TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Anyone have one of Sharon's phones?

Anyone have one of Sharon's phones that you have used since the hurricane? Elaine says that possibly ours won't work. If so, guess we need to make other arrangements..

I don't have the original book to it, but it's a Nokia and there are some numbers inside that say Model 105, Type RM308, if anyone has one like this.

Sharon told me if she still had her store she would have had to buy all new phones.

Yikes. OK..

You might want to message her to be sure.

Yes, I will. I just figured someone here would have one of her phones.

I bought my phone elsewhere but got my sim, phone number and loadable card from her. Do you think mine might not work as well?

I have no idea..

Does anyone remember The Lurker's post back in March about using wifi calling on your smartphone? I'm planning to test that here at home sometime this week. I just tried searching for the thread but couldn't locate it; thankfully, I printed it out at the time. However, he opined that using wifi calling on your smartphone results in not needing a local phone.

And yes, I have a phone I purchased from Sharon when she closed shop.

One difference is that anyone calling YOU from SXM would need to make an international call. AND it wouldn't work if you don't have wifi, so if you're out in your car, and you have an issue, you would have to make an international call to call anyone for help.

Are you going to take Sharon's phone with you to see if it works? If so, please post here after you check it.

So far, I haven't heard back from Sharon..

The sim card I got from Sharon still works.

Georgia - Is that a sim card for your own 4G smartphone? Or is it 3G?

Jazzgal, I didn't use the WIFI calling, but my son just did in Aruba without any problems.

Most places have WIFI, so it isn't a problem unless, like Carol said, you are on the road
and need to make an emergency call.

If I remember right, there was another member who used it all the time, without a problem, and that is why
I posted it. He was very happy with it.

I have an unlocked smart phone, so I sent away for a SIM, in April, and that worked great.
I was concerned that after Irma the WIFI wasn't going to be reliable, but we never lost it.

My daughter is an AUC med student and she uses wifi calling all the time to call and or text us and her friends on Island who also have US phones, but as Carol said when you have no wifi it will not work and calling a St Maarten number is international, the same as if they call you.

Linda, I used it in my old Droid Razr M week before last. Whether this is a 3G or a 4G phone, I don't know.

If you don't want to buy a phone, get a sim from TelCell. It's only a problem with UTS as I stated in the original post.

Boucharda and I have posted on this a few times previously and couldn't have spelled it out any clearer. The whole point is use your own home phone using WiFi and for those "everyday emergencies like getting stranded on the road", that's when you use your own carriers international pay-as-you-go plan. It all works, "everyone" does it, and is far simpler than worrying about old cell phones, sim cards, etc.

You can lead a horse to water........

What about the statements above that if you use your own phone as a hot spot, then others calling you on the island will need to make it an international call to call you? Most of my phone usage on the island is to call others on the island at the same time.

Are you calling local or US numbers for people on the island at the same time? US numbers are free on wifi calling, and some people have reported that local "Dutch" numbers also are free.

JazzGal,
Is this the post you were looking for? I did a cut-and-paste job when it appeared, and saved it:

I don't know if this is appropriate or even possible in your situation but it is worth a try and takes a few seconds. We have used wifi calling everywhere we travel with no charges at all..no sims...no special calling plan needed...nada....France, Spain, Caribbean but we do have Verizon not T-Mobile but I also did see this on the T-Mobile website:

"Every Wi-Fi connection works like a T-Mobile tower.
You can use your phone to make calls and texts anywhere there’s Wi-Fi. It’s easy. Just connect your phone to a Wi-Fi network and it’s all set. No additional apps, logins or costs required"

Right now...just put your phone in airplane mode (wifi/cell signal will shut off )...turn wifi back on...wait 10-15 seconds....make a call....it should work and ,if it does, it will work ANYWHERE there is a wifi signal with no worries about whether there is a working cell tower where you are. Incoming calls will work like you are at home.Only downside is that you will need wifi.

Yup....mostly phones issued in the last few years or so. Verizon has 17 models, AT & T 23 models with WIFI calling. I have a Samsung S7 and it works great. If you are unsure just try it from home. Remember..you will also receive calls wherever you are when connected to wifi. As I said, my cell is ALWAYS on airplane mode at home...I just take it off when leaving the house....MUCH better call quality in my situation.

I just think it is a no brainer with near zero effort needed.

