Muscat - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
I just used the scratch cards to add money into my account and use as needed. It was waaaaaaay cheaper than any cell phone service I would pay in the States. You do need to have your passport to get the SIM card. - Jan 2022
Bring an unlocked phone and buy a SIM. It's very easy and inexpensive. - Dec 2018
Same 2 companies as the internet (Ooredoo and Omantel). Bring an unlocked phone and you will be up and running from day 1. The main annoyance is without a local bank account you can't be billed so you will have to haul yourself to the mall every month to re-up your plan. I have Omantel and pay $26 for 6GB of data which lasts me a month just fine as long as I supplement with my wifi when at home. - Feb 2018
We use a local provider- Omantel. Phone plans are expensive. For the most basic talk/text plan we pay $80/per phone per month! - Aug 2017
If you have an unlocked phone, getting a sim card is no problem. It can be a process, but once it is done, it works well. There are both pre-paid and post paid options and only two major carriers. Prices are on par with the States if not slightly cheaper. - Oct 2014
Cell phones are good and cheap. Pre-paid is a common option, but smartphones with data plans are becoming prominent. - Jun 2012
You can get a variety here and the best on the market are avaiable and expensive. Sim cards are cheap and - Aug 2011
You can get them here and get pay as you go cards all the bells and whistles for these are available but for a hefty price if you have to have the latest gadget. - Feb 2010
Everyone but everyone uses the latest model cell phone with all the bells and whistles. Embassy will likely give you a cell, but if you want to save face outside the embassy, you might want to get your own fancier phone with a plan from either Omantel or Nawras. - Jan 2010
Everyone has them; you will want one. I am still using the phone I had in The Netherlands and China; we just buy a SIM chip and pay for time. OmanMobile and Nawras are the two main companies. - Mar 2009
You have to have one, and you will use it a lot. There are only two providers and pricing between them is similar. All leading brands are locally available at reasonable prices. - Feb 2008
