Thanks for all the advice. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a CDMA version since straight talk is compatable with Verizon. But I'll check anyway, and if it is I guess I'll just get a cheap phone in Jamaica.
Thanks for all the advice. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a CDMA version since straight talk is compatable with Verizon. But I'll check anyway, and if it is I guess I'll just get a cheap phone in Jamaica.
If it's compatible with Verizon it won't work in JAOriginally Posted by Maralunatic
Cap
linston@redplate-negril.com
Unless it's a quad band, which some Galaxy phones are.
I can confirm this is not a true statement. Sorry Captain, as I love your advice in almost all cases....
I used a Verizon CDMA phones in Negril and Treasure Beach with a Digicel SIM both in September and December of 2015. Two in September and one in December.
Digicel maintains a CDMA system, as well as GSM, Flow (nee Lime) is GSM only AFAIK. Digicel supporting CDMA is the reason Verizon phones with Verizon SIMs can roam in Jamaica. If you do that though, you will be very sad when the bill comes.
This article clearly shows what Digicel does, and does not support in Jamaica. If you're a nerd like me, it will help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digicel
Within the last few years, all Verizon phones have been SIM unlocked. It was a requirement the FCC imposed on Verizon as part of a deal that allowed Verizon to purchase a huge chunk of radio spectrum in the US. We used a Nokia Lumia Icon, and a recent Samsung Android with good results. We did try one AT&T phone, but could not use it as it was locked.
I had to reconfigure the internet APN to get data, but I'm guessing I would have to have done that for any network in Jamaica. I did not get LTE, but rather HSPA+ which is close enough.
I never did get MMS working, but there is also a separate APN for that, and I did not change it.
It is also true that the latest phones have radio chips that support CDMA/GSM/LTE. The iPhone 6 is a notable example. Keep in mind though, some of the carrier exclusive phones have firmware that cripples the phone for other carriers network frequencies.
Probably more than you wanted to know, but there you go. Put a Digicel Sim in that Straight Talk phone and you're good to go. Take it to the store when you go, and they will probably set it up completely for you (data and MMS) while you wait.
YMMV
Spiff
You seem to have a good handle on this stuff, will a Verizon Moto E 1528xt work in jamaicaI can confirm this is not a true statement. Sorry Captain, as I love your advice in almost all cases....
I used a Verizon CDMA phones in Negril and Treasure Beach with a Digicel SIM both in September and December of 2015. Two in September and one in December.
Digicel maintains a CDMA system, as well as GSM, Flow (nee Lime) is GSM only AFAIK. Digicel supporting CDMA is the reason Verizon phones with Verizon SIMs can roam in Jamaica. If you do that though, you will be very sad when the bill comes.
This article clearly shows what Digicel does, and does not support in Jamaica. If you're a nerd like me, it will help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digicel
Within the last few years, all Verizon phones have been SIM unlocked. It was a requirement the FCC imposed on Verizon as part of a deal that allowed Verizon to purchase a huge chunk of radio spectrum in the US. We used a Nokia Lumia Icon, and a recent Samsung Android with good results. We did try one AT&T phone, but could not use it as it was locked.
I had to reconfigure the internet APN to get data, but I'm guessing I would have to have done that for any network in Jamaica. I did not get LTE, but rather HSPA+ which is close enough.
I never did get MMS working, but there is also a separate APN for that, and I did not change it.
It is also true that the latest phones have radio chips that support CDMA/GSM/LTE. The iPhone 6 is a notable example. Keep in mind though, some of the carrier exclusive phones have firmware that cripples the phone for other carriers network frequencies.
Probably more than you wanted to know, but there you go. Put a Digicel Sim in that Straight Talk phone and you're good to go. Take it to the store when you go, and they will probably set it up completely for you (data and MMS) while you wait.
YMMV
Spiff
Yes, I do believe it will work just fine. YMMV, but yes, if it were me, I would take that phone Jamaica fully expecting it to work with a Digicel SIM.
This is also an example of one of the phones I mentioned that have the universal radio chip, meaning it has the hardware to do quad band GSM. BUT Verizon configured the firmware to turn those frequencies turned off... so its a CDMA/LTE only phone when it comes from them.
It is pretty easy (it appears) to reconfigure it to use all the frequencies for which the radio was designed. Please ask the Google if you are interested in making that happen. ☺
Yeah, it's pretty simple to change the network settings on a quad band android phone. Only takes a minute or so.
Thanks for the confirmation on the phone.
Got it real cheap before xmas,so it was worth the gamble.
Posting Permissions
