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No Sniveling
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 11:20 am |
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Hola!
I have read all of the previous posts and I am still confused about cellular service. I have just purchased a Verizon Norte Americano plan as discussed several months ago on both boards. It has a coverage map that shows multiple areas in central Mexico that are considered "home rate zones", but shows coverage all the way from the border to Guaymas as the international roaming zone. Is anyone using the Verizon North America plan that can confirm what the rate is from SC to US?
Thanks!
Craig 
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Janice Jackson
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 12:13 pm |
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We had The North American Plan---we have been with Verizon for 6 years---The plan DID NOT work for us----and so they refunded $$$----That was 2 or 3 years ago--- I JUST NOW had a conversation with them, because I had heard some folks say they DID have service down there with Verizon. Thought things had changed . I was told they do not have the coverage there---some large Cities do but you would be assessed roaming charges----we were never able to even get ANY service---roaming or not. That was our experience. There is confusion about Vonage, as well----it works for some ---others claim it is not available there. Janice
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bartmanaz
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 12:22 pm |
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I am about to find out how good it is because Verizon just bought out our local cell company, Valley Telecom, that has provided us with excellent service in Mexico. When the deal was announced, I asked the GM of Valley what impact it would have on my coverage in Mexico and was assured it would continue to work just fine. According to the info Verizon provided, roaming will be $.69/minute and ld will be $.49/minute. Be sure to tell them you want international service activated-may not be done automatically. I'll report after the cutover occurs on Nov 19.
Bart
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No Sniveling
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 12:36 pm |
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Bart,
I also have Valley, and with the 5 year old Nokia analog phone we had (it died a salt water death from a wave over the bow on my last trip!), I had coverage anywhere I have ever been. Since my other Nextel phone does not work past Nogales, I had to do something before Valley made the switch in two weeks. It is just confusing from previous posts as to what the exact rate is when in SC, but every indication is the $.69 + Mex surcharges. If so, that's what I have to live with. I cannot be without my business connection when I am there.
Thanks!
Craig
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sometime resident
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 02:30 pm |
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Vonage works in San Carlos as long as you have a DSL internet connection. Your initial sign up with Vonage should be in the US.
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John S
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 05:08 pm |
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I recently went to Verizon store in the San Francisco Bay Area and they do not offer North American Plan anymore. The only option is using the phone in San Carlos and Mexico and paying rates average about $.69/minute. That would get expensive.
One option might be to get an existing cell phone 'unlocked', and then put a pre paid card into it in Mexico. As long as you have a phone that will take cards, it will work OK. You can get the phone 'unlocked' at a place that deals in cell phones, but the Verizon, Cingular or Sprint store won't do it. There is a place near me in San Francisco that will do it for $30.00 (one time fee). Many people in our area do it for using their cell phones overseas, and rather than pay outrageous roaming fees (up to $2.00/minute in some countries overseas), one can just buy local cards and insert them in your exiting phone and it's much cheaper.
If you don't have a cell phone it might be cheaper to buy one locally in San Carlos/Guaymas and use that, rather than trying to modify an existing phone. The phones are cheap in Mexico if you get a basic one without cameras and all the other peripheral stuff that one does not need. And generally the minute plans are reasonable also.
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No Sniveling
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 05:55 pm |
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John,
That's weird! I bought a North America plan last night in Nogales AZ.
Craig
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JZ
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 06:01 pm |
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Cingular has MUCH better converage in San Carlos then Verizon, and their NA plan provides no roaming or long distance fees when using in SC or calling SC.
You are right Craig, Verizon NA plan's fine details excluded SC from the no roaming, no long distance deal. Roaming charges apply, but no long distance fees.
It was reported a few weeks ago that Cingular is not allowing new signups for their NA plan. But then someone reported it is on again, off again (at least in Oregon). People who jumped in early got a great deal. And if you can still get this plan, I suggest you run, not walk, to sign up.
One of my good friends has Verizon and everytime he tries to use it in SC it is royal pain (poor coverage area). That's my main data point on Verizon.
