Hey everyone, Currently I'm using magicJack to call the US when I'm in Mexico and it's suited my needs just fine, but I'd like to have back-up for work in case Internet goes out during a conference call. Right now I have Cablemas set up in my apartment for Internet and cable but not phone, and I've only seen "unlimited local calls" advertised for Cablemas on the net and in the brochure I got when I signed up. I have AT&T cell with Viva Mexico plan, but for toll free numbers I'm considered roaming while in Mexico; AT&T doesn't give toll free access in this case, and my conference calls are to US toll free numbers. I'm assuming these would be charged as long distance calls from Mexico. Does anyone know how charges work for this, and what rates are like for general long distance calling via land line? Does Cablemas offer long distance and if not, who is/are the land line service providers? I tried searching the boards and the Net but couldn't find specific answers to my questions, and e-mails to my contact at Cablemas tend to go unanswered (I'm back in the states right now so can't pay a visit to the office). Apologies if I overlooked something already here. Thanks! Kim
I'm no expert on these things at all. I will say that my in-laws used to use Telmex at their house, and it only cost me about 1 or 2 pesos a minute to call my parents in the States.
Hi Kim, Download Skype, you get toll free numbers... for free!!! I was calling all kind of 800...... numbers for free, and there are some Skype phones, so you are not tied to your computer. You can also call all Skype members everywhere in the world for free. Usually, when Internet goes down (not often), the phone too.... During Wilma (the Reference ) I had both almost all the time.
It's true, Kim, what Jenlieb said about Skype, and some of what taking full advantage of being here means, is to get away from the necessity of having services tied to the U.S. Using Skype, I can call anywhere in the world, cheaply, and do. My wife is working in Ethiopia, right now, and we talk nearly every day, for free, computer to computer. I can call her, using Skype, and reach her on her Mexican Amigo Plan cell phone, if I wish (but this would cost me a small, per minute charge, so I don't often do it). Because of the ease of using Skype, I don't have billing experience with Telmex, calling the states, like Gringation has, even though I have the service in my apt, but I suppose if I picked up my phone, it would be the same as what she reported, which is nearly free....
You have it. That would be your cell phone. Local phone service with Telmex is another option. I barely look at my Telcel and Telmex bills so I cannot tell you what it costs to make a call to the US, but I can look it up if you want to send me a PM request. In my house here I have Vonage. Although it is a VOIP so it is dependant on the internet, the quality of the service is better than Skype and Magic Jack. It is more costly, like $300 a year, I am happy with it. Keep in mind that with your Magic Jack, you can always head over to Starbucks and use it there. A headset works better than lugging a phone or using the built in mic and speakers. A couple of months ago I was returning from Merida and stopped at the service plaza, the only one between here and there. There is an Italian Coffee Co there and it's about mid point in the trip. There was this guy in there, over in the corner, chatting away on his MJ. In the middle of freaking nowhere. Of course I had my laptop in there but for something important. I needed to watch the end of an NCAA basketball tournament game, using my Slingbox. Good luck with your search for a better lightbulb. I may even let you use my Vonage from time to time if you lose your power and or internet but only if you ask nicely. Cheers,
I got that, Kim, that's why I included mention of Telmex, which is my telephone, and separate from my Cablemas system which is limited (in my case) to Cable TV and internet. I've had no interruptions of phone service that I'm aware of, during the time I've had it. I've also had the Cablemas package you spoke of, that includes cable TV, internet and telephone. There were occasional outages on the internet, but there were no interruptions of the phone service, during the time I had that set up, that I was aware of. If having a reliable phone to use is your goal, I don't think you'll find that hard to get here. ____________________
I used to need a backup for my VoIP (Vonage) too as my work depended on it. So I subscribed to both Cablemas internet as well as Telmex/Prodigy, figuring if one went out then I could easily just switch to the other. And for the most part, that worked. But now, at least on the island, the Telmex service is very reliable and I can't remember the last time I lost service. With Cablemas, it was spotty service (and still is, according to the rep here). So I cancelled Cablemas, and on the odd chance I lost internet, I still had a landline phone to use to call into conference calls. The conference call had an international number as well as a US toll-free number, so you might want to see if that is available and keep that number handy in case you have to call from the landline phone. I use Skype to call internationally directly from my laptop and it is clearer service, with no echo, than my VoIP using my phone (comments from the party on the other end). I also have an iPod Touch which can run Skype. You have to use the earphones and microphone, but it works great and is more portable. We also have a service here on the island (DigaMe) where I could go if I had to do a call and didn't have service in my home. Of course, if a hurricane comes along, nothing will work other than possibly the land-line phone and maybe the cell phone. Fortunately for me, those days of needing to have reliable internet and phone in the house are over, but I understand your concern. Good luck!
Thanks everyone! I think I'm just going to add phone to my Cablemas service as long as I can dial back to the states using it. I'd like to keep life simple and just have one bill so I'll avoid Telmex. My cell is with AT&T which doesn't allow calling 800/888/866 numbers while "roaming" (even though I have their Mexico calling plan). I'm also going to take Jeanine and V's advice and download Skype, too, as back-up in case magicJack flakes - thanks guys . I wonder if Skype and magicJack software might conflict? I've searched the answer to that question to no avail. I'll put Skype on my 2nd laptop just in case.
Telmex just started advertising phone, internet, and unlimited calls to the US for 999 pesos a month. Right now that's about $80 USD. I think you'd be having to make a lot of U.S. calls for that to be worthwhile. My Telmex internet is very reliable and I use magicJack.