In iOS 9, Apple is giving us the option to choose which connection is best to make a call (Wi-Fi Calling), as well as making iPhones able to switch back and forth in a way that’s both automatic and seamless (Wi-Fi Assist).

[/i]
iOS 9 will also include Wi-Fi Assist, a feature that automatically boosts your connection by relying on a cell signal when your Wi-Fi is weak.

Complaint re: charges:

[i]Is anyone else having a complaint about WiFi assist on iPhone 6? I am a new customer and was charged overages due to this. I was unaware of this needing to be turned off in order of not getting overages.

It is VERY important to put your phone in airplane mode and keep it there. Otherwise there may be charges. WIFI assist cannot work in airplane mode

Also I made three wifi calls to a rental owner from MA to France and there were zero charges. Should be no different calling to a location on SXM...NOT with wifi assist enabled though.This, again, is with Verizon AND on airplane mode.

Full disclosure: Both AT & T and Verizon websites state that there will be charges for wifi calls made to international destinations, With airplane mode enabled I have never incurred any charge for any calls to any country. They have no clue where you are. They do NOT mention enabling airplane mode for a definite reason (charges). Just relaying how it is for me with my S7 and Verizon.

When you are out of country make a one minute call to a location NOT in the USA ...airplane mode on...wifi calling (NOT wifi assist) enabled. Check your account in a couple of days and see if there are any charges. Worse case you might have a one minute charge but I would be shocked if it was there.

I had no clue that this worked until I unexpectedly received a call on my cell while in SXM from my bro in law in Virginia. How could that happen? I'm in airplane mode....but I am in my room with a wifi connection enabled., Been using it ever since that epiphany (after a couple of test runs)

I routinely make calls to family in Nova Scotia (from MA) and never have been charged. I have made at least three calls to France from MA and never have been charged. I have called a French cellphone from an apartment in France and never have been charged. The key is AIRPLANE MODE ON! WiFi turned back on. Repeating myself: If you do NOT enable airplane mode you WILL be charged. Just relating MY experiences.

I kinda give up...I was just trying to offer an extremely easy an inexpensive alternative that has worked for me and my friends.

I will take some success in getting some to confirm that calling the USA from anywhere works....the rest is another issue left for the adventurous. Unless you have tried it then every comment about how it works is purely speculation.

BTW...I don't think I mentioned texts,,,same deal. You can receive and send texts also.


We go in airplane mode as soon as we get on the plane and stay that way until we return and make as many calls/texts as we want for zero cost.

https://youtu.be/HfhHHNR2Y_4

Youtube video answering questions? What is wifi calling? Why use wifi calling? Will wifi calling work on my carrier? Will wifi calling work on my phone?

One of the previous posts for a bit more background on WiFi calling ...

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/155902/1.html

All one needs to do is turn on wifi calling at home, like right now, and try it.

As far as charges from your carrier for doing this, we've never had any charges regardless of who we call. Since you're not using a cell phone tower or telecom systems, I'm not sure how the data can even be captured to bill you.

DandM--Your rationale might work for most people here, but our situation is different. We need to be able to receive and send calls wherever we are and we need a local number so that local people on SXM do not have to make an international call to reach us. I guess we will plan on having to buy a phone. Not sure what we are going to do at this point.

You can get a TelCell chip if you don't need to use an old UTS #.

We don't need to use an old number. We don't bring our smart phone to SXM. Prefer not to get it lost, damaged, etc. We have an old flip phone, but based on what you're saying, even if we get a chip, it won't work?

How do you keep it active? Chippie will only let you recharge from a WIB bank account. No credit card.

Of course wifi calling works if you are connected to wifi, but not if you are travelling on the road. Best to have a phone that works in case of an emergency when travelling from place to place.

With a Top Up card you can keep the phone active over the internet. Put a $1 on every sixty days. The site tells you when it is going to expire and just put a dollar on it for another sixty days to keep it active.

Years ago, I had an Eastern Caribbean Cellular (ECC) phone until they went out of business around 2011. Since that phone was no longer compatible with either TelCell or Chippie, I bought a new basic Samsung flip phone and then bought a Chippie sim card and topup card from Sharon. Until this post, I did not realize that this 2G phone may no longer work so I e-mailed Chippie and they confirmed that 2G is no longer functional and my phone will not work. Since I like to have my own phone and keep the number each year, I will now start the process to find a new one.

