SIM cards in Aruba

[fattypatty]

anyone have any experience with using SIM cards from the local carriers to call the USA on an international GSM phone? if so, how does it work in regards to call charges, which carriers are the best, etc? any help is appreciated.

i'm trying to see if it's cheaper to use a SIM card or just to use my verizon phone with international calling enabled.

[RK05]

New to the board here but from what I have read it is cheaper to buy a $20 sim card. I know that you have to have your phone unlocked. We are gonna use our old T-maoble phone once I get the unlock code. I believe you get 84mins of air time if you get the sim card from the place in the airport.

[NealNearNorth]

I bought a Setar SIM card on the island. I also bought a 100 text message package. It worked in my Blackberry Curve (which I have via AT&T). As long as your phone is unlocked, it's inexpensive and easy.

[fattypatty]

i've read that you get assigned a local number by using one of the intl SIM cards and that all incoming calls are free. but doesn't that mean that those calling you will be paying intl rates from the states? calling via regular USA cellphone intl roaming is free for those calling right?

[Judy L]

I went to Verizon today to be told my phone can't be used for international.I always bought a card that ONLY worked at a few phone booths.I ONLY used the call usa today ONCE and the call went on my MC but cost a lot like $80,I will be there for a month and I would like to know what a SIM card is?I think the internet cafe has a cheap line to US but now we are all so used to having our cell phones it is inconvient plus you need to call out can't get calls.Sometimes that could be good.So please share info on this Sim? card

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by Judy L

I went to Verizon today to be told my phone can't be used for international.I always bought a card that ONLY worked at a few phone booths.I ONLY used the call usa today ONCE and the call went on my MC but cost a lot like $80,I will be there for a month and I would like to know what a SIM card is?I think the internet cafe has a cheap line to US but now we are all so used to having our cell phones it is inconvient plus you need to call out can't get calls.Sometimes that could be good.So please share info on this Sim? card

SIM card explained
April 12, 2005


What exactly is a SIM card?

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10166_7-6160666-1.html

Judy do you want to use to call back to the US? Probably easiest thing to do is to rent a cell phone in Aruba.

Dh (used to work in telecom) said that if your phone is "unlocked" it "may" be able to use a SIM which would work in Aruba, which in turn would allow you to make long distance international calls, but no gurarantee. He said that would be another question for your cell provider.

[ThePerchik]

If you phone is unlocked it doesnt mean the SIM will work. Different carrier's in different countries use different frequencies and as result your phone may accept the SIM but it may not be able to talk to the cell towers in Aruba. With a quad-band phone changes are VERY hight that it should work.

[Enriquito]

On Aruba there are 2 mobile phones providers: Setar & Digicel both of them offering services based on the GSM standard. The bands they use is the 900/1800 MHz bands meaning that you should have a mobile phone capable to work on these bands and offcourse unlocked. Dual band / Triple Band / Quad Band mobiles phones will do fine. When using the simcard of one of these companies you only pay when you are making a call or sending a text message. Prepaid credit are available everywhere on the island and it's very cheap to call back home when using a local simcard. Hope this has helped some of you out there...Enjoy Aruba!