Now for my next line of business. Verizon is my cell provider here in the states, and they are not a GSM network. In other words, I can't use my phone with a Mexican sim card, or any sim card for that matter. So here is my next question to all of you.... What is the best route to take? Should I.... - wait until I am there and get a pay as you go phone? I think it called Amigo. And if so, are the promps in English? - buy an AT&T pay as you go phone here and buy a Sim card in Cancun. If I do this, at what point in the process do I get a phone #? Which way do you think is cheapest? I have been looking around for some time, and I get different answers. So I thought, let me go to the profesionals!! Please help!! Tori
Tori, I would suggest using Telcel, and the prepay deal is their Amigo Card. Later, after you determine how much you use your phone, you can always go to a plan, alhtough you need a plan if you want to go Blackberry. I have BB in Mexico and in the states and it is cheaper in Mexico. Your incoming local and international calls are free as are your incoming local text messaging. With a plan you can designate a certain number, depending on the plan, of numbers and the first 5 minutes of any calls to them are free. Yes, you can set your prompts to be in English. If you don't have a decent GSM phone that accepts a SIM card, I would sure get one on Ebay, but you MUST get the unlocked phone. That means that the phone will accept other carriers SIM cards. My US provider is T-Mobile, and they will unlock my phones for free without issue. When I get a new phone I honestly tell them that I need to use it in Mexico, with a local provider in Mexico and it takes 24-48 hours. However, you can get a cheapie phone, that really costs about $20 US when you get your Telcel number, to start with and maybe buy a used one as you can always find one. It's just that the cost of new phones through Telcel are deadly compared to the US. IMHO of course. As to getting an ATT pay as you go phone, just remember that you need it unlocked or it won't work with Telcel. Really though, if you want a fancy phone, you should get it in the states before you come or wait till you want it and have someone bring you one. Someone is always going back and forth and many will help you out. Just don't ask anyone to bring you a tire for your car, but a tiny phone is a no brainer. If you want to get into serious detail, send me a PM and I am happy to try to help.
Verizon has an international plan that's for Mexico and the US. It's something like an extra $15 per month, so it might be worth it to sign up for it until you decide on Telcel. There are some things to consider... ALL calls come out of your minutes. Verizon to Verizon calls are no longer "free," although if someone on Verizon calls you while you're in Mexico, it's still free for them (but you use your plan's minutes). Evening calls aren't free either...you still use minutes. But you do get 1000 weekend minutes. When you're here and call the states, you have to dial 011 and the number. When you're here calling locally, you just dial the number (998-123-1234). I wanted to cancel my Verizon contract, but they wanted so much proof that I was moving out of the country, I decided to keep the phone and add the Mexico plan. It's still great for calling friends and family back in the states, and even to make calls in Mexico. I can also text back to the states (but for some reason you don't dial the 011 when sending texts...just the US number). But for someone in Mexico to reach you, they would have to call your US number...which I guess would make it an international call...so it's not practical for your friends here. I also have an unlocked T-Mobile phone which takes a Telcel SIM card, so I've got a local phone number, too. The people at Telcel customer service center on Tulum were very helpful in getting it set up and registered (you have to register SIM cards in Mexico). T-Mobile is good about helping you unlock a phone, and it's easy. But you can also get a Telcel Amigo phone here for about $350 pesos.
TJ - I sent you a PM...Thanks Tom - I have had the Internation plan with Verizon as my boyfriend is in Mexico and when I am there and call back to the states or even my friends in Cancun, it's .99 cents a minute, which adds up waaaaay to fast. And I am a text freak, and those are .50 to send. I spoke to Verizon customer service about terminating my contract as they were really easy to work with. I have an address in Cancun to give them, and they said that is all they need. I also have the wireless broadband with them to cxl. I really rather go with an unlocked phone that I can have a US and Mexico SIM card that I could switch out. But thanks for the advice. :lol:
Verizon has a specific plan called (I think) Nationwide Plus Mexico. I pay something like $75 and get 450 minutes to call anywhere in USA or Mexico. There are plans with more minutes, but it's all I need. Plus I get the 1000 weekend minutes. And I have a text plan, so a certain number of text and pic messages are included. No additional charges...just the monthly rate.
WOW!! I wonder why with all the traveling I have been doing to Mexico, and the countless calls to Verizon for crazy charges, they never mentioned this to me. Does this $75 a month include roaming as well? You pay Verizon that and all those crazy taxes and that's it? I don't know if I am pissed or excited to hear about this.....THANKS TOM!!!!!!
So I looked this up and this plan wouldn't work for me. I won't be making that many trips back to the US and the guidlines below would cause my account to be cancelled..... boooooooo..... Verizon Wireless will terminate your service for good cause if less than half of your voice calls over three consecutive billing cycles are from within the Nationwide Rate and Coverage Area.
Yeah...I noticed that guideline, too. I talked to a few reps at Verizon about what that meant, and none of them actually had an answer. I don't think the stipulation is explicit in what it says. A lot of my incoming calls originate from the US, but all the calls I make obviously originate from Mexico. I'm coming up on three months on the plan, and haven't heard a word from Verizon, so we'll see.