As I have said, a TelCell chip will work in your old phone (for now), a UTS Chippie will not.

I have had a Republic Wireless cell phone here in the States for about 10 years. You have to buy a phone, monthly fee is $22. It is an internet based calling system backed up by Sprint when not connected to the internet. This cell phone system will work in the Caribbean, Latin and South America when you are connected to the internet ( wifi hot spot). No additional charges. If someone calls your US number on this system your phone will ring in other countries. And if you call a US based number from out of the US you will connect. What you cannot do is call a SXM number on or off island.

Wendell

Oh crap on a cracker! I think that I am discovering that my UTS Chippie phone does not work now. Haven't tried to make a call in the past two days, but reading this I decided to check it out and make a call....nothing.
Strange, as I've got the TopUp card...still has $25 on it! And did a $1 addition every 60 days, and also the free "extend your number" thingie a few times online. Checked the balance when we landed *191*, and have loads of ANG. $$. But does not make calls. Argghhh!!!

So Elaine...you say that the Chippie network no longer works? Or that the phone must be at least 3G? (just trying to understand and trouble shoot) My alternatives are 1) get a 3G phone. where on island? or 2) change to TelCell? which gives me a new number, correct? Best suggestion for a TelCell retailer? Is adding time from the States easy?

I saw at Maho Market that they still TopUp Chippie....is that provider still viable?

Sorry if I'm being obtuse.

On Chippie/UTS network you need a new chip (and phone in some cases) as they no longer work with the upgraded system. MUST be a 3G phone. Even if you have a 3G phone, you have to take your old chip in and they will give you a new chip, same #, $ balance retained.

I know nothing about TelCell service other than everyone complains about it. They have a store in Simpson Bay.

Even if I don't use data or internet? Just want a phone for calling! lol

Our phones are phones only, no data or internet. Both chips and one phone had to be replaced.

Beachkitten--other than just now discovering you have a phone issue, how has your trip been?

lol...I've obviously not needed a phone....

It has been wonderful. One of the best trips in 25 years so far. Just so rewarding to be here. I feel blessed, and am in My Happy Place. Hugs, tears, people are grateful that we are coming back.

It's a different kind of trip, and we knew what to expect and also how to "roll" on this island. Simpson Bay is hopping! Dutch side has definitely recovered more.

Elaine gave me a wonderful recommendation and I got my mani-pedi yesterday...I'm human again! Now to find a massage, as their person is back in Columbia until June.

Biggest question now is...what to do today?!

I was going to stay out of this but decided to give it one more try...



As DandM29212 pointed out and as AUCspouse said in my post from long ago this is why you sign up for a use-it-if-you-need-it International plan. If you absolutely do need to make an emergency call in the car somewhere just take it off airplane mode....you will get one charge ($10) and it is good for 24 hours....assuming there is cell coverage where you are. It is a no cost cheap insurance plan that you only pay for IF you need it.

For 99% (or 100%) of your calls there is no charge,,,,no number change...no "International" fees...no chips/sims... Just call....or answer the phone. The person calling you is calling your cell number and it is TOTALLY irrelevant where you are. I am presently in Grand Cayman and have called friends in Massachusetts four times and have received two calls...no charges. You can call anyone IN SXM ..no charge...call home...no charge...call China...no charge.....

I have the emergency backup plan (Verizon Travel Pass) but have only used it once in two years and that was for a call from the car en-route to our France rental to give an arrival time....never had to use it since BUT it is there and it DOES work...and it IS a backup in case wifi is down or unreliable

Done....

boucharda--Again, your solution does not work for ME, because we need local people in SXM to be able to call us. For most people, yes.

Beachkitten--obviously, the answer is "NOTHING!!" Don't you read your own signature??

Correct...those locals would be calling your home phone so that would't be a good thing...good point and even the backup international plan wouldn't be appropriate. Works for you and you fellow countrymen but not for residents of the country you are in.

Most of the phones in the homes/apts we rent in France have internet calling as their regular home phone plan (i.e Orange) and free calls to USA are included in the fee. BUT this is country/location specific and not applicable to SXM or anywhere in the Caribbean that I know of.

But unless a vacationer routinely gets calls from the locals then wifi calling is great. I would just give out the resort unit phone number of where I am staying and let them call that number...return call can be made over wifi.