Thread: Cell Phone in Costa Rica

I will be traveling to Costa Rica for 9 days in August. I have a Verizon Storm 2 and would like to have internet access while I in Costa Rica (don't really need cell phone service).

I understand that the Storm 2 is a global phone so I could put in a new sim card but I don't know anything about this (is this economical or the best way to accomplish internet access) or is there a different method of getting data access that someone can recommend?

Get it unlocked first, then u can go in your pc and google tigo costa rica or claro cosat rica and you will fin what they offer there when it comes to BlackBerry®
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Thanks for the quick response.

I am not familiar with "unlocking" the phone. How do I accomplish that and what are the implications once it is unlicked and I amin the US. Also, if I have to bring my phone into Verizon for servicing will this void my warrantee?

Verizon should give you the code to unlock the device just explain them you are traveling and you want it unlocked, and no, unlocking will not void your warranty, and you should have no problems with the phone unlocked to use it here in the US
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Thanks, I spoke to Verizon and they will give me an unlock code if I want it, so that is no problem. Do you know of any disadvantage in having the phone unlocked.

Also, I spoke to a vendor in Costa Rica and he stopped selling sim cards because he claimed that people are not satisfied with the service and therefore he only rents phones. He could be telling me a story because he doesn''t sell sim cards any more or it could be the truth. Does anyone have experience in using a sim card and or cell phone in Costa Rica that they can share with me. I only expect to be in Costa Rica for 9 days if that makes any difference.

I also have a Storm 2 9550 and went to Antigua for a week on my honeymoon from May 20th - 27th, so I called Verizon to get my phone unlocked but all they needed to do was enable my SIM card. I didn't really need phone service but wanted to use the WiFi for email and internet since the resort I was at had WiFi.

When I was in Antigua I left the mobile connection set to OFF and WiFi ON and email, internet and BBM worked fine. I did try turning the Mobile connection ON and switched the phone to GSM/UMTS and it picked up the local Cable/Bandwidth signal and data worked in areas that WiFi wasn't available.

If you don't buy a Global package you pay .02 per Kb, roaming is $1.99 a minute phone. They do offer the Global package for $64 a month and will do a prorated amount for the period of time you need it, I believe that is data only phone charges are seperate. When I saw it worked I turned the mobile connection off knowing if I needed it I had it.

Hope this helps out, Enjoy your trip

Thanks for the information but I guess you never really unlocked your phone. I do not want to pay the very high charges for data and cell that wiuld result in using the phone unlocked.

Like you I don't need a lot of phone service but it would be nice to have the capability should it be needed. I would like data service but that is not really available so I would expect to use the wifi connections that I am hoping are available at hotels etc.

So I am still looking for other people who did unlock their phones to see what their experience was and other who have rented cell phones.

No I didn't unlock it in the traditional manner with a code and following a set sequence but it appears by activating the SIM card made the Global abilities of the phone active when they weren't before since I had not been out of the country.

I would call Verizon again and find out how much the Global plan for 9 days would be and if it includes phone roaming along with data or data only, they told me between $15 and $20. If you get a SIM card in Costa Rica you'll have to pay for the time you want to use it too so unlocking may work but might cost more, I'm not sure which might be better.

If you know where you'll be staying I would contact them and find out about WiFi. I stayed at Curtain Bluff in Antigua and they had WiFi in the rooms and the main areas, down on the beach and the fitness and Spa center there wasn't any connection but then again I was on vacation :laugh2: and told to give the berry a break.

I previously spoke to Verizon and I don't remeber the exact numbers but it was going to cost me way over $100 for the 9 days, so I am still interested in the unlocking method

Originally Posted by neil154

I previously spoke to Verizon and I don't remeber the exact numbers but it was going to cost me way over $100 for the 9 days, so I am still interested in the unlocking method

WOW, I don't blame you there, it nevers ceases to amaze me how who you speak to at Verizon can make such a big difference. It sounds like whoever you spoke to didn't know much about Global service, it's on their website that $64.99 a month is the charge for unlimited data just like the $29.99 we pay a month in the US, guess I got lucky with the guy I spoke to since after telling him what I wanted I asked about just leaving the radio off and he agreed that leaving the radio off and using the WiFi and just turn the radio on if I wanted to check voicemail or text messages then turn it off when I was done was the best way to go and the data usage would be minimal.

I travel between countries a lot.
My Storm is unlocked and I get a new SIM card in which ever country I am going to.
There is usually a minimum service period you need to sign up for (30 days etc) but its cheap and you do get full BB service.
You use a different number but your PIn etc all stay the same and as its the same phone your contcts are all the same.

PM me if you want more details. i can help you

Thanks for the additional information. I called back to Verizon Global Services and they said that I can get unlimited data service for $2.17 if I just activate my Verizon sim card which is pretty reasonable for a short period of time. They also said that I could make calls for $2.89.per minute which is very expensive. So now I need to think if I want to have phone service or if data service is all I will need.

Originally Posted by neil154

Thanks, I spoke to Verizon and they will give me an unlock code if I want it, so that is no problem. Do you know of any disadvantage in having the phone unlocked.

Also, I spoke to a vendor in Costa Rica and he stopped selling sim cards because he claimed that people are not satisfied with the service and therefore he only rents phones. He could be telling me a story because he doesn''t sell sim cards any more or it could be the truth. Does anyone have experience in using a sim card and or cell phone in Costa Rica that they can share with me. I only expect to be in Costa Rica for 9 days if that makes any difference.

I go to C.R. often I use the unlocked Storm. At the airport you can buy a sim card for $10 and this gives you a local phone # and unlimited Local calls. I also purchase a calling card for $10 that allows you to call the US for about 1 hour. I don't get the internet or my emails. I bring a mini laptop and this solves that problem. I get no bill from Verizon so my total cost for a week in CR is $20.So far this has been my best scenario.I was there 6-9-2010 to 6-14-2010 and had no problems.

Thanks for the information. Did you have to get the phone unlocked so you could use the sim card from CR? Could I switch back and forth as I desire between the sim cards (with Verzon sim card I can get internet access).

Do you have any idea how available the verizon signal is so I can use the internet on the road?