Just because it was needed, I have seen the question many times...
I am not going to go over costs just the facts.
Buyers START HERE!!!
DR Telecom (Excellent info English & Spanish)
http://www.drtele.com/
Cellular companies:
Orange - http://www.orange.com.do/default.jsp
GSM 1900
Roaming Partners: AT&T/Cingular & T-Mobile
Roaming charges AT&T:
$0.65/min to call the DR from the US
$3.49/min to call from the DR to US/DR
$0.50 for text messages (incoming and outgoing) while in the DR.
Codetel/Verizon - http://www.verizon.net.do/
CDMA 1900 (PCS) & CDMA 2000 1X
Roaming Partners: Verizon & Sprint PCS
Roaming would definitely work provided your phone worked on the proper frequency and you had the right carrier.
To switch your phone to a Dominican number the only way I know for sure is through Orange. Technically it's possible to switch on a CDMA phone but it isn't instant. Switching SIM cards is much easier.
Options:
1. Bring an UNLOCKED GSM 1900 phone with you. It has to be unlocked or the SIM card won't work. Pesky cellular companies have the phone locked by the manufacturer so they won't work with another carrier.
Sub-Options (unlocking):
1. Buy one on eBay or 100s of other sites, "unlocked and cellular" will suffice on Google to find hundreds of sites.
2. Have your current one unlocked (sorry no warranties beyond this point, do it at your own risk)...
-Call your Cellular rep, they can get the code, depends on how well they know you.
-Pay to get it unlocked, some phones are free while others cost money. Of course the commercial sites will try to sell you anything, check around for forums where people with send you the unlock code for free. Motorola's are PITAs and cost money for each unlock, I read why somewhere but forget now.
Unlocking FAQ courtesy of Gutter Meat: http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roa...ckingfaq.htm#6
2. (I guess) Bring an old Verizon/Sprint phone. I am sure someone who reads Spanish can check the site.
3. Buy a phone there. Of course you can always rent a phone too.
See DR Telecom for buying info!
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