Job Discussion Forums

[apollolight]

If I bring an android phone to Oman will it work? Also, what are internet connections like in Oman? In Sohar? Is it easy to get hooked up with a reliable service?

[lynnknows]

I have an Iphone so I cant answer your question about the phone. Oh wait, my kids have androids nd their phone would not connect to the 3g service here. The phone worked but no internet service. Internet is easy to get in Sohar. If you live in an area with adsl you can get it installed in about 2 weeks. There is also some kind of internet box available. It will give you wireless service for up tp 5 devices. The download speed is ok. It is also fast enough to stream movies.

The companies are omantel and nawras. Omantell offers both servies and Nawras offers the box. if you go with the box Nawras is cheaper. The box is 15 Ro and the service is 2 a month for unlimited and Omantels box is 50 or and if I am not mistaken they do not offer unlimited service....

[veiledsentiments]

So Lynnknows... have you moved to Saudi to Oman?

VS

[nicole2010]

re phone in oman

apollo..you need an unlocked, international phone to work in oman in coming from usa....android doesnt matter..it is easy to buy a phone here and they are not expensive (from about $20 for most basic and up to high end phones)..carrefour sells them or any local shop..even used phones are available...locally bought phones have english and arabic keys...useful....

a sim card system is used in oman.

it costs about 5 OMR ($12) to buy the Sim Card. you may need a labour card to buy a sim card but sometimes a passport works..getting a number with like digits is fashionable here like 9778 3333 (phone numbers are 8 digits). most people use prepaid phone service here.

the companies:

1) nawras ("seagull" in arabic) www.nawras.om see website (its in english) to read about services. i prefer nawras to the other companies, but many people use omantel.

internet service can be obtained in two main ways:

a) buy an internet subscription through your sim card. then, use your sim card in a usb modem (bought here) attached to your computer. it is about 1 omr per day and you can sign up one day at a time....you can connect anywhere through this method and use at buy time at your convenience. to subscribe you type a code into your phone to request. the first time have someone show you. it's a bit different system than the usa but easy.

b) have a dsl "hard" line hooked up at your house and have a wireless modem router system. monthly bill and installation issues...i.e. you will not be the owner of your flat ..you are not omani..probably you do not speak arabic...so you will need to go through a few hoops to get this set up the first time...convenient for house use but cannot receive internet outside of wireless modem range like the sim card...

phone and internet service is relatively good in oman and average in speed. also mobile phones here are not tied to one company like in the usa, so it is possible to use different simcards from different phone service providers in the same phone. it's a bit hard to plan for these thing from overseas...just get here and everything will work itself out.....dont expect everything to be 'on time' or done in a certain way...lots of people will help you out.....best

2) omantel
3) friendi

[lynnknows]

have a dsl "hard" line hooked up at your house and have a wireless modem router system. monthly bill and installation issues...i.e. you will not be the owner of your flat ..you are not omani..probably you do not speak arabic...so you will need to go through a few hoops to get this set up the first time...convenient for house use but cannot receive internet outside of wireless modem range like the sim card...


This is not what I have found to be true at all.

I went to omantel filledout a form and within two days they were at my home to see if it was possible to have the service hooked up. Most of the people I work with have ADSL. We do not own our home, we are not Omani, nor do we speak arabic.

Everyone I had contact with, from the person at the counter to the people that installed the servicespoke English>

Also the Sim Cards are 2 OR now and you hget 2 OR woth of credit on the SIM.

You can buy a SIM card at the airport with your passport. I didnt have a problem with buying them.

I made a mistake on my post. I said the service was 2 OR for the internet service but Its 24.

[usa_in_gulf]

Nawras offers a wifi router for your home that you can also hook up a cable to if you want. Unlimited service is 24 riyal a month. The router is given to you in a box.. you go home.. plug it in.. and that�s it. No waiting.. one simple form. You don�t need any Arabic language skills- you don�t have to own your residence-no appointments�no installation�immediate service. The only �difficult� part is that you need to point out where you live on a satellite so they can assign the router an access point or whatever they call it�.very easy process.

