geewiz
Canada & Mexico
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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I did a search and came up with a few references, but would like to get the up-to-date info.
Here is what I think I know:
Canadian cel phones will work, but at a high premium, additional 1.50 Can$ / minute.
Before we left the Yucatan last year, there were several folks who had bought inexpensive Movistar phones, with a bunch of pesos of use included, that seemed to work well and were seemingly inexpensive. The pay-as-you-go plans had an expiry so didn't get one for us then.
I was never able to get clear idea on how the plans worked. The phone stores I visited were not bilingual, and my spanish is incomplete. I have been on line to the movistar site and can't figure that out either. Come to think of it, I find it hard to interpret the Canadian cel phone plans - they seem all about extra features that a teenager might want.
Our needs are simple.
We would like a phone only, no camera, no music, no bells and whistles.
We would use it to call and receive calls to/from Canada. And use locally.
We would use the phone for up to six months, mostly in one place.
What kind of packages should I look for?
If I bought a phone in one city, say San Miguel, on our way down, would it affect my usage if we used it for local calls around Playa del Carmen through the winter?
Gracias.
Glen & Susan
and our mascot, Pippin
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vermilye
Oswego, NY, USA
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Joined: 08/11/2004
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I can't help you with specifics for Mexico & Canada, but a good place to compare features (and do a search for a phone by features) as well as user reviews is Phone Scoop.
Jon Vermilye Travel & Photo Web Pages ... My Collection of RV Blogs & Journals
Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, MT
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moisheh
North America
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Joined: 05/04/2002
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geewhiz:
QTLA has the scoop on the movistar plans. We have a Telcel and their plans are not that great. I dont know if movistar has the same coverage.
Moisheh
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atlin
Pickstown SD
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Joined: 11/23/2002
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Moisheh....Here I was thinking Telcel was the answer for me next winter, and now your saying its not so great, so tell me about it.
Thanks....Jack
Jack
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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Sorry for not responding sooner, I'm just getting home from work. Here is the basic prepago plan de Movistar. First, the basic Nokia phone costs 400 pesos and normally comes with 300 pesos of air time. I recommend buying your Movistar at Walmart, not as hectic a place to buy and they can show you on a chart how the charges work. Try not to buy time on cards. If you purchase in an OXXO or Super7, HEB, etc., (you will see the promotional signs on the stores that sell time at the checkout) you will always receive double what you purchase paying at the check out.
Movistar PagamenosMovistar Pay Less Plan
Llamadas Cortas (short calls) to land lines and other "local Movistar" 2.01 for the first 2 minutes and then to 5.75 for each additional 15 minutes
Llamadas Salientes (outside the local area both land line and other Movistar national 2.75 for 2.01 minutes and then 5.75 for each additional 15 minutes.
Llamadas Internationales (U.S. Canada and Puerto Rico) 5.75 for the first two minutes, and 11.50 for each 15 minutes.
Llamadas a otros Celulares (calls to other Mexican celular companies) 3.45 per minute (local) 6 pesos national calls.
Tarifa Unica One Rate (sorry dont know what you call it in English)
3.45 per minute no matter if it is local, national or international. If it is a national land line or local Movistar frequently called number (you need to designate it and Movistar has operators at 611 that speak English, patience please) for 1.15 per minute.
Outside your city, Tarifa Unica:
Frequent numbers (local) 1.15 per minute
All Mexican cells and land lines 3.45 per minute
National Movistar and Landlines 3.45
International (Canada, U.S. and Puerto Rico) 3.45
Note: Tarifa Unica
Receiving calls in your local area from anywhere, no charge
I hope this helps and I have explained it well. Also, keep your eye open for specials. They will send you a message like I received today. Call local Movistar and talk for 60 minutes one number 15 pesos. There are others. You have to dial the code in the message to get the rate for the day.
* This post was
edited 09/22/08 07:48pm by qtla9111 *
1998 Nissan Pathfinder
2004 Shadow Cruiser 18ft.
Living and Boondocking Mexico
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geewiz
Canada & Mexico
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Thanks Chris
Its great to have this knowledgeable support from our rv community.
Gracias
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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Is anyone using Skype when in Mexico? It works great for me but don't call a celular phone in Mexico, it jumps from .02 cents to .33 cents. I use it all the time for calls to the U.S., Germany and Bangladesh. Works great! Just a thought.
When I have needed to use it in an Internet Cafe, I just check with the owner or person in charge to see if it is okay to download it if it isn't on the computer. I have never been refused.
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almcc
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 01/15/2006
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geewiz, we took Chris's advice a couple of years ago and bought a cheapie basic Movistar phone, it was about 420 pesos and came with some pay as you go time. We bought ours in Tepic and were fortunate to get an english speaking salesperson who was very Helpful. We used it to call home to Canada a few times, we didn't have any incoming calls but I assume it would work. Last winter we added time when we got to Mexico and it worked again, so I don't think we lost the phone #.
Last year we found that where we were on the Pacific coast that Telcel had coverage in the smaller places and Movistar did not so we also purchased a cheapie Telcel phone, it worked well, we will see if we can re-activate it this winter.
I would check to see who has the coverage in Playa Del Carmen area and then get their pay as you go phone. Maybe someone staying in that area can let you know via the forum here.
In Mexico we also carry our Canadian Rogers phone, they partner with Telcel but the rates to call Canada are $3.50 per minute, so we use it only for true emergencies (there are no charges for just having it on in Mexico). The Mexican phones are much cheaper than Rogers.
I think that GSM band phones are the way to go, I wouldn't go with CDMA service (that's what Bell uses).
In terms of Skype, as indicated, Skype didn't work at all well for us with our Hughes internet dish, others have reported some success but Galaxy Broadband (the Hughes reseller that I think you use) has a website article that I think confirms my experience.
By the way, when are you leaving for Mexico? I recall I promised you a steak on the grill when we met earlier this summer. We are in Northern Ontario and should be back home by the end of the month.
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snarley
Vancouver B.C.
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Joined: 05/17/2007
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Hi Al. We met in Tiacapan where you helped me with my Hughes system.
Did your Tel cell work in Tiacapan?We had a Moviestar that worked well in Mazatlan but not at all in Tiacapan.
When are you heading South. We could cross at Nogales as early as Nov 9 and be in San Carlos/Huatobampito/Celestino until Nov 20.
SNARLEY
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almcc
Ontario, Canada
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Hi Snarly:
In Teacapan the Telcel phone worked, we used it and our Rogers phone (once) when there, the Rogers phone (Nokia) had better signal strength than that on the cheapie Motorola Telcel phone. Looks like Teacapan could be on the edge of the signal range for Telcel.
We are probably leaving later this year compared to last year(2 new grand kids!), we probably won't be into Mexico until mid/late December. We look forward to seeing you down there. We will be in Teacapan all February.
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