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Cellular Roaming in Mexico
( Celular itinerancia en México )
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Most Mexican cellular customers enjoy "Calling
Party Pays" service. This makes Mexican
cell phones more like those in other countries
outside the U.S. This has the effect of making
cellular service cheaper for wireless users
and more expensive for those who call them.
It also requires callers to place a "1"
in front of Mexican cellular numbers, most
of which already require a different prefix.
Most Mexican wireless users pay by the minute
instead using a bucket of time. GSM technology
dominates Mexico, but CDMA and iDEN service
is available.
Most of us want to make and receive calls
to and from the US while visiting Mexico,
so here are Your Wireless Options:
Option 1) Choose the US carrier with the best roaming
capabilities, including Prepaid.
Option 2) Mexican cellular service with a Mexican Prepaid
phone or SIM.
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For Option 1, Here are your best wireless choices among
US cellular carriers:
- 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
For Option 2, Mexican carriers:
Mexico Cellular Coverage Maps
- 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.
Mountain Wireless Recommendations:
- 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
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