[nicole2010]

re: phone

for clarification purposes as to give most accurate info as my intent of posting here is with best and honest intentions to help people coming to oman with no agendas as some people seem to have......cost of simcards..all this info can be verified with these companies.

nawras - 5 OMR for the welcome package - which includes 2 OMR credit (the bottomline is one must shell out 5 OMR to obtain the sim)

omantel - Currently offering a promotion until march 26 - welcome hayyak sim card package 4 OMR with 2 OMR credit (this is promotion - normal fee 5 OMR)

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A selection of wifi modems by nawras can be found here http://www.nawras.om/nawras_internet_products.shtml. The poster above is referring to this. The modem allows more than one device use internet connection. It is quite convenient and on the 3G network. You can purchase the device from a Nawras store. This is not the DSL its the new broadband service. It is of average speed if you compared worldwide.

To find your coordinates, one can use wikimapia.org (at least that is what the nawras guy did in the darset lulu store). Many areas in Muscat are covered by this service but not all. There are a few tucked in mountains or on the outskirts where the service doesn't reach. A few other Omani cities have limited coverage. See coverage map: http://www.nawras.om/3g_coverage_areas.shtml.

This service is not 'Omanwide'. So, this guy moving to Sohar should make sure the coverage reaches where he will stay before dishing out about $200 for the "box' modem and one month service. Some people I know have to go to their roof to get service and others not at all, and we would consider them living in Sohar proper. It's easy internet if it reaches you. If it doesn't opt for the SIM card mobile method. My comments are meant to save him trouble, money and time as people have gone through this same experience.

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also, to the poster who said they got a sim at the airport, please state where exactly in the airport you obtained the sim because it is not obvious when you land and go through the immigration and out to the arrivals hall; this could be useful for others who arrive to muscat and need a sim...most international flights to muscat arrive in the late pm or early am...are shops open then... thanks
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to clarify "jumping through hoops" to get service.....oman is not standardized ...everyplace city region has different ways...including languages/dialects....the original poster was referring to getting service in sohar....which is outside of muscat...in muscat obtaining service is quite easy...but i have found outside of muscat or in more village like areas...sometimes there are more 'hoops' to jump through and the english ability is lower. .

..i was actually referring to a case where someone wanted to set up internet but had to have the building owner come to the office before the company would set up the service. so, as some people have found it easy others have had a more difficult time....my point is actually to give a broad and accurate picture of what is going on here..best to all

[usa_in_gulf]

SIM cards can be purchased from Omantel and Nawras with your passport. At Muscat International airport, the Nawras counter is directly in front of the arrival door exit for passengers. As a person exits the arrival area, look directly in front of you---between the two exit doors--immediately opposite the exit "hallway" is the Nawras counter. You simply can't miss it.

The Omantel counter is to the left of where the Nawras counter is located. Exiting the arrival hall, the Nawras counter --to the left of the Nawras counter is a money exchange counter..and to the left of this money exchange.. is Omantel.

Both Nawras and Omantel airport locations are open 24 hours.

Nawras currently has a special. Today, I purchased another router from Nawras for a location in Taqah, Oman--about 30 minutes outside of Salalah. I paid 15 OR for the router and 2 months of unlimited service. After the two months, its 24 OR per month/unlimited. Speed is very good.

[lynnknows]

Nicole, Im sorry you had a different experience than me. I only paid OR 2 for all my SIMcards. I brought 2 at the airport from Omantel and 2 from Narwas in Sohur. I wanted to compare services. Both companies only charges me 2 OR. Maybe it was a special or they changed things from when you brought yours.

I ONLY answered this post becasue it was about sohar. I am there and ONLY stated things that happened to me and people that took me to get the same service. I did not pay anything upfront for ADSL. Every person at both companies spoke English,and I Narwas tells eveyone when they order their service if it willworkattheir homeBEFORE they buy the box.They lookupthe addrees onthe internet and say yes or no. With Omantel They came to my home three times each time I paid nothing. I found out about the Narwas box becasue Omantels process was almost three weeks. My daughter takes online classes and i needed it ASAP. I used Narwas until omantel installed their service. So, everything I wrote about was from MY experiience.

