Whatsapp is a good free (one dollar after the first year) messaging program for cell phones. Contact profile photos are visible, easy to send photos and videos. Seems Claro deducts a small amount from your prepaid cell account for each message sent.
Whatsapp also works with wifi connections. With wifi, the messages are free.
Nice thing is if you forget what a contact looks like, look at their profile picture or ask them to send a photo, sent photos and videos appear right away.
http://www.whatsapp.com/
For adding money to a prepaid Claro cell phone I use either https://www.aryty.com or http://www.ezetop.com with a bank or credit card.
New SIM card with a DR cell phone number costs about 150 pesos at Claro (about $3.51US).
Unlocked GSM cell phones that take SIM cards can be purchased online at amazon, ebay, newegg and expansys (www.expansys-usa.com/). Some cell phones are factory unlocked from Samsung, Sony and Nokia. Some newer cell phones use a micro-sim or mini-sim, cutters are available with adapters to cut a regular sim card into the smaller size. When you purchase the SIM card in the DR the worker will check the size and will sell you the appropriate size SIM.
I travel with a small USB docking station that charges the phone and a second battery (costs about $9US). Having a second charged battery (or other battery source) can be useful. http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon%C2%AE-P.../dp/B002NWRAG0
If you want to connect to the internet using your cell phone with a claro SIM card, tell the worker at Claro and they will explain (I haven't tried it yet). Daily internet rate might be around 50-55 pesos (less than $2US). Claro also sells weekly and monthly packages as well.
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