Phone service

Last year I used my Spectrum serviced phone on SXM. Are there any other of the major carriers that work on SXM?

I’ve used AT&T and T-Mobile while on the island.

AT&T works, but it’s far from cheap, even with the international travel plan....but of course as long as you have wifi, you can use “wifi calling” and continue to use your phone for free as though it was still in the states

T-Mobile works well for us

Norm,

We do the same as IslandBoi although our cell carrier is Verizon. It works very well judging by our success rate for the few times we've used it down there.

Agree....wifi calling works great and at zero cost to the USA OR on Island USA based cell phones

For an extended stay the Verizon international program works great but with so many hot spots and Wi-Fi readily available Wi-Fi calling is essentially all you'll need..

I use Verizon. They have a service called Travel Pass, where you're charged $10 per 24-hour period, with unlimited talk & text. When I used it, they sent a text alert in advance of the next 24 hours starting, giving me a chance to go to "airplane mode" to avoid being dinged with a charge for the following 24-hour period.

When travelling internationally, I keep my phone on airplane mode with wifi calling activated, only using the service when I need it (starting Travel Pass by disabling airplane mode). I've used it in Germany, Netherlands, UK, and on the island (both sides).

To register, text Travel to 4004

We have used that 24 hour service before. Verizon used to have a monthly program but not sure if they still offer it or the charge. Used to be 50.00 for 30 days but that is probably more now.

We used our phone with At&T using WIFI in our villa. Plus we used messenger and text.

It will be considered an international call if you try to call a restaurant in SXM though, but the charge was small.

An option would be Whatsapp , since many of the businesses use it.

We also have the international plan through AT&T, for $10 a day if used, in case of emergency.

As long as you have wifi,the Talkatone app works great.You can call any phone for free.Also the number you get can receive calls.

If we're on the island and we use our cell to call restaurants- since that's considered an international call ,am I correct to assume I'll need to dial the area code- not just the 7 digit number?

Verizon is $ 10 a day to replicate your calling and data plan. I usually just put my phone in airplane mode and use WiFi on the island, and I do have a Chippie phone for local calls.

Keep in mind if you have WhatsApp on your phone if you have a local SXM number to call first put it in your regular contacts. If that contact has WhatsApp it will show up in your WhatsApp contacts.

also have used t mobile over the past few years, and have been quite satisfied with it. in the room connect it to wi fi, and also keep it on airplane mode throughout. the cost of phone calls from sxm is pretty cheap also.

I have to admit, I assume the same, that you would need the area code, but it's been a while since we have done it.
I know that the charge was less than $2 to make a local call.

It would be the same procedure as calling from the USA...and the cost of two calls I made last year were around $1.50 each...maybe 2-3 minutes each. Not worth the daily or weekly International calling plan cost.

Another point about the Verizon international plan....on our last day on the island, our credit card went missing. I immediately took my phone out of airplane mode to lock that card on the card app. The peace of mind that I got from that $10 was worth every dime. I still like having my island phone for emergency situations and local calls, but the ability to use my home cell phone for a secure transaction like locking the lost card is important too.

Exactly....and having that plan also works in case of an emergent need away from wifi. No cost if you do not need it but well worth the price if you do

Thanks all for the info.