Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

mexigrl

Jul 19, 2009, 9:21 PM

Post #1 of 7 (2073 views)

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Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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Finally I will be able to go back to SMA for a month. I know technology changes rapidly. I now own my own travel agency and will need to be able to be in touch while gone. Before I was lucky that Verizon had a great Mexico plan with unlimited talk time - no longer.

What is the best option for cell use at this point? I am contracted to Verizon and their Mexico pricing is high now. Are there any options that can help? I've read about Skype and forwarding that to your cell phone but I assume you'll pay the rates from whatever country you are in.

It seems that I can use Skype to make calls from my computer back to the U.S. and Canada - I think that seems like the best option unless someone has another idea.

The bottom line is I need some sort of cell service and as much communication ability as possible. If anyone that has experience with this I would truly appreciate your assistance!

Thank you,

Laurianne

autumndream

Jul 20, 2009, 5:47 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2042 views)

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Re: [mexigrl] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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We have Verizon and it is in roaming while we are here. It costs $1.00 per minute to use so we limit it's use. We use Magicjack for our VOIP.

johanson / Moderator

Jul 20, 2009, 8:30 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2017 views)

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Re: [autumndream] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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Someone mentioned to me in a conversation that Verizon has a new program that gives reasonable rates to persons when in Mexico. But when he mentioned that the cost was $100 US per month, I stopped listening. Sorry I can not be more helpful, other than to say Skype is a good alternative.

I happen to use www.IconnectHere.com because unlike magic jack (which is a good deal by the way) I don't have to have my computer on for my phone to work. Rather I plug the phone into the phone adapter which then plugs into my router. I pay $6.95 per month for the service and have a Seattle number.

joaquinx

Jul 20, 2009, 9:05 AM

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Re: [mexigrl] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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Skype has an Unlimited Mexico plan for 5.95 usd a month. Free calls to the US and Canada and discounted calls to Mexico landlines and cellphones. The only Mexican telephone numbers that Skype offers are in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. I use Skype from my laptop, a Netgear telephone,and my iPod Touch.

mexigrl

Jul 20, 2009, 10:13 AM

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Re: [joaquinx] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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Does anyone know about the Skype for cell phones? I assume you still pay the roaming rates so it's probably not a savings. From what I'm getting it sounds like cell phones are expensive so I will be accessing my customers only through Skype (or something similar). My preference would be for the cell phone so wherever I am I can receive calls from my customers but that doesn't sound possible.

Does that sound right?

joaquinx

Jul 20, 2009, 10:29 AM

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Re: [mexigrl] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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Skype for Mobile Phone is here
http://www.skype.com/...skype/windowsmobile/

raferguson

Jul 20, 2009, 2:57 PM

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Re: [mexigrl] Techies Needed - working from Mexico questions

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My suggestion is that you get a Skype incoming number in the USA (Skype Online). You could then forward your Verizon cell phone calls to your USA Skype in number. That way, your computer would "ring" when somebody calls your Verizon cell phone number. If you weren't home, Skype would take a message. This could be transparent to your clients, and the cost per minute would be zero.

If you needed a cell phone while you were in Mexico, you could go for a prepaid plan. If you absolutely have to be in touch, even when you are out and about, you could forward your Skype calls to your Mexican cell phone number, and never miss a call. To have Skype call your Mexican cell phone number is 20 cents a minute, with a $5 a month subscription.

So if you go the Skype in route, you can get calls on your computer for zero cents per minute, and calls on your Mexican cell phone for 20 cents per minute. Since the Mexican cell phone is calling party pays, those incoming calls have no affect on the balance on your Mexican cell phone balance.

It sounds more complicated than it is. Let me know if you want to go this way and have any questions.

Obviously you would want to practice and test this before you left the USA.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

(This post was edited by raferguson on Jul 20, 2009, 3:56 PM)