Taking Verizon phone with me, any advice?

[Carlos Diver]

Yes, I have the DNA. I will have to look into that.

 

[cvchief]

That is one advantage of the iPhone. If it is an iPhone to iPhone it used the iMessage thing through the internet and not SMS.

 

[1erCRU]

Well, I'll be on the island for 2 weeks, will need some sort of cell service. In US I have a Verizon phone. I can take it with me. First, I can use it to call through wi-fi for free or use it roaming for probably as much as $1/min.

Is there a cheap way of getting some local calling on a cell? Say, I can still buy some cheapo cell that takes regular SIMs, is there a way on the island to get a pre-paid SIM or get some local service for a few weeks?

Anyway, any advice?

I have a Verizon phone and have/can use it easily in Mexico, but I purchased an unlocked quad band cell on ebay, new but an older style (Razr) for $32. As I've sailed & dived around the Carib, having a "local" number has been a real help: Dive shops, locals, restaurants, taxis, hotels, airlines etc etc can all call me easily (even put it in ziplock and take it on board in my dive bag). I just take my phone go to a local cell shop and purchase a sim with the time I think I need and get a local number. I can add more time if needed right on the phone or internet. In Cozumel I used the phone vendor in the Mega Maul, got a local number and month activation and 100 pesos time for $14usd. I still carry my VZ phone too, and change the VM on it to ask callers to call me on my vacation "local number". Strangely I get less calls when they have to pay the Long Distance charges!

 

[DjDiverDan]

I have my iPhone service through Verizon, and first time I took it to Cozumel I made the mistake of not turning my data plan OFF before I went. Data service is very expensive in Mexico, and I ended up with a bill over $400 just from the data. Talk to Verizon - either buy large chunks of data at discounted price before you go, if you absolutely need it, or just turn off data service on your phone when you are at the airport waiting to leave.

 

[dmoore19]

Get the Mexico plan for voice calls. Shut off the data and use wifi for emails. It worked well for me. You are going there to dive aren't you? Leave your phone at the room. Ringing cell phones on the boat are more obnoxious than smoke.

 

[Mossman]

I have my iPhone service through Verizon, and first time I took it to Cozumel I made the mistake of not turning my data plan OFF before I went. Data service is very expensive in Mexico, and I ended up with a bill over $400 just from the data. Talk to Verizon - either buy large chunks of data at discounted price before you go, if you absolutely need it, or just turn off data service on your phone when you are at the airport waiting to leave.

Most smartphones can be set to not download data when roaming. I've set my Blackberry once and never worry about it when I leave the country and I'm pretty sure iPhones are the same. No need to remember to turn anything on or off each time.

In case data is needed, Verizon, in addition to the Nationwide plus Mexico plan that I pointed out in the original response (even though a later poster got the credit), also has a Global Data plan that can also be used for the duration of the trip, then canceled when you return home. The rates are far more reasonable than without the plan.

---------- Post added April 7th, 2013 at 03:47 PM ----------

Get the Mexico plan for voice calls. Shut off the data and use wifi for emails. It worked well for me. You are going there to dive aren't you? Leave your phone at the room. Ringing cell phones on the boat are more obnoxious than smoke.

Can I tell the captain and DM that when their phones ring, or should I just blow smoke in their faces?

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

+1 for turning you data OFF. Verizon does offer data plans outside the US, but the limits are so low that just leaving the data in the background could cause you to go over the limit. I don't know about Mexico, but in Canada you can get zapped $50-100 a week real easy on data. I once came back from 2 weeks in Europe to a $400 data bill.

 

[dmoore19]

Tell them to take the call when they want and blow smoke up someone else's arse.

Other than that, I agree with turning off data when roaming. It works for me.

Actually, I must admit it was a troll. After reading one of the other threads around here I thought I would float it out there. I still think a phone ringing on a dive boat is annoying, but I can deal with it.

Most smartphones can be set to not download data when roaming. I've set my Blackberry once and never worry about it when I leave the country and I'm pretty sure iPhones are the same. No need to remember to turn anything on or off each time.

In case data is needed, Verizon, in addition to the Nationwide plus Mexico plan that I pointed out in the original response (even though a later poster got the credit), also has a Global Data plan that can also be used for the duration of the trip, then canceled when you return home. The rates are far more reasonable than without the plan.

---------- Post added April 7th, 2013 at 03:47 PM ----------


Can I tell the captain and DM that when their phones ring, or should I just blow smoke in their faces?

 

[Mossman]

I still think a phone ringing on a dive boat is annoying, but I can deal with it.

I agree. Radios never rang and you could hear both sides of the conversation. I miss radios.

But at least they stay on the boat where it's already noisy from the engine and chatty divers. The day when cell phones can ring underwater is the day I quit diving!

 

[kixy1]

I also have Verizon and the texting is my concern. I dont make a lot of calls, but I text a ton. Does the US plus Mexico plan give me unlimited texting while in Mexico? Ill just use the hotel wifi to load pics and read news.

Nope. No text plan available. 0.50 PER text to send, 0.05 PER text to receive... When we're on island we have to actually CALL people instead of text, can you imagine?!

I make fun, but seriously I had three teens with me last trip, the no texting was different. The hardest part was getting them to actually ANSWER the phone when I would call to check in or arrange a meet up, it's like a foreign concept