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Carron

Aug 5, 2005, 11:05 AM

Post #1 of 14 (4159 views)

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Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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Because we live just across the river from Texas, we have been able to use US based phone service on our cells. We do, however, have to go outside most of the time to pick up the signal. But since one of the typical things we see here in Acuna is Mexicans rushing out to the street to talk on their phones, we are in good company and no one thinks we are weird.

But we are spending more and more time on a ranch we have leased 45 minutes south of town, and we wanted a local (Mexican) number in case of emergencies. We got new numbers for our old US cell phones at Tel Cel. Cost 220 pesos each and we have 100 free minutes each.

My husband's old Nokia required replacing the US chip completely, so it is now limited to Mexican service. But my newer Nokia handles 2 chips so I have both US and Mexican numbers.

(This post was edited by Carron on Aug 5, 2005, 11:08 AM)

johanson / Moderator

Aug 5, 2005, 1:01 PM

Post #2 of 14 (4146 views)

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Re: [Carron] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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Yes. I am up in the states now and one of the things I am going to do is order a new cell phone from Amazon.com. I shall buy an "unlocked" GSM phone and I will be able to use it with TelCel in Mexico.

It would appear that the often the phones are much cheaper NoB.

Carron

Aug 5, 2005, 3:06 PM

Post #3 of 14 (4136 views)

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Re: [johanson] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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About four years ago my daughter bought a phone here in Acuna from TelCel for 800 pesos, but the free time was for the same value. It's the old Gillette razor syndrome. Practically give the phone away and make your money later on the cards.

Brian

Aug 5, 2005, 3:17 PM

Post #4 of 14 (4134 views)

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Re: [johanson] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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Pete

Ebay is also an excellent source for unlocked GSM phones both new and used. Be very careful when switching the SIM chips as the mechanism holding it is very delicate. I just broke mine and am in the market for a new phone. The ones available in the Telcel places in Mexico are "locked" meaning they cannot be used on other networks.

saludos

Brian

kirkswig

Aug 5, 2005, 5:26 PM

Post #5 of 14 (4125 views)

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Re: [Carron] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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I personally would hold off on making any big purchases involving cell phones right now because it appears that VoIP is set to do to cell phone service what it did to land line service.

Here's a slashdot article which talks about it in more detail.

Most cell service providers let you dial other cell phone users for free, or for greatly discounted rates. So what you do is buy another cell phone and hook it up to your Vonage/Skype/Lingo/etc. box at home. Now you get to place phone calls anywhere around the world, for free (or next to nothing) by routing the call through your VoIP box. Best of all, your cell phone now receives phone calls using your Mexico cell phone number as well as your NOB VoIP number, so you can receive phone solicitations in two languages from one phone!

There may be some rough edges on the solution discussed at the link, but things are moving very rapidly on this front. Vonage for instance is aggressively pursuing offering mobile service, and I have to believe Skype is too.

Just something to keep in mind.

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

raferguson

Aug 5, 2005, 9:08 PM

Post #6 of 14 (4112 views)

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Re: [Carron] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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Since many people change cell phone providers every couple of years, they end up with old cell phones stuffed in drawers. Most of these cell phones can be used in Mexico, although you would need to match up the cell phone technology (CDMA, TDMA, GSM) with the provider technology.

I have taken an old Analog Motorola cell phone and got good service out of it in Mexico, cost me $14 US to get it activated, and that included some number of minutes. I wrote an article about it.

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

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

johnv

Aug 5, 2005, 9:38 PM

Post #7 of 14 (4109 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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I was uanaware that, in México, you could call other cell phones, on your cell phone, for free. Also, I don't understand how you could connect a cell phone to a voip box.

johanson / Moderator

Aug 5, 2005, 10:47 PM

Post #8 of 14 (4105 views)

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Re: [johnv] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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With TelCel, I have to pay a hefty fee to phone another cel phone, John. However the amount drops greatly if that call is to a friend use # I have registered with telcel.

kirkswig

Aug 6, 2005, 12:45 AM

Post #9 of 14 (4102 views)

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Re: [johanson] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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I guess I was wrong to assume Mexican carriers used the same policy as their American counterparts.

But if you can register a phone number to get the discount, that would obviously be the answer. We're only talking about having to register a single number, that of the phone connected to your VoIP.

I guess the question I have is, is the discount enough to make it worthwhile doing this?

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

johanson / Moderator

Aug 6, 2005, 9:54 AM

Post #10 of 14 (4090 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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I think I can only ID other cell phones for this cheap service. If I am wrong, someone please correct me. I think I also pay about 1 peso per minute when phoning someone on the preferred list.

Also my TelCel # is a Guadalajara tel #. I can not get a Chapala or Ajijic #. So there is no way I can phone my home from my cell phone without paying long distance.

sfmacaws

Aug 7, 2005, 2:36 PM

Post #11 of 14 (4059 views)

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Re: [johanson] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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What about using the Verizon North America plan and putting another verizon cell phone on your VOIP box? On US plans, all calls Verizon to Verizon are free.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

S & C

Aug 8, 2005, 1:50 PM

Post #12 of 14 (4033 views)

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Re: [johanson] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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Pete, how do you register special numbers on your TelCel phone.
We just bought a Motorola C115 model for $44 USD from Telcel. It works great anywhere on the Caribbean coast we have tried it, but I'd like to know more about the registered number thing.
thanks
Stan

johanson / Moderator

Aug 8, 2005, 2:23 PM

Post #13 of 14 (4029 views)

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Re: [S & G] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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It's really quite simple (smile). The trouble was I wasn't paying attention as my bilingual friend took my cell phone and I think dialed *333 and talked to someone at telcel to enter the number to my favorite list.

Sorry I can not be more specific. I'm up North.

Carron

Aug 12, 2005, 2:20 PM

Post #14 of 14 (3998 views)

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Re: [S & G] Converting US Cell Phones to Mexican Numbers

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I am not sure either, but the TelCel people here are usually very helpful, especially since my Spanish isn't great, and there is literally a TelCel store on every corner where I live!