11 replies to this topic

[kristashawn]

We need advice about cell phones. Any info on the options and range of costs would be appreciated. My husband and I will need to be able to call or text each other when we are either both in MX or when one of us is over the border in the US and the other is in MX. Would iPhone/skype be the best way to go for calling a US number from a cell phone in Mexico and vv?  

[Mary Ellen]

You did not mention where you live as reception on cell phones is dependent on location.  If you are near the border in Tijuana chances are that a U.S. phone will work.  When I lived in TJ I used Cricket cell and broadband internet with no problems.  However now that I live in Rosarito I use Magic Jack connected to my laptop for U.S. calls and Telcel cell for local calls.

Don't expect any cell or internet connection to be great here in Mexico as Mexico is at the bottom of the list in Latin American countries when it comes to telecommunications and speed.

[kristashawn]

You did not mention where you live as reception on cell phones is dependent on location.  If you are near the border in Tijuana chances are that a U.S. phone will work.  When I lived in TJ I used Cricket cell and broadband internet with no problems.  However now that I live in Rosarito I use Magic Jack connected to my laptop for U.S. calls and Telcel cell for local calls.

Don't expect any cell or internet connection to be great here in Mexico as Mexico is at the bottom of the list in Latin American countries when it comes to telecommunications and speed.

 

 

We have not signed a lease yet and we're still looking, but I think we will probably not be close enough to the border to use our cell phones. At this point we are leaning toward Hacienda del Mar or possibly another neighborhood along the toll road north of Rosarito. We chcked out a bunch of places in that area last weekend, and our phones definitely didn't work there.

 

Thanks for the heads up about quality of service. We will try to keep our expectations realistic.

[Mary Ellen]

The reception there may be different from Tijuana as it is not close to the border and if there are not many cell towers around you may need a Magic Jack or Telcel.  

[Cyanide41]

I can view the us from my house and my cell is usually on Telcel. I have the at&t via mexico plan which allows me to call to and from mexico with no additional charge. The house has a vonage phone with a US number. It comes in handy when people in the house need to call me when I am in the US.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

In Playas, my Verizon Wireless phone was on an international plan with a San Diego number, I could call from and to Mexico from either side of the border.  Since my apartment was close to the border fence, my phone would pick up a Verizon signal sometimes and other times a Telcel signal from my apartment, either one was free but the Verizon signal tended to drop calls where as the Telcel signal never dropped a single call.   I would go into the bathroom (which was in the middle of the apartment away from windows) to dial the call since for some reason that room always picked up a Telcel signal, then once the call was made I could walk around without worrying about calls dropping. As long as I had that Telcel signal I was alright. 

[Keyno]

I have AT&T pay-as-you-go phone, and get signals from AT&T and TelCel, with no extra charge.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

I should have said "with no extra charge.", definitely not free.

[kristashawn]

Are Verizon and AT&T the only providers of international plans that will work on both sides of the border? The only downside seems to be that texting and internet usage appear to be expensive with these plans. 

 

Approximately how much per month would a cell phone plan with unlimited calling and internet usage, through a Mexican provider, cost?

[kristashawn]

We are probably going to go with either AT&T's "Viva Mexico" plan or Verizon's "Canada and Mexico" plan since we'll be spending a fair amount of time on both sides of the border. AT&T seems like the way to go if you want more minutes. But Verizon seems like the better option if you want texting and data usage (when in the US). Anyone else have experience with either of these plans or thoughts on benefits/ drawbacks? 

[kristashawn]

Are Verizon and AT&T the only providers of international plans that will work on both sides of the border? The only downside seems to be that texting and internet usage appear to be expensive with these plans. 

 

Approximately how much per month would a cell phone plan with unlimited calling and internet usage, through a Mexican provider, cost?

 

I did find out that from a Mexican provider an individual plan that includes a high limit on data usage would probably be ~$90. But I didn't look too deeply into the details since I think we're going to go with am American provider/international plan. Right now we have T-Mobile but it looks like we will have to switch, since they don't have any international plans that meet our needs.

[tijuanahopeful]

I also have T-Mobile, but I'm going to keep it, and just get a prepaid Mexican cell phone.  AT&T has a Mexican/US plan for about $50 per month, but I'm not interested in it.