Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

jaybear

Jan 14, 2005, 7:55 AM

Post #1 of 7 (898 views)

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Cingular problem

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We have arrived and all is terrific EXCEPT we are getting the message "no service" on our CIngular cell phone despite paying for international service before we left the U.S. This sounds similar to the problem a Verizon customer posted about a few weeks ago. My husband thinks we are just out of range of the tower.

Can anyone help? (I know we can get a phonecard and phone home, but we had hoped to be able to use our cell phone, especially as there is no phone in our room in the B&B.)
"Don't believe everything you think" - Maxine

JayBear

Jan 14, 2005, 1:33 PM

Post #2 of 7 (853 views)

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Re: [jaybear] Cingular problem

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For future reference, posting the type of service, if known (Cingular as an example offers both TDMA and GSM digital service) in addition to the make and model of cellular handset being used will help giving more specific answers.

In general, a handset actually displaying a "No Service" message (not a audio message when you attempt to use the phone) means exactly that -- there's no network for the phone to establish a connection with. After the phone establishes the connection with the network, the phone's identity is sent to the network and the network can look up whether the account associated with the identity has full access privileges, roaming privileges, or emergency access only on the network. If the handset displays a message about Emergency (E911) service only, a "Roaming" or "Extended Roaming", another carrier's name ("Telcel GSM" or "Movistar GSM" as examples) or a simple network identifier code (334 020 or 334 003 as examples) it typically indicates that a network has been found. Rejection of an incoming or outgoing call at this point would mean that the user's account wasn't properly configured.

jimindetroit

Jan 19, 2005, 12:30 PM

Post #3 of 7 (772 views)

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Re: [ET] Cingular problem

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Hello ET,

We don't have Cingular service; we have T-Mobile using GSM 1900 Mhz and Nokia 6010 phones. I'm told locally that our n-o-b phones will work in the Lakeside area through Telcel, a T-Mobile phone service partner. In checking the calling costs, this almost seems like a bad idea, except for emergencies ($1.49 per minute for Mex or US calls).

I did call T-Mobile and received instructions on how to unlock, or unblock, my phone so I can change the United States SIM card to a Mexican one. Am I further ahead to get a
Mexican SIM card and Mexican phone number now (Gorilla Mobile International, $69.00) or wait till in Lakeside and purchase the SIM card from a local Telcel provider?

Jan 19, 2005, 5:29 PM

Post #4 of 7 (751 views)

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Re: [jimindetroit] Cingular problem

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T-Mobile has roaming arrangements in Mexico with both Telcel and Telefonica Moviles (Telefonica Movistar); AT&T Wireless (now part of Cingular) had similar arrangements for their GSM customers.

I have no idea or interest about cellular service availability or retail outlets in "Lakeside", but have in the past purchased both Telcel and Movistar GSM SIMs in Guadalajara, Mazatlan, and Tijuana. The most I've paid for such SIMs is $240 MXP, which was for a package which included $100 MXP of airtime credit. You may, however have to hit several dealers and have a reasonable command of Spanish and/or cellspeak before you find somebody who can and is willing to sell you a SIM-only package.

One other thing you should investigate for the "international" cellular connection providers such as Gorilla is what home location the SIM they're selling you is affiliated with. When I've checked in the past many came with a Mexico City phone number which meant that if you were to use the SIM in Guadalajara to call a local number you'd incur long distance charges, and if somebody in Guadalajara were to call you they'd incur long distance charges.

esperanza

Jan 19, 2005, 6:24 PM

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Re: [ET] Cingular problem

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<<One other thing you should investigate for the "international" cellular connection providers such as Gorilla is what home location the SIM they're selling you is affiliated with. When I've checked in the past many came with a Mexico City phone number which meant that if you were to use the SIM in Guadalajara to call a local number you'd incur long distance charges, and if somebody in Guadalajara were to call you they'd incur long distance charges.>>

A friend who just visited me for several days in Guadalajara has exactly this situation with her cellular phone. She purchased the phone in the DF--with a DF phone number--and any call to or from the phone goes through Mexico City, incurring exactly the charges you describe.

There is no cellular phone option at Lake Chapala that allows for local calls. ALL cellular phones at Lake Chapala have Guadalajara telephone numbers--which means that if Joe Blow sitting in the hotel lobby calls George Whosis sitting in the hotel bar, the call is routed through Guadalajara and long distance charges are incurred--as well as air time charges.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

jimindetroit

Jan 20, 2005, 8:35 AM

Post #6 of 7 (730 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Cingular problem

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Esperanza and ET,

Thank you both for your input. Both posts helped me.
Hope to run into you and others soon; we'll be in Ajijic on Jan. 29th

jimindetroit

raferguson

Jan 22, 2005, 4:57 PM

Post #7 of 7 (693 views)

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Re: [jaybear] Cingular problem

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There is another alternative, buy a cell phone locally and get prepaid service, no contract is needed. More info at this link.

http://www.mexconnected.com/...on/rfcellphones.html

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com