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jckottler

Mar 26, 2011, 11:24 PM

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cell phones

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       I have a Samsung Cell phone for Verizon here NOB. On Wed., I'm flying to Ajijic. Can the phone be of any use to me Lakeside, or should I give it to a friend.



joaquinx


Mar 27, 2011, 6:22 AM

Post #2 of 11 (5709 views)

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Re: [jckottler] cell phones

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I believe that Verizon is a CDMA network while, at least, Telcel is a GMS network and they're not compatible. Others will chime in on this, but I believe that the celfon will not work in Mexico.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

(This post was edited by joaquinx on Mar 27, 2011, 6:23 AM)


chinagringo


Mar 27, 2011, 6:27 AM

Post #3 of 11 (5704 views)

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Re: [jckottler] cell phones

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We are not Verizon customers but I have read that they do offer a "Mexico plan". You might check with them. It would still probably be cheaper to purchase a Mexico cell phone for everyday usage.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM



Zardoz

Mar 27, 2011, 6:58 AM

Post #4 of 11 (5699 views)

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Re: [jckottler] cell phones

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Your phone is CDMA as has been said. Most of my world uses GSM which is AT&T in US. My old Verizon phone does
work in Canada as it says welcome to Rodgers when I get off the boat in Victoria so Canada uses CDMA. In other
words keep the phone in US and give it away if you have no use for it. Sometimes they collect phones for use as
911 phones.

Zardoz


CanuckBob


Mar 27, 2011, 9:45 AM

Post #5 of 11 (5654 views)

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Re: [Zardoz] cell phones

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In Canada, Rogers, Bell and most recently Telus are on the GSM network.

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://www.insidelakeside.com


(This post was edited by CanuckBob on Mar 27, 2011, 9:46 AM)


Karen K

Mar 27, 2011, 4:00 PM

Post #6 of 11 (5617 views)

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Re: [CanuckBob] cell phones

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I have the Verizon North American plan and it works most places I've been.


johanson / Moderator


Mar 28, 2011, 9:38 AM

Post #7 of 11 (5589 views)

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Re: [Karen K] cell phones

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Your "Technical Mexico" moderator is not doing a very good job. It seems that he/I broke an arm and have to type with my left hand.

I'm told that a Verizon CDMA phone works fairly well here. The two CDMA cell phone carriers that I know of in Mexico are Axitel and Iusacell (Spelling?). And Iusacell just put up a new cell phone tower here in Ajijic above El Toritos grocery store.

Gosh I hate typing with one hand. :)


raferguson


Mar 28, 2011, 4:04 PM

Post #8 of 11 (5555 views)

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Re: [johanson] cell phones

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Right, IUSACell is CDMA, like Verizon. You might still need to get the phone unlocked, but there is usually some cell shop that can do it for you.

IUSACell has somewhat limited coverage, as I recall. Telcel has the best coverage throughout Mexico, Movistar is more limited coverage, and IUSACell is less again. I have never heard of Axitel before.

Richard


http://www.fergusonsculpture.com


johanson / Moderator


Mar 28, 2011, 6:43 PM

Post #9 of 11 (5543 views)

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Re: [raferguson] cell phones

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Neither had I heard of Axitel until today when Rod Collins the owner of the first ISP here along the shores of Lake Chapala (1997) told me about it right before I so posted ( the ISPs URL is www.lagunanet.net.mx . I give tech support there and one of my email addresses is support at laguna.com.mx) We are fixed Wifi located in Ajijic and provide same between West Chapala and Jocotepec

Because about 99% of my friends use Telcel, I too, of course, use Telcel. It would cost me almost 4 times as much per minute to call someone using a different carrier like MovieStar, Iusacell or Axitel.


Papirex


Mar 28, 2011, 7:58 PM

Post #10 of 11 (5532 views)

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Re: [johanson] cell phones

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It is good news to me that Iusacell has erected a tower in that area. It would be better news if my wife Doris, had not died recently. She used to make trips alone, sometimes, to visit her aunt in Ajijic. With the cell phone plans we had, we could call each other on our Iusacell phones anywhere in the Republic at no cost, or minutes used.


The reception was so poor in the Ajijic area, that her phone would ring in her aunts house, but she had to go outside to talk to me.


Iusacell is king in the central highlands, good coverage and excellent roaming, plus for $3 US Bucks per month, we have the *911 service, it is roadside automobile service if you have car trouble. They will change a tire, try to start your car, if it can't be started on the roadside, they will tow you to the nearest full service facility. They will deliver 5 liters of gasoline at no charge, more if you want to pay for it. We have never needed to use it yet, but for $3 Bucks per month, it is comforting to have it.


The cost for cel service is reasonable too. The plan I have only costs $355 Pesos per month, and I never use all of my minutes. My wife used her cel a lot, and her plan cost $655 Pesos per month, we had to keep increasing her minutes every month a few years ago, until she stopped running out of minutes in the middle of the month. Whenever that happened, one of us would need to go to the nearest Iusacell office, and make a payment so she could continue to use her phone.


Iusacell is expanding, they bought the Unefon service a year or so ago. I did have one cel phone using the Unefon service for my suegra until a few months ago. Most months she never used it, so I bought the cheapest plan they had, just a couple of hundred Pesos per month. I used to pay the Unefon bill at any Iusacell office.


Iusacell is top dog in the central highlands. I will never ever, consider using Telmex, or any other cel service in this area. The first cell phone we used in Mexico was an American phone, Iusacell reprogrammed it at no cost to work in their system in Mexico City, no parts needed to be changed, or added, it worked fine when we moved to Cuernavaca too.


Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo


johanson / Moderator


Mar 28, 2011, 9:34 PM

Post #11 of 11 (5520 views)

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Re: [Papirex] cell phones

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Dear Papirex. I'm terribly sorry to hear about your loss. I wish you the best during these difficult times.

Pete
 
 
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