Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

julietl

Aug 27, 2003, 4:42 PM

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Good International Cell Phone Service?

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In keeping with the current telephone theme, I was wondering what people do for international cell phone service.

Someone told me that the international carriers (Motorola, Nokia, Samson) all have to go through Telmex for access to their towers. ugh. Is this true?

Has anyone found a relatively inexpensive way to use a cell phone for international calls? I still have a Sprint PCS phone that's based in Chicago that I have kept so family can get a hold of me in emergencies. I have to pay roaming rates to answer, but it's really not all that bad, considering what I pay for my telmex land line at home.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm sorry if this question has been asked before.

Thanks, Juliet
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Brian

Aug 27, 2003, 5:49 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1958 views)

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Re: [julietm] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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Assuming you want a cellphone to be able to receive calls from the US, you should stick with your SprintPCS phone if you are in an area served by PegasoPCS the roaming partner. They serve, among other cities, Tijuana..Ensenada..Mexicali..Nuevo Laredo..Saltillo..Monterrey..Guadalajara and environs and. of course, El DF. For outgoing calls, I think the best solution for you is to utilize one of the callback services. Calls to the US will average around 25 cents per minute.

jodielyn

Aug 27, 2003, 7:01 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1945 views)

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Re: [julietm] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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This is a very interesting subject to me. In the past year and 1/2 i have traveled to Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico about 5 times. The first time my US cellular phone worked great. I could make and receive calls and receive my voice mail. I thought for sure my charges were going to be HUGE when i got home. However, after a week of being there and being in touch with home many times my bill was less than $50.00.

When i returned 6 months later i couldn't even get a number to ring. I got fast busy signal every time no matter what i tried.

5 months later, after contacting US cellular and them assuring me that they would make sure i could make and recive calls... nothing.

Here's the real funny one. On July 31 i returned there and my cell phone worked great for making calls, couldn't receive or retrieve voice mail. Don't know yet what the charges are??? I then went home for 10 days and returned again. And... no service whatsoever... no making or receiving calls.

Interesting huh? Moral of the story... don't count on anything... and be happy when you get something.

Jodie

Aug 27, 2003, 10:32 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1932 views)

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Re: [Brian] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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Brian writes:
Assuming you want a cellphone to be able to receive calls from the US, you should stick with your SprintPCS phone if you are in an area served by PegasoPCS the roaming partner. They serve, among other cities, Tijuana..Ensenada..Mexicali..Nuevo Laredo..Saltillo..Monterrey..Guadalajara and environs and. of course, El DF......

PegasoPCS has sort of a twilight existence, existing only in SprintPCS's roaming table, as well as certain messaging applications and online account management for old Pegaso customers. Pegaso was purchased by Telefonica Moviles S.A. in May 2002, and the plug was pulled on the Pegaso identity the following September when the Pegaso network and operations were merged into those of Telefonica MoviStar.

What this translates to is that you can't find coverage maps or city lists for PegasoPCS anymore, as they're part of the Telefonica MoviStar CDMA network. Fortunately, at long last SprintPCS has finally updated the international roaming section of their website. You can now access roaming information for Mexico at: SprintPCS roaming in Mexico

Aug 27, 2003, 10:44 PM

Post #5 of 12 (1928 views)

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Re: [julietm] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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julietm writes:
....Someone told me that the international carriers (Motorola, Nokia, Samson) all have to go through Telmex for access to their towers. ugh. Is this true?....

Motorola, Nokia, and presumably Samsung ("Samson") are all manufacturers of cellular hardware such as handsets, and in the case of Motorola and Nokia equipment used at cellsites. They do not actually provide cellular service.

julietl

Aug 28, 2003, 1:46 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1879 views)

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Re: [ET] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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Wow. I guess I am going to stick with Sprint after all. Brian, excuse my ignorance, but what is the call back service you wrote about?

I never have a problem getting a signal here in DF with Sprint, but it seems to be some kind of fluke. I was talking to a Sprint rep on my cell the other day and asked about changing to a plan that includes Mexico. She kept insisting me that Sprint has no service in Mexico. I told her if that was the case then I am having one hell of a hallucination because I could swear I was walking down Reforma Blvd!

