Cellular Roaming in Mexico ( Celular itinerancia en México ) Using your cellular phone south of the border is different. This page reviews your options. All prices are in US dollars. Please share your experiences. This page updated August 7, 2010. Our Recommendations Mexico Calling Tips & Procedures

• Alltel:
  Their "North America Freedom" plans include calls made from any of the three North American countries, 1,000 Night & Weekend minutes, and Unlimited Mobile to Mobile calls within the US only. You are paying more per month than a 'normal' calling plan, so the calls certainly aren't free. Alltel's service area is limited to a few states, but you may get an agent to sign you up for this plan from another area of the country, but you won't have a local number. Another challenge is that Alltel uses CDMA technology, which is limited to certain areas of Mexico. Alltel also cautions, you still need to watch for the Roaming indicator. Alltel also offers a .79 per minute (plus Long Distance charges) Mexico roaming rate with the remainder if its plans. If you cannot sign up for an Alltel plan in areas where Verizon Wireless has taken over Alltel service, Verizon offers their own Mexico Roaming plans.
  
  
• AT&T:
  Since they use GSM technology, roaming coverage is extensive throughout Mexico, however, AT&T charges postpaid users .99 per minute roaming charges. Text Messaging is .50 Sent, .20 Received. AT&T offers a "Viva Mexico" plan that includes calls to & from Mexico for no additional charge. For an additional $5 per month you can add their "WorldConnect Mexico" service to a regular plan which enables you to make and receive calls in Mexico for "only" .69 per minute. Mexico roaming also works for AT&T GoPhone customers at no additional roaming charges, just the normal .25/minute rate, with no daily access fee.
  
  
• Nextel:
  Nextel Roaming in Mexico has good coverage within their service areas which includes much of the interior of Mexico, many highways and some coastal resorts. Roaming Voice rates are .99/minute, Direct Connect calls are .20 each. Text Messaging is not available, but internet access is currently Free! Nextel customers from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas area markets receive a rate of $.69/minute for all calls made and received in Baja California.
  
  
• Page Plus:
  Page Plus Cellular is one of our recommended prepaid services, using the Verizon network in the US. Their phones will roam in Mexico on the same networks as Verizon, with a rate of $1.10/minute, which is only slightly higher than Verizon's own Mexico roaming rate. This includes calls to Mexico and USA numbers.
  
  
• Sprint:
  Sprint phones use the CDMA network in Mexico, but Sprint claims only a few of their phone models will work there. Sprint's Mexico roaming fees are $1.69 per minute for both incoming and outgoing calls in Mexico. Text Messaging is not available.
  
  
• T-Mobile:
  T-Mobile phones work well in Mexico since they use GSM technology, but T-Mobile's roaming rates are $1.49 for both incoming and outgoing voice calls in Mexico. Roaming works for both postpaid and prepaid customers. Text Messaging is .35 Sent, .20 Received.
  
  
• TracFone:
  TracFone does not offer roaming outside the US, but they have favorable long distance rates to and from Mexico (and Canada). With their "International Neighbors" plan you get a local number in Mexico or Canada that allows calls to be made back to a TracFone in the US, charged only as a Local call in those countries. The cost to the TracFone phone user is the same as any incoming call. Outgoing calls to these countries with a TracFone are Free through their International Long Distance (ILD) service, which involves calling a toll-free number, then entering your Mexico number (or to 60 other countries). Since your TracFone will not work in Mexico (or any other foreign country) this option would make a Mexico prepaid phone economical to call a TracFone in the US. NET10 prepaid phones offer the same services.
  
  
• Verizon:
  Verizon uses the smaller Mexican CDMA network, which serves most larger cities and resorts. If your Verizon phone finds a signal, it will work. They offer "Nationwide Plus Mexico" which allows free roaming in Mexico for about $15 more than regular plans. With that plan, instead of Unlimited Nights and Weekends you will get 1,000 Night & Weekend minutes that can be used in the US or Mexico, but your Unlimited Mobile to Mobile and "Friends & Family" calls are limited to within the US only. Plans without free Mexico Roaming, incur a charge of .99 per minute for both incoming and outgoing calls within Mexico. Text Messaging in Mexico is .50 Sent, .20 Received.
  
  Also, check out Mexico Calling Tips & Procedures
  
  
  

• Note: The Mexican government now requires anyone signing up for cellular cellular service to provide proper identification. This may affect where you can buy local Mexico cellular service. Get more details at Mexico Tips and Procedures.
  
