Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

wearechange

Jun 1, 2011, 5:32 PM

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Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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In general, do the Ex-Pats in Ajijic regularly use Telcel/Movistar cell phones? Thinking about expanding the business and would appreciate any feedback.

johanson

Jun 1, 2011, 8:00 PM

Post #2 of 10 (3961 views)

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Re: [wearechange] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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Most use Telcel. What %, I don't know. But a very high %. What I do know is that many pay way too much. They don't understand all of the free options like being able to phone up to three other Telcel friends for free. They we don't know we can call a 1000 times per day and never pay as long as each call lasts less than 5 minutes when calling a friend.

They also don't know about "Plan Fidelidad" which allows you to phone for $1.19 pesos per minute before discounts, rather than $4.20 pesos per minute per local call. I have an older friend who has lived here more than 30 years, who doesn't speak Spanish and pays perhaps 800 pesos per two month period, when if she took advantage of all of the discounts would be paying 100 to 200 pesos per two month period

Remember most of us are senior citizens, and with no grandchildren down here to force us to update. Therefore most of us are technically challenged, and pay way too much.

Sent via my iPhone 5 (don't I wish the 5 were available)

texican

Jun 2, 2011, 5:14 AM

Post #3 of 10 (3921 views)

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Re: [johanson] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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Thats interesting. Where do you find out about these things? Is there a link or page that tells about free options?
Any information would be appreciated

johanson

Jun 2, 2011, 9:40 AM

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Re: [texican] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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Gosh I thought I posted an answer to this but it disapeared. Oh well, I will try again. I know I've writtten about it in my Tech Talk column in the Guadalajara Reporter. It's probably on the Telcel webpage. ( In Spanish) The employees in the Telcel offices all understand the amigo plan, plan fidelidad, and how to register to call three friends for free. When you get your new account you can register these three members for free for a year; after that, you pay What $49 pesos? per year to register each free call friend for another year.

Zardoz

Jun 2, 2011, 1:04 PM

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Re: [wearechange] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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Don't use em don't want em and won't have one. Somehow after being on call for 12 years
365 days a year cell phones seem like an electronic leash to me. I am sure other people feel
differently but just wanted to say many of us moved to Mexico to avoid such things. No
offense meant for the folks who see them as a toy or a tool. Might have one to travel with
maybe.

johanson

Jun 2, 2011, 3:18 PM

Post #6 of 10 (3799 views)

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Re: [Zardoz] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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I hear you. And it makes a lot of sense. However, in my case, it's sure great to get that call, message or email anytime, anywhere I am at. And with caller ID I don't have to take that call, read that text message or read that email until I wish.

Besides, to me a smart phone is more like a mini iPad, and I use it much less as a phone than I do for the other applications. And it's sure nice having a camera with you, all of the time. And with the wifi option and say Skype you can makes calls for free or next to nothing even over the border

Besides some of my friends and relatives (even relatives in their 80s in the states) only have cell phones. And it's cheaper phoning cell phone to cell phone than land-line to cell and visa versa.

wearechange

Jun 3, 2011, 5:35 PM

Post #7 of 10 (3707 views)

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Re: [johanson] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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Interesting answers. Thanks for the feed back. I might look in branching out into Ajijic if the market is good.

maw7815

Jun 5, 2011, 7:02 PM

Post #8 of 10 (3572 views)

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Re: [Zardoz] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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We don't have one down here either and don't miss it at all.
maw
Mary Ann Waite

sioux4noff

Jun 8, 2011, 11:01 PM

Post #9 of 10 (3456 views)

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Re: [maw7815] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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My husband and I both have cell phones and use them quite a bit. We text friends (yes, even geezers do that) and it is very nice to have the phone to let someone know you will be late, or call to find out why they aren't where you thought you'd be meeting.
I get more texts than calls, and don't consider it any kind of imposition.
They aren't for everyone, but we rely on ours, and we also have a landline and a VOIP #.

simpsca

Jun 9, 2011, 8:00 AM

Post #10 of 10 (3415 views)

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Re: [wearechange] Cell phone use among Ex-Pats

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I have had a Telcel phone - for about 10 years - Movie Star first but none of my friends had it. I keep it mainly for auto emergencies such as flat tire and dead battery - have used it for those problems plus a snapped stearing cable. I also keep one of those small phone books in my car in the event of an emergency. It has also been helpful for getting directions - for example to a doctors office in Guadalajara going for the first time. I have my insurance agent's cell phone number programmed into the cell and one time had a medical emergency and needed to know which hospital was best to go to for my insurance coverage.

I don't use it to talk to friends much except for one in Guadalajara who finds it cheaper to call me on his cell phone than use his Telmex line.