cap

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Originally Posted by captaind

Thanks. Makes the old man proud!

Jamerican71:

If your phone is Android there is an option in your contact settings that allows you to display contacts from the SIM, the phone or both. Check that out as you may have contacts on the SIM that you are not seeing

Cap

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It's not android

Seems like alot of work to save a few bucks. I have Verizon that charges $10 a day when in jamaica to use all my same phone amenities that I have at home (unlimited text, talk and data). I know that $10/day of usage isn't cheap but by the time you go thru all the costs of getting a 'throw away cell', sim card and then paying for time of use (which is usually limited) it doesn't seem worth it.


https://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ez...553b/event.png

I have T-Mobile and use my Android phone in JA at no extra charge for data or text. Phone calls to anywhere are $.20 a minute. It's nice not having to top up my Jamaican phone every few months.

What's the minimum you can top up from the website, app, or text to keep you number/sim active?

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Originally Posted by Jame

What's the minimum you can top up from the website, app, or text to keep you number/sim active?

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Sometimes as low as $7 US, I usually hit it with $10.

~Moose

Having a JA cell has been no problem at all. I top it off every 2-3 months online with $5-$7 and I have credit as soon as I land -- sometimes you have to add credit to jump start it. I always have way to much credit and give it away to a few folks I know. I have loaned my phone to several friends and family who travel there but now not anymore. I'm heading down for a short trip this weekend and spending even 10 mins in a Digicel store was not on my agenda....it is now. Since the person who damaged my JA cell gave me way too much cash in addition to a phone purchased off Ebay, I will be going to Digicel.

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

Seems like alot of work to save a few bucks. I have Verizon that charges $10 a day when in jamaica to use all my same phone amenities that I have at home (unlimited text, talk and data). I know that $10/day of usage isn't cheap but by the time you go thru all the costs of getting a 'throw away cell', sim card and then paying for time of use (which is usually limited) it doesn't seem worth it.


https://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ez...553b/event.png

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It's not a throw a way cell since I use it on all my trips and friends and family use it. It's a cheap phone used for calls and texts and I'd rather not use my phone I use back home in Jamaica as that woul dbe a bigger pain to replace if lost, stolen or damaged. I paid $40 six years ago for the phone (nothing fancy at all) and I've never had a problem until now.

Thanks Moose! Also in regards to just using Verizon. I got a brand new phone, sim, and enough credits for 20 days last January for less then $45. That's only a couple days on your plan and I still had over 850 credits left when we went home. Definitely worth getting a phone if there longer then 3-4 days.

Last visit on the 2nd and 3rd week of August (14 days) I toped up twice for 20US each time using the app from my computer in the US.

I used 7 Gigs of data and virtually unlimited voice. Went back to the US with 1350JA still on the phone to kick star me in November

Very reasonable if you ask me. AND I watched the stream of the EAGLES preseason games!

Cap

I'm sure my old digicel is not worth bringing down, I bought it in 2014 or 15....didn't top-up. What is the best unlocked phone to purchase here and take down there. What is the cost of new sim and how much data should I get.

Get a BLU Tank. 20 US on eBay.

Cap

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Originally Posted by captaind

Get a BLU Tank. 20 US on eBay.

Cap

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Is it a 'smart phone'?.....oh nevermind, I found them....

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Originally Posted by Yesihunt2

Is it a 'smart phone'?.....oh nevermind, I found them....

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It ain't smart but it's tough. We use them as loaners for Linston's visitors.

Cap

Back from Jamaica and my replacement phone worked just perfectly...except I lost all my contacts. As soon as I landed, I turned on the phone and made a call. I also did a fast balance check and all my credit was there. I didn't make it to Digicel on this reach but still plan to buy a new phone in December. Thanks all for your help!

i bought my original ja phone in 2003 and it still works....just upgraded to a cheap unlocked smartphone from ebay to handle data. all the phone contacts on the sim came through and i added the #'s i needed. i've had the same # , convenient when phone # requested.

Will this phone work?
https://www.amazon.com/BLU-Energy-JR...ked+smartphone

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Originally Posted by Yesihunt2

Will this phone work?
https://www.amazon.com/BLU-Energy-JR...ked+smartphone

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Yes it will for talk only. It's a 2G phone and won't work for a data connection.

Cap

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Originally Posted by Yesihunt2

Will this phone work?
https://www.amazon.com/BLU-Energy-JR...ked+smartphone

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The phone should work fine here, it has been sold on the island.

I just refreshed this page on the 2G GSM Digicel network. Slow, but no problem.

https://www.mobile57.com/jm/phones/blu-energy-jr-5700

And this reply was posted using the same GSM 2G data...

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Originally Posted by Rob

The phone should work fine here, it has been sold on the island.

I just refreshed this page on the 2G GSM Digicel network. Slow, but no problem.

https://www.mobile57.com/jm/phones/blu-energy-jr-5700

And this reply was posted using the same GSM 2G data...

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That's correct. I'm just a bandwidth snob! LOL


Cap

I am so cell phone illiterate......so I need to bring a phone that is 3 or 4G capable to utilize more that just talk or text??

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Originally Posted by Yesihunt2

I am so cell phone illiterate......so I need to bring a phone that is 3 or 4G capable to utilize more that just talk or text??

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As Rob said 2G will work!

Cap