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PREPAID data-plans ????

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expatpanama2016
  10/24/2016 18:13 EST

Saludos amigos.

Quick question............

I use Movistar. I have a prepaid card (meaning, simple Pay-As-You-Go). I use it only for calling and texting.

A while back, I became curious about acquiring a data-plan/package. I already know about the contract-based options (where you sign a deal with them, and you pay a fixed monthly fee).

I also know about the "on-the-go" data-packages, where you purchase a package for: 1 day..........or 2 days.........3 days..........7 days..........14 days, etc, etc.

However, there doesn't seem to be any pay-as-you-go data-plans! By this, I mean: prepaid data-plans. The only prepaid-cards are for calling and texting (like the one I have right now). If you want to use DATA, you have no choice but to purchase one of the above-offered data-plans.

Meaning: it's not up to you how much you spend on Data. If you purchase a plan for, say, 7 days...........it lasts 7 days. Whether or not you even use it at all!

At first, I found it hard to believe that Panama does not offer prepaid data-cards, or plans. Is this even possible??? Even Bangladesh and Cambodia have these for sale in any kiosk!

I spoke to my lawyer, and he confirmed that this is indeed true. There's no such thing as a prepaid data option. You cannot simply buy a prepaid-card, and then top-up whenever you want, and with how much you want! This works only for texting and calling. If you want DATA, you have to purchase one of their offered plans!

My lawyer is someone who always knows what he's talking about, so I had to believe him when he said this. But, I'll be honest: I'm still in shock (LOL). I didn't think something so primitive was possible in the year 2016. I've traveled all over the world, and never seen this anywhere. Every country I've been to, you can use Data with prepaid cards.

SunsetSteve
  10/24/2016 18:32 EST

It may be that your lawyer, not being a non-resident, is not really knowledgeable about this issue. You might get a better answer from the Chinese youth on the other side of the counter. When I buy my 10- or 15-day prepaid Movistar SIM card they ask me if I want phone/text or also data - and it costs me somewhere around $10. And then my Samsung phone seems fully functional while I am in Panama. I don't know much about this and don't care to know how it works. But I pays my money and I gets what I need, No muss or fuss. I let the store clerk punch the buttons and call on the phone somewhere to trigger everything, then I walk out of the store in about 10 minutes. Stupid but happy.

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expatpanama2016
  10/24/2016 18:49 EST

"...............When I buy my 10- or 15-day prepaid Movistar SIM card............"


Perhaps, you didn't quite understand the point of my post.

I was referring to Prepaid WITHOUT having a FIXED period attached to it.............prepaid, as in: "you pay only for data you use, and you top-up only when your balance runs out"

As I already mentioned, I know about the 2-day, 10-day, 15-day, whatever-day.

SunsetSteve
  10/24/2016 19:26 EST

Correct - my understanding is destined to remain limited!

RAJ484
  10/25/2016 11:04 EST

We use Mas Movil on Apple 5s phones. We don't have any kind of plan and just do a "pay as we go" kinda thing. Meaning, when the amount on our phone starts to get low, we add another 15 or 20 bucks. Our SIM cards allow for talk, text and data. I know if I run out of money on my phone, when I put money back on it, I WONT have data unless I purchase a 1 day or 2 day data package. When I do that, I once again have data for as long as I have money on the phone. I get very few phone calls so most of the money I put on the phone is used by accessing data....hope this helps a bit...

expatpanama2016
  10/25/2016 12:20 EST

Hi RAJ484 :

Thanks so much. Yes, your answer is indeed helpful. ))

Just to be clear............what you're saying is : load money onto your phone (Prepaid card, like I am using now)...........and then purchase one of those data-packages (2-day, 3-day, 7-day, etc). ?

Correct?

In which case, here's the question that's bugging me: Let's say you purchase, say, a 2-day data package?

So now, you have money already earlier put in (say, 20 dollar card), which is just for calling and texting..........and then you add the 2-day data-package.............

What happens after 2 days? ?

Does your data come to an end??? Or..........can you continue using data for as long as there is pre-loaded money on your phone (the 20 bucks you put there, for instance) ?

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lapapuja
  10/25/2016 16:54 EST

MoviStar has it. For calls you put in the *312 code and then the card number. For data you put in a different 3 number code (Forgot what it is) and then the card number from a second card. So one card for calls, another for data.

RAJ484
  10/26/2016 08:11 EST

As long as I don't let my phone run out of money, I have data too. I just have to buy the data plan once to start data on the phone. Once the 2 day or 1 day data plan expires, I still have data for as long as I have money on the phone...so we don't want to get to zero dollars on the phone. And there is a website to add money on the phone so you don't have to buy the charging cards at the store. It costs a couple bucks, but it's convenient if you don't mind the extra charge. Mobilerecharge.com.

expatpanama2016
  10/26/2016 10:23 EST

Thanks a lot, Raj484 )))

Travelocity
  10/26/2016 10:56 EST

ok, here is my take on this...
I have claro and when I add data is only for 1 day for $1 why b/c I don,t use the damn thing. Second when I ad $5 they give me 45 days of wassap free included in the $5, my $5 remain untouched until I make a phone call. if you still want data facebook and all that crap $15 for 30 days of data use. my maid told me that she adds $3 and has wasp with her cell phone to talk to family w/o using her minutes. her wassap continues to work even though she has no cell minutes. she has movistar.

Travelocity
  10/26/2016 14:13 EST

I keep $5 prepaid calling cards on my desk ready to scratch and use. you will pay more by loading online like Raj mentioned or going to their cell phone offices the charge premium

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