There are Four Cellular Providers in Panama
- Mas Movil (+Movil) Cable & Wireless Panama
- Movistar
- Claro
- Digicel
I can only speak for Mas Movil (+Movil) as that is what I use when I am in Panama.
+Movil shops are scattered throughout Panama city, but I have always used their store on Via Espana between Calle Elvira Mendez and Calle Aquilino De La Guardia.
You have to purchase a SIM for $1.06 (Includes Tax) and then add Airtime to the card.
Airtime Cards Are Sold All Over the Place and come in many different increments or you can have airtime added at any Mas Movil store.
Voice is charged by the second outgoing and is free incoming.
To Activate Voice Service:
- Dial *555#
n.b. Voice maybe already activated as it was in my case.
Voice Prices:
- Calls to mobile phones (also on +Movil) and all landlines is $0.0020 to the second.
- Calls to other local cellular networks is $0.0026 to the second.
Texts Messages (SMS/MMS)
n.b. SMS/MMS is activated along with voice activation, so no further activation is needed.
SMS/MMS Prices:
- SMS to other +Movil Customers is $0.05 per message incoming/outgoing
- SMS to other celluar networks is $0.07 per message incoming/outgoing
- International SMS are $0.20 per message incoming/outgoing
- MMS are $0.025 per message incoming/outgoing
DATA is sold by the 24h and is 1GB at full speed (speeds vary greatly anywhere from 1Mbps -4Mbps DOWN)for the entire 24h period of time. If more than 1GB is consumed in that 24h period of time, speeds are throttled back to approx 512Kbps and are unlimited for the rest of the 24h period of time.
To Activate A DATA Bundle after acquiring a SIM and adding Airtime:
- Dial *456# SEND
- Choose the option (1) Blackberry or option (2) for other (otros in Spanish) devices
- Choose your plan.
DATA Bundles are as follows:
- 1 Day $0.95 For All Device Types
- 3 Days Blackberry $2.25 / Every Other Type $1.95
n.b. I am unsure why for three days Blackberries are charged differently than any other type of device.
- 7 Days $3.95 For All Device Types
- 15 Days $7.95 For All Device Types
- 30 Days $14.95 For All Device Types
Dan