GSM prepaid SIM card

[Banana Bender]

BTC has just officialy launched their GSM cellphone service as noted in several other threads. It operates in the 1900 MHZ band.
Prepaid GSM SIM card chips can be purchased at the BTC office in MH.
I do not know if convenience stores and gas stations carry the card yet.
The cost of a SIM card with a local Bahamian 242 number is $50, plus airtime card, minimum $20, additional service such as caller ID, is $10 activation + $3/month for each service.(The SIM card and number expire in three months and remaining prepaid airtime is lost, if no additional time is added.)
So, it will cost you $83 to initally get set up.
Airtime is $0.30/min peak local and to US, I think is $0.99+$0.33/min.
The SIM chip can be inserted by the user and activated.
It may not be an economical proposition for a short term visitor who want to call back to the US.
I have a tri-band unlocked phone that I use in the Bahamas, Florida and Europe, by purchasing prepaid SIM in each country and simply swapping the chip.
Hope this helps........

[CATNAPSzzz]

Please explain "Airtime is $30/min peak local and to US,"

Thanks!

[netphreak]

Here's a website that will ship your batelco SIM card to you, even before you leave. Even though it's more expensive, it's nice for cruisers that don't want to wait until MH to get (cheaper) cell phone service.

http://www.cellularabroad.com/bahamasppsc.php

EDIT: Seems I'd rather have my loved ones call me for 33 cents a minute, rather than call out for $1.32 a minute ;)

[Banana Bender]

Thanks for that link, Netphreak.......
It looks like the International rate to the US is now $1.32 + 0.33 = $1.65/min peak rate. 0700-1900hrs. $1.14 + 0.15 = $1.29 offpeak.