Cell Phone Advice

bill · Post by **bill** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:31 pm

Will be going to the islands in 8 days! Will be spending time on St. John, of course , and also the BVI's. Will need to be able to call home. I am about to buy the Virgin Mobile phone on the advice of someone on this forum months ago. they said it definitely works. Before I make the purchase, would like some reinforcement. Thanks!!!

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:35 pm

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bill · Post by **bill** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:12 pm

to wishwewerethere can you buy a cingular phone like you can a virgin mobile, and then just get a phone card? I can get some phones at Radio Shack.

Gizzmo · Post by **Gizzmo** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:21 pm

Been there, done that! A VirginMobile phone will make a nice PAPERWIEGHT. (sorry) Cingular/ATT has the best coverage on St John but there are many spots it will not work. Cruz Bay and Coral Bay are reliable. As far as the BVI,s ....Good Luck

bill · Post by **bill** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:56 pm

thanks Gizzmo. that's what i am afraid of.

Coden · Post by **Coden** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:00 am

We used our Cingular phones in Coral Bay and elsewhere while on the island in December. We had no problems and the reception was perfect.

There was only one spot that threw us into BVI roaming. I turned my phone off when we were in that area. We were never hit with any type of roaming charges.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip!!

martini girl · Post by **martini girl** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:27 pm

My daughter's $20 pay-as-you-go Virgin Mobile phone worked just fine. My husband's Cingular Blackberry worked as well on STJ. We did not take phones to BVI so can't help you there.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:34 pm

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California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:20 pm

Coden - How could you tell when you were picking up a BVI tower?

kirk · Post by **kirk** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:09 am

I picked up a Cingular Go phone at the local wallyworld for $19 + a $50 phone card.

Puddlejumper · Post by **Puddlejumper** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:58 am

I have a Sprint phone with Roam America plan. It has good coverage over most of St John like Cingular. But, the Roam America coverage in Tortola lets me receive and make calls to or from the states without extra charges. I cannot make calls to the BVI without serious charges per minute. Friends lived in the VI this past winter and they used Cingular because that's seemed to be what most locals used. As we traveled around STJ together, we compared coverage. I really didn't see that much different (with my Roam America plan), until I put my phone in the water at Maho. I also use my phone for internet use and as a modem. Not sure that Sprint has pay as you go phones.

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