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The Cell Phone Comes to Cuba

by Lee Bains on January 6, 2009 at 08:04 AM


While those of us in the United States might consider an iPhone or BlackBerry to be the ultimate mobile status symbol, Cubans are just now lusting after the most basic of cell phones, we learned from the Washington Post via Textually.org.

Cuba's new president, Raul Castro, has introduced cell phones to the Cuban marketplace -- along with other formerly contraband devices like DVD players, microwaves and computers -- and, from all appearances, the average Cuban is anxious to acquire one.

Once he or she can save up for it, that is.

At present, the Cuban government offers a simple Nokia 1112 phone and charger for the equivalent of $58, a small fortune for the average Cuban who, according to the BBC, earns $20 a month.

And billing plans are just as costly. To actually use the phone, a consumer must pay a $65 registration fee and a rate of 65 cents per minute. Due to the latter charge, many essentially use their phones as beepers. In a typical situation, an individual would call a friend's cell phone from a land line. The friend, seeing the number pop up on the cell phone, would then hustle to the nearest land line to return the call.

Some, enticed by the Cuban government's 17 cent per text message rate, prefer to go that route.

As far as overseas calls go, folks fearing communist influence riding the airwaves into the U.S. have nothing to worry about; a one minute call to the States runs a Cuban cell phone user $2.70. [From: Washington Post via Textually.org]

Tags: cuba, culture, international, landline

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