Coz questions

[MIwreckdiver]

I am leaving this Sat. the 7th for a week in Coz then following that with 8 days in Bonaire. I've got a few questions about both locations I need some help with.
Coz........ 1.Could someone please forward a link to DocV's coz survival guide, I can't seem to find it here. 2.What are your experiences using Cingular GSM cell service on island?
Bon...1. Does anyone who's been there recently know if the same Cingular GSM service will work on roaming on the island? 2. What are some reasonable solutions and/or rates for calling back to the US from Bonaire?
Thanx in advance

[cfelliot]

I use the cingular gsm service. It works, but was spotty at times. I had to pick places with good signal strength to call. As an example, the outside front of the Hotel Coz, where we were staying, was better than the lobby!

Haven't got the bill yet!!!!!!

[RonFrank]

I am leaving this Sat. the 7th for a week in Coz then following that with 8 days in Bonaire. I've got a few questions about both locations I need some help with.
Coz........ 1.Could someone please forward a link to DocV's coz survival guide, I can't seem to find it here. 2.What are your experiences using Cingular GSM cell service on island?
Bon...1. Does anyone who's been there recently know if the same Cingular GSM service will work on roaming on the island? 2. What are some reasonable solutions and/or rates for calling back to the US from Bonaire?
Thanx in advance

Cingular GSM service works in Coz. Check with Cingular before you go as I think some plans may not give one international service without letting them know you need it. The service was also not great. In CaribeBlu I think we had two bars.

You can also purchase SIM cards for GSM phones that will work internationally from services like THIS (http://www.cellularabroad.com/). A buddy of mine did that in Coz. He waited and purchased the card with a perset amount of time I believe in Cancun to be sure it would work in Coz. You may need an unlocked phone. Cingular can unlock phones, but there maybe a charge. There is also kits to unlock phones sold on EBAY.

Skype (http://www.skype.com/) is another method people use that works very well. That maybe your best bet however you need internet access, and some accessories to make it work well. You will also be limited to calling where your computer and internet are located unless you get a WiFi SMC phone. In that case you can use WiFi to route, but must be within range of a wireless network. I don't own and have not used the SMC type phone, but I would image like any WiFi device if the network is secured you must gain access.

[5615mike]

I have used my Cingular phone in Coz for many years. The one thing you need to be aware of though is that while there you are using the MX service. They do the billing and pass bill along to Cingular. They bill by connection or as soon as you press send. If your call does not go through you still get billed for the call and there are rather high connection fees even if the call does not go through. If you have a dispute on the bill, tough luck.........Cingular will not credit anything as they did not do the billing. I would discuss it with your local office before you go so you know what to expect.

[ggunn]

I have used my Cingular phone in Coz for many years. The one thing you need to be aware of though is that while there you are using the MX service. They do the billing and pass bill along to Cingular. They bill by connection or as soon as you press send. If your call does not go through you still get billed for the call and there are rather high connection fees even if the call does not go through. If you have a dispute on the bill, tough luck.........Cingular will not credit anything as they did not do the billing. I would discuss it with your local office before you go so you know what to expect.

OTOH, places like the Calling Station can connect you to numbers in the US pretty cheaply.

[TSandM]

Doc Vikingo's Coz Survival Guide (http://www.awoosh.com/Doc%20Vikingo's%20Resource%20Page/Cozumel_Survival_Guide.htm)

[cookies3201]

I have cingular service and I was recently in Cozumel. Before I went I called cingular and purchased the Mexico plan. It costs $4.99 a month and then $.59 for roaming. My service was excellent in all areas.

[5615mike]

cookies, just found out about the MX cingular plan last week and will take full advantage of it on my next trip

[ggunn]

cookies, just found out about the MX cingular plan last week and will take full advantage of it on my next trip

I have Sprint, which does not work on Cozumel. If it did, I would tell folks here that it didn't, though. Don' bug me, man; I'm on vacation! ;^)

[scubawife]

I have Sprint, which does not work on Cozumel. If it did, I would tell folks here that it didn't, though. Don' bug me, man; I'm on vacation! ;^)

Our new Sprint phone works like a charm in Cozumel. My old one didn't meet the minimum requirements for the card needed to add international service.

We just had to call and tell Sprint we wanted service added for Mexico (and had to specify where in Mexico we travel). We get service on the mainland and Coz.

[Shepman]

I have Sprint, which does not work on Cozumel. If it did, I would tell folks here that it didn't, though. Don' bug me, man; I'm on vacation! ;^)

I use the "modified Gordon Gunn plan".

We leave our cell phone home. After a couple-3 trips with trying to get that sumbuck to work, I gave up. We do an internet cafe session every other day after happy hour. Anyone that needs to know, get a phone # for the dive op & the hotel. After many trips down there, the one call that needed to get to me, got thru.

The other stuff can wait til I get back.

[5615mike]

I have Sprint, which does not work on Cozumel. If it did, I would tell folks here that it didn't, though. Don' bug me, man; I'm on vacation! ;^)

Welll Gordon, I wish I could tell my clients that but they just wouldnt understand!

[diver88]

you folks who have the plan for .59 per min roam in mx $4.99 mo, better get a clarification from cingular.

i signed up for that plan and when i got my bill i was charged the $4.99 and $1.00 a minute plus god awful taxes that worked out to be about $2.00 a minute. plus i got charged for a ton of minutes i didnt use.

i was told I missunderstood the offer. calls fromU.S. to Mx .59cent a min/not the other way.

i fell for it again feb07, verified the offer. when i got the bill it did not reflect the offer and was told AGAIN i missunderstood the offer. when i told them i recorded the offer and would contact the FCC and an attorney, they removed all charges. they tried that scam twice on me and the bad part i fell for it. BEWARE CINGULAR and roam in Mx.

diver88

[cookies3201]

Wow Diver88 sorry to hear that happened to you. I was in Cozumel for 2 months and used my phone and the charges were exactly as I was quoted. Next time I go though I will probably just get a phone in Mexico for like $30 and buy the minutes. I have been told it will work out cheaper that way.

[ggunn]

Wow Diver88 sorry to hear that happened to you. I was in Cozumel for 2 months and used my phone and the charges were exactly as I was quoted. Next time I go though I will probably just get a phone in Mexico for like $30 and buy the minutes. I have been told it will work out cheaper that way.

If you can wean yourself from the immediacy that cell phones deliver, you can get a really cheap connection to a number in the States from any of the internet shops on the island.

[diver88]

well i wouldnt even take a cell phone with me, but i have an elderly mother that i want to be able to stay in contact with in case of emergency.

and cookies, i had close to a one hour argument with cingular on two separate occasions over what they did. i turned my phone off, and only turned it on and made one 5 minute call a day for four days. my call timer in the phone also verified my situation but cingular had me charged with over one hour of calls to people i had no idea who was. i dont trust them, i have caught them padding the bill before, if there was a better alternative i would have gone, as it is i have to watch my bill very closely. i dont know why i was so lucky as to be lied to twice, but i am glad they followed through for you.

diver88

[Nevis Diver]

Verizon works well. Just get the international calling turned on before you leave the states and talk to a knowledgeable CSR about the package you will need/

[Gdog]

Im with Gordon.....that week in Coz with no phone helps make it a relaxing, refreshing break from the day to day of life here in the US of A.