I also didnt think it was important to post the location ofthe companies in the airport as they are HUGE and right by the door to get out the airport.

[nicole2010]

re.....I am not sure what's going on lynne, from here there and everywhere, but just in January you were posting about being in Saudi with your cat on the forum. Did you move recently?...But, I find this quite odd to be going back and forth on the cost of SIM cards.

I am located here in Oman. I have stated the current prices and ways to buy a SIM cards here for informational purposes. I urge anyone to research themselves through the telephone provider websites or stores. The only way to pay 2 OMR for a card is if your lose a SIM and you are getting a replacement SIM; otherwise, one must pay 5 OMR for the welcome pak which includes 2 OMR worth of credit.

The Nawras home internet service in not DSL but broadband on their 3G network. The only catch is you must be located in an area which receives a strong signal (this is not definite in Oman). You pay for the modem and for the monthly service plan. It is instant set-up as long as you are in a covered area. The Omantel is a DSL installation. Anyway, I am sure those who move to Oman will figure it out rather easily once here. The main point is that there is internet service available here for an average cost and at an average speed in my opinion. Best.

----> Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:29 am Post subject:
Our catis here in Saudi. It was no big deal. Saudi Air allows them to in the cabin if they are under 5kg. I think I paid like 20 bucks for her to ride in the cabin on Saudi Air vs 150 on Luftansa.
We needed a vet cert. and all her shots had to be up to date. Oh, and a chip. If they go under the plane then you need an import cert from Saudi as well. There are only a few places in Saudi that help with the paperwork and from what I hear its expensive.

See if you can take her on the flight with you and there wil be less problems...

[veiledsentiments]

Well Nicole... if you read the Saudi board you are aware of the many problems at some Saudi institutions, so the turnover rates are high as people bail out all the time. Lynnknows mentioned her leaving Saudi on this thread.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=1008452&highlight=#1008452

VS

[lynnknows]

Thank you VS. I Think I just sent you the PM so she would not know I am no longer in KSA. But even if she didnt know from that post. If I said I am in Sohar then thats where I am . Things change and People DO MOVE. If you must know I was in Saudi but I left. I had several things happen to my family and I felt it was not safe for us. As a mother I had to do what I felt was best for my family.....

I find it funny that you are the one harping where I was in January.I also find it strange that you dont think people can have a different experience than you. I am not nor did I ever say what you said was not true. I did say that I didnt experience any of the things you posted. since my experience was recent I wanted to share what happened to me. WHY would I just make up a price?? Why would I say I had a service if I didnt. If this is so important to you then go to the Narwas office in Sohar and you will see clear as day posted on the customer service desk...SIM PRICE NOW 2 OR!!! Go to the desk at Oman Mobile and ask what their prices are NOW. They will in-fact tell you they are 2 OR. I did not replace a SIM I have only been here a month. I got 4 welcome packages. Two from each company to compare services.

Another thing I never said I had ADSL from Narwas. I SAID I got the box from Narwas while I was waiting for ADSL service from Omantel. I said I didnt pay any upfront fees to Omantel for the ADSL service and Narwas looked up my location in their office and told me BEFORE I gave them any money if the service would work in my home.

If the purpose of your post is to give valid information than I would think you would also be open to the idea that someone other than you has other valid information......AND maybe your information WAS valid at one time but now its not...Things change . prices change, companies do have promotions.....I have No HIDDEN agenda as you claimed in your other post. What kind of agenda would I have? I dont work for either company....I just disagreed with you and for some reason that offended you...Why I dont know

Maybe we can end this now. I am kind of tired of this. Its not that a price is important to me. It just feel like youre calling me a liar, saying I have an agenda and wont accept the fact that what I said in 100% true.
I only paid 2 or for a SIm. I didnt have any issues getting Narwas internet service or ADSL from Omantel. I was able to get both without speaking Arabic, being Omani, or owning the home as you said may be a problem. If these things were an issue for you again, I am sorry ... I am just saying what happened to me.....