Claro Americas - Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

The Claro brand was launched in Puerto Rico on May 18, 2007 as a rebranding the Verizon Wireless trademark. Claro is the wireless arm of Puerto Rico Telephone which serves wireline telephone and data services in the island. The brand was introduced to the wireless segment after the March 30, 2007 acquisition of the telecom by América Móvil. Several problems with the transition have been the non-transportability of a Claro Puerto Rico telephone to the United States, a country where many Puerto Ricans fly into and out of, causing a defection towards AT&T.

Claro Puerto Rico is currently the second largest mobile network serving the island (after AT&T Mobility), with more than 1,000,000 customers and the most complete coverage serving the island's 78 municipalities/cities. The first cellular network in the island was introduced by Puerto Rico Telephone during the 1980s. The history goes back to Celulares Telefónica, which operated until 2001 under that brand, when the Verizon Wireless brand was introduced.

The company launched a 3G GSM/UMTS network parallel to the CDMA/EvDO network it operates since 2002. Claro has mobile voice and data services in Puerto Rico's 78 cities and towns and its coverage is constantly expanding, the company says.

On May 1, 2008, Claro introduced the VideoCall service through its 3G GSM network. The customers are able to make calls using the videocamera of their cellphone, to any other VideoCall user. The service places a new standard of calling in the island -being first introduced by Claro- enabling the users to make dual-sided video calls.