Cuba’s cellphone bypass code
p2pnet view Mobiles | P2P:- In Canada, it’s easy to make a cellphone call, or receive one, the competition vacuum notwithstanding.
We take it for granted.
But things are very different in Cuba, blogs Yoani Sánchez in Generation Y.
“My cellphone rings but I don’t answer”, says, going on >>>
I wait for the ringing to stop and go to a nearby phone to call the number shown on the screen. I’ve warned my friends that I’ll let a call go and call them back later, but some insist, forgetting about the high cost of a minute of conversation on the cell network. I have a code with them: two rings if it’s urgent and three if it’s about something that can wait.
When I’m in the street and the device I carry in my purse vibrates, I look for a public phone that takes coins and doesn’t have the handset ripped off.
Although the telecommunications company ETESCA reported that the number of cell phone users will soon surpass one million, we remain handicapped with regards to this technology. To receive a domestic call is madness, configuring the texting can take hours of fighting with the operators, and finding a place that sells recharge cards is like the movie Mission Impossible.
Like a teenager whose growing feet no longer fit in his shoes, our cellphone system has increased the number of subscribers but without the corresponding improvement in infrastructure. Well, the growth doesn’t follow an integrated development of the system, but is led by the desire to collect — at all costs — those colored convertible notes that simulate the dollar.
Despite recent reductions in the high rates, even a doctor can’t afford cellphone service, but the political police enjoy subsidized rates which they can pay in national currency. Nor is it possible to open an account and pay at the end of the month, we have to pay in advance to be able to communicate.
Many of us feel defrauded by ETESCA, but the State monopoly doesn’t allow other competitors to offer us better and cheaper service.
“Meanwhile a solution appears”, says Yoani.
Thousands of users “work out a strange Morse code with cellphones: One ring, two, three… Don’t answer on the other end! Just run to the nearest phone.”
… and identi.ca
Generation Y – Don’t Answer, August 24, 2010
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September 1st, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Corrections its ETECSA, not ETESCA lol ;P
If anyones interested in official website, its etecsa.cu
September 1st, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Jon, What are you doing to us? Telepunto is a Colombian phone company and their website dosent even work =\ (It works but theres an Apache default page there)
Come on Jon!
September 1st, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I don’t know what is, or isn’t working. But, I like the mob mentality portrayed by Andrew so I have to agree (not sure what I’m agreeing to). But yeah! Lynch the editor! Lets git em. Hang em high. It doesn’t work! Arrrrgh
thanks.
bye.
September 1st, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I like the mob mentality portrayed by Andrew
Im not going to whack you. Love Piracy or ‘else!
Also RW, apparently when you are downloading a torrent from a torrent site you are raping and pillaging music yes “raping”
quite nicely PUT enigmax, pffft. http://torrentfreak.com/13-unlucky-reasons-why-zaptunes-is-bullshit-100901/#comment-701825
November 27th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
May I offer you all a bit of advice… Stop reporting issues like this, in the public domain!
I live in Florida, and cannot remember the last time I have seen a payphone. When cell phones were first becoming popular, payphones were plenty and the calls were only 25 cents.
As cellular communications become cheaper and popularity spread, the cost of pay phones went up to 50 cents.
To make a long story short.. the cost of using a payphone was $1 – $1.25 the last time I remember seeing one, Once everyone and there grandma had a cellphone, payphones disappeared.
The point is, do not give them a reason to raise the price of a payphone call! This goes for any item. Supply/Demand.