What is the least expensive way to make local Jamaican phone calls while visiting Negril?
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What is the least expensive way to make local Jamaican phone calls while visiting Negril?
Ratty2141,
Most everyone I communicate with in Negril has the APP WhatsApp and that is how I call or text them when in Negril.
I have Verizon Wireless and they offer a weekly and monthly unlimited INTERNATIONAL Plan.
The monthly plan is $100 US, I don't know the cost for the weekly plan.
My employer pays for the monthly plan on every trip, so that I'm always available no matter what.
Before cell phones we used the Coconut Telegraph and from my recent experience it still works just fine!!!
Enjoy,
VVHT
Agree that WhatsApp is widely used. Depends on your home carrier. T-Mobile has a great international plan.
Can that app be used with a WiFi connection? I plan on bringing a old iphone, but it won’t have any data or plan attached.
Saying that, how difficult is it to make my unlocked iphone work for regular calls? Can someone explain in simpleton terms?
If your phone connects to WiFi and you have a working WhatsApp installed, you are good to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by sandman66
I know people who don't even make regular phone calls anymore - They only use WhatsApp! No phone plan data necessary - just a WiFi connect!
The reason everyone uses WhatsApp is that it is FREE! That's about as least expensive there is! And it calls phones from all over the world for the same cost - FREE!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty2141
What's great is that if you ask, most bars will give you their public wifi password, so you can use whatsapp if you're away from your hotel (I got on wifi at the seastar, miyard, sun beach and natural mystic, for example)
I have used the Whatsapp app in past trips, but only for messages.
How do you make calls with it? I will have an unlocked iphone, but no data plan.
If you start a Whatsapp chat session (by selecting someone to chat with), you'll see a lil phone icon up top of your screen. Tap that and it'll then start a call to that personQuote:
Originally Posted by sandman66
Easy peasy!!
I downloaded the WhatsApp to my phone, but it won't let me do ANYTHING (call/chat) without first allowing it access to all my contacts. There's no way I'm going to do that. Is there away around that? TIA!
If you use FB, then WhatsApp (Meta/Facebook) already has all your contacts. Adding WhatsApp would not give Meta any more data about you than you have already allowed them to have. There are settings that let you block people.Quote:
Originally Posted by mavmaiden
If you don't use FB, then here is a detailed description of how not to allow contacts and still use WhatsApp on iPhones and Android. Essentially the person you want to get a hold of would have to contact you first.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/ques...20More%20items
Thanks, Rob!
Quick question-- I DO use FB, but I am assuming the App wants access to my phone contacts (not FB)? If that's true, then I still can't allow it because my phone contacts include several business associates and elderly neighbors (that are not on FB). All I plan to use the App for is trying to get a ride or two returning from dinners at restaurants on the Cliffs when I'm staying at Seastar. I'm hoping I can talk to the driver at Seastar and see if he's willing-- then ask him to contact me on WhatsApp. That would work, right?
According to Meta, contacts are contacts, be it phone, email, FB, Instagram, etc. FaceBook already has all your contact info, including all your email and phone contacts - you agreed to those terms when you signed up. If you use Messenger, then you had to grant Messenger access to all your contacts as well, which also include your phone contacts. Granting the permission to WhatsApp is at worst redundant, Meta already has all your contact information.Quote:
Originally Posted by mavmaiden
Only people using WhatsApp can be called or texted, your business contacts and family members who are not on WhatsApp won't see or get anything. You would have to actively choose Settings, then Invite A Friend for someone not on WhatsApp for them to receive a personal invite from you. There is no automatic way to contact someone who does not have WhatsApp from your WhatsApp, you have to actively take steps to do it.
Meta, through Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, etc. already has everything on your phone including access to your camera, microphone, pictures, texts and contacts. WhatsApp is probably Meta's least invasive app. Facebook, Messenger and Instagram are much worse when it comes to data collection.
Should you still not want to grant access permission, you would have to follow the detailed instructions in the link I posted. There are some steps and restrictions that you need to be aware of if you do not want to grant access. Please read it in full.
If you grant access, virtually everyone and every business in Jamaica are available on WhatsApp. And you can make free encrypted calls and texts worldwide. Your phone's standard calls and texts, FB posts and chats, etc. are not encrypted and anyone who wants to listen or read can make that possible. There are software kits available on the "dark web" that are cheap and easy to use for just that purpose.
Granting permission to WhatsApp is probably the least harmful thing you will do that day on your phone.
We use a driver that supplies a cell phone with round trip airport transfer. We then put about $15 US on the phone for international and local calls. The driver can use any of the remaining time when we give him back the phone at airport drop off.
Regards,
Bob