A local telephone number is a great way to stay in touch girlfriends while in Costa Rica. However, for some 3G Internet access is better because it means staying connected to the Internet, email and Facebook while not having to rely on WiFi among just a few businesses in San Jose.
Those arriving in San Jose can signup for prepaid cell service at the airport, and ditch their high international roaming rates for local calls and Internet Access. With a prepaid plan a local call is about 6 cents, text messages are less than 1 cent and Internet access is under $1 a day. The national telephone company, ICE has an airport booth where it markets its prepaid cell service under the Kolbi brand name.
Using the service with an existing smart phone, however requires an unlocked phone. AT&T now helps those who have completed their iPhone service contracts to unlock their phones legitimately. It’s also possible to buy a smart phone in the United States that doesn’t come with a service contract commitment. If local phone line is more important than Internet access, then an inexpensive Nokia, either purchased unlocked via Ebay or available under $40 at the ICE store in Costa Rica is the answer.
For those spending some time in Costa Rica it is good to have a smart phone with camera to keep track of the chicas. The names may be difficult to spell or remember, so taking a headshot and putting it in the cell phone directory the best way to keep track of them.
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