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Frank Burrows

Fri, Jan 12, 2007 9:17 PM

It appears that the Bahamas is well along with their new GSM cellphone
system. The Abacos boards confirm that they are working there and on the
surrounding islands. Batelco's website says that the service is just Grand
Bahamas and Nassau but I think they are way behind in updating the website.
I also understand that Verizon phones no longer work in the Bahamas.

Batelco offers a prepaid SIM Card that you can buy when you get there
assuming you have a unlocked GSM phone. There are several sites that offer
to ship a SIM card for $100 with $20 worth of time to the US. The sites are:

http://www.ustronics.com/Bahamas_SIM_Card.php

http://www.cellularabroad.com/bahamasppsc.php

These websites give different prices for calls to the US but I believe that
Batelco rules and these guys are just making $20 or $30 by shipping the cards.

The GSM upgrade is new and I would like to find out if any listees have had
any good or bad experiences getting the GSM cards shipped to the US ahead
of time or with the new system.

thanks

Frank Burrows Destiny 1979 43' Viking MY
Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay

It appears that the Bahamas is well along with their new GSM cellphone system. The Abacos boards confirm that they are working there and on the surrounding islands. Batelco's website says that the service is just Grand Bahamas and Nassau but I think they are way behind in updating the website. I also understand that Verizon phones no longer work in the Bahamas. Batelco offers a prepaid SIM Card that you can buy when you get there assuming you have a unlocked GSM phone. There are several sites that offer to ship a SIM card for $100 with $20 worth of time to the US. The sites are: http://www.ustronics.com/Bahamas_SIM_Card.php http://www.cellularabroad.com/bahamasppsc.php These websites give different prices for calls to the US but I believe that Batelco rules and these guys are just making $20 or $30 by shipping the cards. The GSM upgrade is new and I would like to find out if any listees have had any good or bad experiences getting the GSM cards shipped to the US ahead of time or with the new system. thanks Frank Burrows Destiny 1979 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay

G

ghechtman@aol.com

Fri, Jan 12, 2007 9:30 PM

Cingular GSM phones have been able to roam in the Bahamas for some
time. You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down
the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute. I haven't verified the
following, but odds are good that you could put the batelco SIM into a
Cingular phone (and perhaps a T-Mobile) and be able to make phone
calls. You would want to validate what the Batelco long distance charge
to the US would be, to make an apples to apples comparison. If I find
out more, I'll post an update; would be very interested what any
Bahamas-sited listees can find out.

George

-----Original Message-----
From: fburrows@mail.com
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 3:17 PM
Subject: T&T: Bahamas GSM Cell Phones

It appears that the Bahamas is well along with their new GSM cellphone
system. The Abacos boards confirm that they are working there and on
the
surrounding islands. Batelco's website says that the service is just
Grand
Bahamas and Nassau but I think they are way behind in updating the
website.
I also understand that Verizon phones no longer work in the Bahamas.

Batelco offers a prepaid SIM Card that you can buy when you get there
assuming you have a unlocked GSM phone. There are several sites that
offer
to ship a SIM card for $100 with $20 worth of time to the US. The sites
are:

http://www.ustronics.com/Bahamas_SIM_Card.php

http://www.cellularabroad.com/bahamasppsc.php

These websites give different prices for calls to the US but I believe
that
Batelco rules and these guys are just making $20 or $30 by shipping the
cards.

The GSM upgrade is new and I would like to find out if any listees have
had
any good or bad experiences getting the GSM cards shipped to the US
ahead
of time or with the new system.

thanks

Frank Burrows Destiny 1979 43' Viking MY
Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay

