SIM card question

[sandman66]

Historically we never bothered to have a phone in Negril but the way things have gone I think it's time to carry one to be able to contact drivers etc.
I have iphone 5 that has been unlocked. What and where is required to make it work for phone calls in Jamaica? Will I have the ability to send and receive calls? I'm not even sure how to install a SIM card - would they put it in where you bought it?
Also, how much do they cost, and how much time in a line up should I expect to have to wait?

[Bnewb]

Just go to the Digicel in Negril (same mall as Popeyes)...they'll set you up with a sim card including placing it in your phone for you. Bring your passport for ID and a sim card should cost around 700-800j.
Wait time is literally based on how many people are in there.
And, your phone will work like any phone based on the kind of plan you need...phone calls, texting, data etc.

[Weeboy1]

Have the same question. So the SIM card is 800j, how much for call text time?

[Marko]

Digicel Sim has been $788J for awhile now....
At the same time as buying the Sim you can buy phone credits at the store....
After that you can buy phone credit at most stores...
Any Jamaican can help you with the phone credit thingy if you have questions....
Digicel calls to foreign are very reasonable and you can always opt for International minutes/plan....

Cool Runnings, Marko

[sandman66]

Excuse my ignorance, technology is blowing by me too fast.
So the sim card basically just allows my phone to operate? After that I still need to buy a plan - or minutes? To be clear I just want the ability to make and possibly receive calls, all local. How do I get my own "phone number"?

[mwenvlay]

if you bring an unlocked phone with you from canada, you will have to purchase a sim card AND a pre-paid data plan. not sure about the phone number question, but i think you'll get a local 876 number if you get the sim card and buy a data plan from digicel.

the easiest thing to do would be to go to digicel and purchase one of many different types of phones (they all come with sim card installed) and a pre-paid data plan. this will get you a local 876 phone number.

phones: https://www.digicelgroup.com/jm/en/m...mit=6&offset=0

plans: https://www.digicelgroup.com/jm/en/m...aid-plans.html

i remember back in 2013, we had our cheapie, unlocked travel phone with us and tried to buy a sim card at the digicel store in negril, but they "were out of sim cards" for the 2 weeks we were there. they tried to sell us a cheapie phone with sim card, but we said nah. at this point in my life, i generally suck it up and get the international roaming plan for my at&t phone, so it's the same phone number, same data usage, same texting etc. as what i have when i'm in the states, for ten bucks a day.

[wrtiii]

So the sim card basically just allows my phone to operate?

Yes, and it is what gives your phone a phone number. In Jamaica, that will be an 876 number. There are plenty of videos on how to change your iPhone SIM, just Google it. The person who sells you the SIM will also be able to install it in about 15 seconds.

After that I still need to buy a plan - or minutes? To be clear I just want the ability to make and possibly receive calls, all local.

Yes. Trivially easy, and you can buy a card that will give you more minutes in many places, including pretty much any convenience store. I think JMD100 is the standard, which is enough to make a bunch of calls. The card will have a scratch-off section that will reveal the code number, and you add the time to your phone by dialing then entering the code number. Again, if when you buy the SIM card you buy some minutes, the person selling it will add it to your phone for you.

How do I get my own "phone number"?

SIM card = the phone number.

[sandman66]

Yes, and it is what gives your phone a phone number. In Jamaica, that will be an 876 number. There are plenty of videos on how to change your iPhone SIM, just Google it. The person who sells you the SIM will also be able to install it in about 15 seconds.



Yes. Trivially easy, and you can buy a card that will give you more minutes in many places, including pretty much any convenience store. I think JMD100 is the standard, which is enough to make a bunch of calls. The card will have a scratch-off section that will reveal the code number, and you add the time to your phone by dialing then entering the code number. Again, if when you buy the SIM card you buy some minutes, the person selling it will add it to your phone for you.



SIM card = the phone number.

Thanks so much, that clears things up.

[Weeboy1]

Just left digicell earlier today. SIM card installed with incl 14 days of data and talk was 740j and you get a new number.
No problem cept my lousy Sony wont accept the lock code . Gonna try and reset phone