Thanks for responses, I appreciate it.
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Brian

Aug 28, 2003, 2:28 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1874 views)

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Re: [julietm] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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I haven't been using a callback service since I got the plan with Vonage. Callback is fine but is associated with specific phone numbers. I also have an account with Procomm which I use when on the road in various parts of the republic. Rates to US are about 25 cents per minute. http://www.habla.net/ie_index.htm

julietl

Aug 28, 2003, 4:22 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1869 views)

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Re: [Brian] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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That link was just the thing I was looking for. Thanks Brian!
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Aug 28, 2003, 10:37 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1848 views)

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Re: [julietm] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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In Reply To

julietm writes:
....I never have a problem getting a signal here in DF with Sprint, but it seems to be some kind of fluke. I was talking to a Sprint rep on my cell the other day and asked about changing to a plan that includes Mexico. She kept insisting me that Sprint has no service in Mexico. I told her if that was the case then I am having one hell of a hallucination because I could swear I was walking down Reforma Blvd!

Hallucination \Hal*lu`ci*na"tion\, n. [L. hallucinatio: cf. F. hallucination.]
1. The act of hallucinating; a wandering of the mind; error; mistake; a blunder.

It looks like you were hallucinating, but not with regards to your geographical location. The Sprint representatives you're mocking are correct - Sprint has no service in Mexico. What they have is a roaming agreement with another cellular carrier, Telefonica MoviStar, which allows you to use portions of the Telefonica MoviStar network. When you switch your handset on it acquires the Telefonica MoviStar network. When you make a call the Telefonica Movistar network identifies you as a Sprint customer, bills Sprint for your airtime at a prenegotiated price, and passes Sprint your identity and usage information. Sprint in turn adds their markup for international service and puts the charges on your monthly bill for Sprint service.

The common indicator that you're using another cellular carrier's network is your handset display (note-not the power-on splash screen) changing from your carrier's name ("Sprint" or "SprintPCS") to, depending on the model of handset as well as the carrier's configuration "roam", "extended roam", or even the roaming carrier's name ("MoviStar").

(This post was edited by ET on Aug 28, 2003, 11:10 PM)

mexigrl

Aug 29, 2003, 10:01 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1829 views)

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Re: [ET] Good International Cell Phone Service?

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When I was in Cancun my Sprint phone would not work at all. I was also told Sprint has no service in Mexico - not told about the roaming option. Does anyone here use Sprint in SMA? I will be there for a few months and would really love to know if you actually get good coverage.

Gracias!

Mexigrl

ziret

Aug 31, 2003, 10:38 PM

Post #11 of 12 (1800 views)

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sprint hallucinations

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Interesting. I called Sprint here in the States, explained that I would be moving to the Guadalajara area, but wanted to keep my Sprint service, along with two phone numbers, one for my son in college in Olympia, WA, the other for me in Mexico, and she assured me that once I gave them an address in Mexico, I could have that, and that if I payed the $5 month extra all my PCS to PCS calls would be covered--whether the other phone was in Olympia or Mexico. You might want to check with Sprint.

Sep 1, 2003, 1:42 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1798 views)

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Re: [ziret] sprint hallucinations

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ziret writes:
....and that if I payed the $5 month extra all my PCS to PCS calls would be covered --whether the other phone was in Olympia or Mexico....

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Sprint writes:
Unlimited PCS to PCS Calling - With unlimited PCS to PCS Calling, you can make or receive calls between PCS Phones from Sprint. So, whenever you and the person you're talking to are both using your PCS Phones, you can talk as long as you want without incurring extra per-minute charges. These minutes can be used anytime while on the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.

Off-Network Service - Sprint also provides off-network service—known as roaming—on other wireless networks for those occasions when you need to make a call and you're not in a PCS Service Area. While you're roaming, some features may not be available, and you may incur additional per-minute charges.

Sprint charges $5/line/month for "Unlimited PCS to PCS Calling". Mexico,once again, isn't part of Sprint's "Nationwide PCS Network". I'd encourage you, however, to go ahead and give your plan a try. Make sure to post what your bills look like keeping in mind that it can take 2-3 billing cycles for international roaming calls to post.