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Cingular GSM phones have been able to roam in the Bahamas for some time. You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute. I haven't verified the following, but odds are good that you could put the batelco SIM into a Cingular phone (and perhaps a T-Mobile) and be able to make phone calls. You would want to validate what the Batelco long distance charge to the US would be, to make an apples to apples comparison. If I find out more, I'll post an update; would be very interested what any Bahamas-sited listees can find out. George -----Original Message----- From: fburrows@mail.com To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com Sent: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 3:17 PM Subject: T&T: Bahamas GSM Cell Phones It appears that the Bahamas is well along with their new GSM cellphone system. The Abacos boards confirm that they are working there and on the surrounding islands. Batelco's website says that the service is just Grand Bahamas and Nassau but I think they are way behind in updating the website. I also understand that Verizon phones no longer work in the Bahamas. Batelco offers a prepaid SIM Card that you can buy when you get there assuming you have a unlocked GSM phone. There are several sites that offer to ship a SIM card for $100 with $20 worth of time to the US. The sites are: http://www.ustronics.com/Bahamas_SIM_Card.php http://www.cellularabroad.com/bahamasppsc.php These websites give different prices for calls to the US but I believe that Batelco rules and these guys are just making $20 or $30 by shipping the cards. The GSM upgrade is new and I would like to find out if any listees have had any good or bad experiences getting the GSM cards shipped to the US ahead of time or with the new system. thanks Frank Burrows Destiny 1979 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay _______________________________________________ http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering To unsubscribe send email to trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com with the word UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited. ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

RC

R C Smith Jr

Sat, Jan 13, 2007 12:23 AM

Don't forget VOIP, at least for calling out. WiFi is everywhere (at least in
Abaco) and with good reception VOIP over WiFi works great.

Bob

Robert Calhoun Smith Jr
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
The Jib Room, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas

Don't forget VOIP, at least for calling out. WiFi is everywhere (at least in Abaco) and with good reception VOIP over WiFi works great. Bob ________________ Robert Calhoun Smith Jr M/V MARY KATHRYN Hatteras 58 LRC The Jib Room, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas

MR

Mark Richter

Sat, Jan 13, 2007 1:50 AM

<<You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down
the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute>>

Wow! would anyone really want to talk to the US so badly as to pay over $2
a minute?? When we go to the Bahamas, I tell all my family and friends that
they'll hear from us when we return to Florida, not before. With internet
connections and internet cafes so widespread and reasonable, I find it easy
to not support Batelco's infamous monopoly pricing policy on phone service.
Just my way of "sticking it to the man".

Mark Richte, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Ortona, FL

<<You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute>> Wow! would anyone really want to talk to the US so badly as to pay over $2 a minute?? When we go to the Bahamas, I tell all my family and friends that they'll hear from us when we return to Florida, not before. With internet connections and internet cafes so widespread and reasonable, I find it easy to not support Batelco's infamous monopoly pricing policy on phone service. Just my way of "sticking it to the man". Mark Richte, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Ortona, FL

GH

George Hechtman

Sun, Jan 14, 2007 5:45 PM

I think that's the point Bob Smith is making. With Skype and a wi-fi
or wired broadband connection, you can talk all you want and stick it
to the man at the same time.
By the way, there were several phones at CES that could be used for
both landline and Skype without even needing a computer; they connect
directly to whatever router is handy.

George

On Jan 12, 2007, at 7:50 PM, Mark Richter wrote:

<<You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down
the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute>>

Wow! would anyone really want to talk to the US so badly as to pay
over $2
a minute?? When we go to the Bahamas, I tell all my family and
friends that
they'll hear from us when we return to Florida, not before. With
internet
connections and internet cafes so widespread and reasonable, I find
it easy
to not support Batelco's infamous monopoly pricing policy on phone
service.
Just my way of "sticking it to the man".

Mark Richte, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Ortona, FL

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Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I think that's the point Bob Smith is making. With Skype and a wi-fi or wired broadband connection, you can talk all you want and stick it to the man at the same time. By the way, there were several phones at CES that could be used for both landline and Skype without even needing a computer; they connect directly to whatever router is handy. George On Jan 12, 2007, at 7:50 PM, Mark Richter wrote: > <<You can put a $5.99 monthly feature on your rate plan to buy down > the roaming cost from $2.29 to $1.99 a minute>> > > Wow! would anyone really want to talk to the US so badly as to pay > over $2 > a minute?? When we go to the Bahamas, I tell all my family and > friends that > they'll hear from us when we return to Florida, not before. With > internet > connections and internet cafes so widespread and reasonable, I find > it easy > to not support Batelco's infamous monopoly pricing policy on phone > service. > Just my way of "sticking it to the man". > > Mark Richte, m/v Winnie the Pooh, Ortona, FL > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering > > To unsubscribe send email to > trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com with the word > UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. > > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

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Bahamas GSM Cell Phones