Best Option for US traveller in Bahamas
 

I am traveling to the Bahamas (from the USA) for about a week in July.
I am looking for the most economical cell phone solution.
I am relatively new to the global sim world.
I have an unlocked, quadband GSM phone.
I know roaming on a US based Cingular(ATT) or T-mobile sim will be about $2.25 per call
Most interational cards have no coverage in the Bahamas.
Any suggestions on getting the best rates on calls between the Bahamas and the USA?

You could try the United mobile sim card. It offers free incoming in the Bahamas. Outgoing to the US are 39eurocents which is very cheap! It is the cheapest option. You can buy the card from here: http://www.united-mobile.com/affiliate/1011.asp?c=13

Be aware that United Mobile doesn't work with all unlocked gsm quadbands. When I try calling out from my Motorola v190, I see "network busy" on the screen and then the call dies. This occurs no matter what network I use and it isn't helped when I call from the United Mobile calling menu. On the other hand, United Mobile does work with a Mototorola v3 and a Nokia 6610.

I'd look at getting a local SIM in the Bahamas

http://www.btcbahamas.com/main_flash.html

Then use callback, perhaps in conjunction with cheap VoIP forwarding. Most of the Betamax brands charge in the range about 4 cents a minute, though one is 0c so with a bit of work you might make free calls, unless the BTC network charge incoming calls (which I can't actually figure out on their website)

I had not heard this. Can anyone tell me if the UM sim will work with my unlocked, quadband Motorola L6 SLVR?

Thanks for everyones input.
Here is what I think that I will do:
Buy a UM sim ($.49 outgoing calls/free incoming), to make it easier on incoming calls, forward my existing Verizon cell # to a voicestick number, and forward the voicestick # to the UM sim. Callers will not incur a charge to call me and I will end up paying approx. $.05 per min for incoming calls.
Sound like it will work?

I think it will cost more that $.05/min to forward to UM.

You will be disappointed in voicestick rates to Liechtenstein mobiles...if you're using voicestick for forwarding you might do much better with one of the Isle of Man cards.

Also don't know what company you use for your landline....Mine is verizon and they seem to be one of the few that allow setting remote call forwarding to foreign numbers and, although I haven't checked it recently, the AT&T $1/month plan has calls to Liechtenstein at 10¢/minute with a 1¢ surcharge to Liechtenstein mobiles...that's the way I do it. But almost all the call forwarding such as kall8 etc. charge an arm and a leg to call Liechtenstein mobiles.

You are right. I checked it again.
It's about $.05 min to a Lichtenstein land line.
Its about $.40 min to Lichentstein cell.

You are right. I checked it again.
It's about $.05 min to a Lichtenstein land line.
Its about $.40 min to Lichentstein cell.

As pointed out, Forwarding to Liechtenstein mobile on voicesticks free plan(next2Nothing) is $0.36. Forwarding to any of the IOM sims will cost you less than half of that, but finding an IOM sim that will provide free incoming calls (if it even works there) in the Bahamas is another story.

I am still surprised UM can provide service there at that rate. But, just in case it does not work, I am assuming you have a US sim (Cingular or Tmobile) that you can just roam on. Which mifgt be the best option anyway, since you will just be there for a week, and Bahamas prepaids have a very high initial cost.

And some IoM cards (Geosim at least) offer free forwarding any number in the world, including UM. However, adding another forwarding may make the whole process of setting up the connection much too long for the calling party :-P

The IOM sim freeGlobalSim also offers free forwarding to any number. Every number I have tested and used it with works 100% except for UM. With UM it was hit or miss. The forwarding actually went through and rang on the UM sim less than 50% of the time. Most of the time there was a message in a language I believe is german or so. Probably informing me that the call did not go through. Because of that, I have eliminated the idea of forwarding my IOM sim to UM in countries where imcoming calls are free on UM, and not free on the IOM sim.

I hate to be the dumb American, but...
I tried to purchase a United Mobile SIM and during checkout I am asked for an ID Type and ID Number (as required information)
What type of ID are they referring to?

It's a document that confirms your identity - passport, driving licence or national ID card. AFAIK this info is required by the Swiss law. However, I suppose they don't verify these data.