Comments on: Costa Rica Cell Phone Update http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/ The Blog for Travelers, Retirees, Expats and anyone who needs to know the REAL Costa Rica. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:29:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bill http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-12386 Bill Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:23:43 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-12386 We moved to Costa Rica four months ago and have been using Skype on a regular basis. Skype is great! We regularly make Skype calls to the US and Africa and have found that international Skype connections are far superior than the local phone service we receive from ICE, the local phone monopoly. Skype does require a high bandwidth connection. We have internet access through Amnet, a local cable provider, which provides service more than adequate for using Skype. However, it can be tough getting internet access outside of the central valley of Costa Rica. We moved to Costa Rica four months ago and have been using Skype on a regular basis. Skype is great! We regularly make Skype calls to the US and Africa and have found that international Skype connections are far superior than the local phone service we receive from ICE, the local phone monopoly.

Skype does require a high bandwidth connection. We have internet access through Amnet, a local cable provider, which provides service more than adequate for using Skype. However, it can be tough getting internet access outside of the central valley of Costa Rica.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11618 Tim Wed, 09 May 2007 20:02:10 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11618 Vonage will soon be out of business and works poorly here. Go with Skype Vonage will soon be out of business and works poorly here. Go with Skype

]]> By: Patty http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11617 Patty Wed, 09 May 2007 17:47:48 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11617 HI, Since I will be living in a condo that has wireless, do you think that VONAGE is not such a great idea? or maybe skype will be better? HI,

Since I will be living in a condo that has wireless, do you think that VONAGE is not such a great idea? or maybe skype will be better?

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11571 Tim Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:53:46 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11571 I would urge you to think about Skype (www.skyper.com). MUCH cheaper, works with half of less the bandwidth and is generally a MUCH better option for Costa Rica. Vonage works poorly here unless you have a ton of bandwidth and even then, friends tell me it does not compare to Skype (which I use). I would urge you to think about Skype (www.skyper.com). MUCH cheaper, works with half of less the bandwidth and is generally a MUCH better option for Costa Rica.

Vonage works poorly here unless you have a ton of bandwidth and even then, friends tell me it does not compare to Skype (which I use).

]]> By: Daniel http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11570 Daniel Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:38:05 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11570 I have been using Vonage for two years now, and it works great. However, you need to have a GOOD Internet connection. There are two options, ADSL or Cable Modem. In case expect to pay about $60/month for enough bandwidth to support the Vonage and Internet surfing at the same time. Also, with the cable modem you have to buy a router, however with ADSL the telephone company provides a router. If you do not have enough bandwdith (at least 256kb/upstream) then IT WILL NOT WORK. It can take longer than a month to get ADSL on a working telephone line, and add several weeks if you have to request the line as well. Also the owner of the telephone line has to request the service. If you use a shared Internet connection, then you should TOTALLY expect your Vonage to not work well. Good Luck. It is fun to wait in line at the phone company. Pura Vida. I have been using Vonage for two years now, and it works great. However, you need to have a GOOD Internet connection. There are two options, ADSL or Cable Modem. In case expect to pay about $60/month for enough bandwidth to support the Vonage and Internet surfing at the same time. Also, with the cable modem you have to buy a router, however with ADSL the telephone company provides a router. If you do not have enough bandwdith (at least 256kb/upstream) then IT WILL NOT WORK. It can take longer than a month to get ADSL on a working telephone line, and add several weeks if you have to request the line as well. Also the owner of the telephone line has to request the service. If you use a shared Internet connection, then you should TOTALLY expect your Vonage to not work well. Good Luck. It is fun to wait in line at the phone company. Pura Vida.

]]> By: Makai http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11545 Makai Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:26:23 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-11545 I am hoping to move to Costa Rica but need to Telecommute and call the US often anywhere I am at in Costa Rica- which means a cell phone. Im wondering if anyone in Costa Rica uses Skype on a Skype mobile phone or a Skype on a Pocket PC from the US. Im interested in reducing the cost as ICE charges .45 a minute to call the US from a mobile phone- plus the rental company would charge an extra .20 per minute for an 800 # (so US folks dont have to dial an international # just to talk to me. ) I know this is a very specific question but I would think it would be a very popular desire especially with all the telecommuters now. I am hoping to move to Costa Rica but need to Telecommute and call the US often anywhere I am at in Costa Rica- which means a cell phone. Im wondering if anyone in Costa Rica uses Skype on a Skype mobile phone or a Skype on a Pocket PC from the US. Im interested in reducing the cost as ICE charges .45 a minute to call the US from a mobile phone- plus the rental company would charge an extra .20 per minute for an 800 # (so US folks dont have to dial an international # just to talk to me. ) I know this is a very specific question but I would think it would be a very popular desire especially with all the telecommuters now.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-10725 Tim Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:44:00 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-10725 I have received a TON of complaints the Vonage works poorly (at best) in Costa Rica, though every once in a while, you do hear from someone who is happy. I prefer Skype (www.skype.com) and it is about as reliable as you can get. Cheap too at $.02 per minute to the US and most of Europe. Can work from my PC or with a $40 box I have, I connected it to the house phone system so I can make calls and receive them from anywhere. I have received a TON of complaints the Vonage works poorly (at best) in Costa Rica, though every once in a while, you do hear from someone who is happy.

I prefer Skype (www.skype.com) and it is about as reliable as you can get. Cheap too at $.02 per minute to the US and most of Europe. Can work from my PC or with a $40 box I have, I connected it to the house phone system so I can make calls and receive them from anywhere.

]]> By: Jill Walsh http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-10263 Jill Walsh Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:44:54 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-10263 If your daughter has access to cable you can buy a vonage phone in the states with a number local to you. You get a modem with that purchase and it costs about $25 US a month. All she has to do is hook up to a cable access (cable tica) and you can talk to each other for unlimited time at no additional cost. We have one for our home in Costa Rica so that we can talk to our friends/family in the states. It works great. If your daughter has access to cable you can buy a vonage phone in the states with a number local to you. You get a modem with that purchase and it costs about $25 US a month. All she has to do is hook up to a cable access (cable tica) and you can talk to each other for unlimited time at no additional cost. We have one for our home in Costa Rica so that we can talk to our friends/family in the states. It works great.

]]> By: Lacey http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-7182 Lacey Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:58:51 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-7182 Hi! I'm going to be teaching in Costa Rica for a year. My town is called La Estrella and it's in the mountains about half an hour SW of Cartago. They just got a (landline)phone service there two months ago, but I have no idea what kind of cell phone coverage might be there. Is it at all worth it to try and have a cell phone there, or should I just count on the land line and use a calling card? Hi! I’m going to be teaching in Costa Rica for a year. My town is called La Estrella and it’s in the mountains about half an hour SW of Cartago. They just got a (landline)phone service there two months ago, but I have no idea what kind of cell phone coverage might be there. Is it at all worth it to try and have a cell phone there, or should I just count on the land line and use a calling card?

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-1566 Tim Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:57:42 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2006/11/22/costa-rica-cell-phone-update/#comment-1566 Try http://www.cellphonescr.com If she will be in CR more than 2-3 months, inquire about long term rentals as they re MUCH cheaper. Try http://www.cellphonescr.com

If she will be in CR more than 2-3 months, inquire about long term rentals as they re MUCH cheaper.

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