  
• TelCel offers the best coverage in the country, and sells a nice prepaid package, "Amigo", that includes phone, SIM ("chip") and a prepaid card. They may still offer just the SIM, some of which have minutes already loaded on them. You can bring your own "Unlocked" GSM phone and plug in the TelCel SIM. Your GSM carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile and others) MAY provide you with your unlock code. If not, or if you don't subscribe to those networks, you can buy an unlocked GSM phone online or at eBay, and use that phone on the TelCel network. Calls TO the US are roughly $1.40 per minute, and incoming calls are much cheaper, usually free. If you wanted a link from one phone to another while in Mexico, Mobile to Mobile calling plans are available. Calls made from outside the area the phone was activated are charged as much as 60% more. While these charges are difficult to track, they still may be the most economical option. If you can, ask as many questions at a TelCel store about what charges apply to your specific calls. Also, our TelCel refills don't "roll over". Add a new prepaid card and you lose some or all of your previous minutes. TelCel refills are available at many retail outlets. A few still sell the refill cards, but most now take your number and enter your purchase in the computer, which is immediately credited to your phone. Most OXXO stores can perform this and are quite common. Call to check your balance are charged against your minutes, but they usually add a few for this purpose.
  
• Movistar offers prepaid options and their GSM network is almost as good as TelCel's. You can buy a Movistar SIM only and use your own "Unlocked" GSM phone. Movistar retailers are hard to find, but refills are available at many convenience stores like Oxxo through the store's computer. We were able to renew our Pay-Per-Call plan ("Movistar Pro Llamada") which gives you at least 15 minutes of talk to anywhere for a flat fee, currently calls to the US are about $1.25. However, we cannot confirm that Pay-Per-Call is available to new customers. We have never been able to access any English-speaking assistance at Movistar, either on cellular, or at their national toll-free number. Like TelCel, Movistar calls to 611 and to get your balance involve a charge.
  
• Iusacel currently uses a CDMA network that is not as expansive as the other carriers in Mexico. While their rates are similar to TelCel and Movistar, you must buy their phone. They don't use SIM's. They do have a few stores and kiosks and if you can get a deal on one of their prepaid phones, they offer more minutes for your money, but not really enough to make a difference. We couldn't find any Iusacel stores, and only one kiosk, to make a purchase.
  
• Nextel of Mexico is very different from the US version. Their coverage is better within the interior of Mexico and not as extensive around the resorts, but it works very well within their service area. They do not offer much for the short-time visitor but have a big following among business people. See Nextel Roaming, above.
  
  Mexican cellular phones are much more reasonable for local calls, and incoming calls, including those from the US, are often free. They also have good rates for "mobile to mobile" calls within each Mexican city for family members to keep in touch with each other. Beware there still could be significant 'roaming' or long distance charges if you make calls away from the city where you originally purchased service. If you don't speak Spanish you won't understand some of the benefits or pitfalls.
  
  
  

• The Easiest option is to just pay roaming fees with your current carrier. You would be surprised how efficiently you can communicate when you pay by the minute. Text rates may be quite reasonable. Your Roaming costs could be less than you think.
• The Cheapest option is to buy an AT&T GoPhone and Call Forward your calls to that phone while you are in Mexico. GoPhone rates are .25/minute for voice calls, Text is .20. You may be charged per minute for Call Forwarding from your forwarded line, but if you are a regular AT&T customer, those calls may be billed as Mobile to Mobile. Otherwise, if it's a problem, you can return a call from the US and be charged outgoing minutes only. GoPhone can be purchased online, sometimes for less than $20. Some phones include some Airtime Credit. The SIM that comes with an Airtime Credit will be locked to that phone for 4 months. When we purchase a plain SIM from AT&T we receive an initial $10 bonus with no handset limitations. An added benefit is that your GoPhone will work in the US keeping you from losing minutes you don't use in Mexico, and you'll need only one phone and SIM on your trip.
• Also, consider carriers that offer plans that include Mexico roaming. It may be at the same rate you are paying now, but beware, some Mexico plans do not include Text Messaging or Mobile to Mobile, so you may have extra charges.
• Using a phone from a US carrier also gives you the advantage of accessing US-based, English-speaking customer service.
  
  Also see Mexico Calling Tips & Procedures

Other Options:

• Wi-fi Phones:
  Some Mexico visitors have been able to use wi-fi capable phone, like T-Mobile Hot Spot phones, where the phone reaches an accessible wi-fi signal. Most wi-fi hotspots we encountered were protected.
  
• Mexitel Phone Rental:
  This service sends you a TelCel cell phone and you can then purchase prepaid minutes locally. The rates to and from the US are more favorable than using your own phone and SIM and "Pay Per Call" can be easily activated. You check a calendar to see if your week is available. The phone is sent to you before your trip and you mail it back when you return. While the process seems complicated before and after your trip and a phone may not be available during busy weeks, it may be more hassle-free while on your trip.
  
• International Roaming:
  Information and Tips about using cellular outside of the US, including phones that work in Mexico and the rest of the world.
  
• Mexico Calling Tips & Procedures
  
• Cruise Ship Calling in Mexico