Are there SIM Cards at reasonable prices for El Salvador? I have a USA Cingular Phone?

Question

Are there SIM Cards at reasonable prices for El Salvador? I have a USA Cingular Phone?

Answer 1

Most USA cellular providers sell phones at a "discount" when you sign up for their service.  They also "lock" the phone so you cannot use another service's SIM card - it's their way of preventing you from getting a free or discounted phone from them and then using another (cheaper) service's SIM card.

Call customer service (probably 611) and sign up for international calling. That will allow you to make and receive calls with your Cingular SIM card. This assumes you have a dual or multi-band phone (handset) that works outside the USA (not all of them do - ASK!).

Also ask for the "unlock code" so you can use the phone with another SIM card in El Salvador.  They will probably give it to you unless you very recently bought the phone or if your phone does not work outside the USA.

Then buy a local SIM card after you get to El Salvador and install it in your phone.  Worst case is you have to buy a new phone to go with the new SIM card.

Answer 2

You should have little trouble getting a suitable SIM card or Chip (As its know in El Salvador). El Salvador has many mobile phone networks such as Claro, Movistar, Tigo, Telemovil, Telefonica and DIGICEL. The providers there are used to forgien phones being brought into their stores as many Salvadorean relatives send phones as gifts to family in El Salvador.

Firstly, you should cheak if your mobile provider in the States provides International Roaming to El Salvador, if they do, then you can just use your US SIM in El Salvador.

If they dont have IR in El Salvador, then you just have to shop around through the mobile providers once you get there. In my experiance, Claro offers the best service. They can unlock your phone if needed,and give you a new SIM and number for US$3.

I had a bit of a problem with my mobile phone when i was in El Salvador a couple of months ago. My problem was that i had a phone from Australia (Samsung SG500) with an Australian SIM. The SIM did not have International Roaming, and the phone was blocked by my provider in Australia. I went to one of the local malls and went from carrier to carrier, none of whom could help me. Then i went to Claro, and with no hesitation they unblocked the phone and gave me the new SIM in about 5 minutes. All for US$3. Pretty Cheap i thought :)

I highly recommend that you get your chip with Claro, they are one of the best in El Salvador, and offer doble saldo (Double Money) for new users for the first 3 months. So if you pay $10 into your Chip, it will give you $20. They also have little to no signal drop-outs.

P.S

If your going to be in El Salvador for awhile, and decide to go with Claro, you should also join there service that allows you cheaper rates to your 10 most frequently called numbers. But to do this you have to call Claro and register the numbers. This will save you some extra cash :P

Answer 3

All sims in El Slavador are $ 3.00 anywhere, from gas stations to supermarkets. just ask for a "chip" try the company named Tigo, they have the best rates.