Last edited on Fri Nov 4th, 2005 06:18 pm by JZ
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John S
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Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2005 09:00 pm |
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No Sniveling-
I think if you bought a plan that charges $.69 per minute in Mexico or something similar then you didn't buy a "North American Plan". Or at least a 'real' one. The NA Plan was no roaming in Canada or Mexico, same rate as calling in USA, only charge was for air time. The local Verizon or Cingular rep may have called it that, but if there is any charge for the call other than air time then it's not the true North American Plan as it was known.
Verizon does have a Plan called "three countries", Canada, US and Mexico but in fact the rate in Mexico and Canada are roaming rates, and more than just air time. They probably honor those who still have the orignal plan, but as far as I was told not only by Verizon and Cingular, both on the phone with their customer service as well as the local Verizon/Cingular Store, their orignal North American Plan as most people in San Carlos are familiar with it is no longer being offered.
If you did in fact just sign up for the original plan with no roaming in Mexico, then good for you!
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TC
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 02:26 am |
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A follow-up to John S's note (and more of a question that a bit of help, perhaps, from me).
I've never tried to use a cell phone in Mexico, but I have in Europe. I've forgotten the terminology, but all I did was buy a nice inexpensive Nokia -- no question of unlocked because it's the type that's not locked in the first place -- and a chip once in country. Works like a charm, you're in the local system, so it's not roaming or any of that nonsense (until you cross borders). You buy pre-paid cards, very widely available. I've had chips for Spain, Italy, and Denmark, and I understand they exist for every European country.
You pay a fortune to call to the U.S. with the European cards, but reception from anywhere is no cost.
If I've understood John correctly, the same is available in Mexico? If so, it's definitely painless, and worth exploring, depending on what your phoning needs are.
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No Sniveling
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 02:40 am |
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Well, I will be there for the test tomorrow and will report on Monday. Here is what I have gathered so far from the varied input.
1. The plan says North American, but the map specifically shows direct and roaming areas.
2. I am not familiar with the chip change and have never heard of it in Mexico.
3. I had a Movitel (several years ago) when I first started business in Mexico - my 2 pesos per minute disappeared at an incredible rate for the $100 I deposited each time, and I constantly received error messages in spanish faster than my mind could translate. I enjoyed shooting that one with my Ruger 44 on a hunting trip in the US.
4. If I can even get the $.69/minute rate with good coverage, it would meet my needs for being available for incoming business calls (I seldom call out when fishing), and also to be available for emergencies at home. I hope to report that that is the case!
Thanks for all of your thoughts,
Craig 
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TC
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 03:12 am |
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I've done a tiny bit of research on the net, and it appears that the chip/card alternative does exist in Mexico. It's called -- as it is elsewhere; this is the part I had forgotten -- a SIM card. Here's a blurb from one company (Telcel):
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A Mexico Prepaid SIM Card, in conjunction with the correct unlocked GSM cell phone, allows you to have a Mexican cell phone number and to take advantage of the rates that the local Mexicans pay - and without a cellular contract. The rates are advantageous, including for international calls.
The SIM card or chip is the brain of the phone and is what allows you to make calls within Mexico and internationally. The card is prepaid so that you will never receive a phone bill and will always be in complete control of your expenditures. If needed, you can simply add more talk time to the card by purchasing scratch off recharge cards and entering in the PIN number on the handset. The SIM card slips easily into the phone and if needed, you can purchase other SIM cards as well for other countries to where you may be traveling.
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Yep, that's the way it works, and I'm not sure, but it looks as though Telcel may have these cornered. Their rates are fairly good in Mexico City and in Tijuana/Mexicali, elsewhere not good, it seems.
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TC
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 03:23 am |
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Craig, sorry -- I hadn't seen your note about the $.69 rates. Here are the Telcel rates:
http://www.cellularabroad.com/mexicoppsc.html
$69 for the original chip, then just add time as you need it. No monthly charges.
(The prices in this for "adding talk time" must be when the cards are sold in the U.S. The fichas should be face value in Mexico.)
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John S
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 03:09 pm |
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All cell phones come from the manufacturer 'unlocked' so you can use them anywhere, but when they are sold in US by Sprint, Verizon, Cingular or whatever, they are 'locked', so you can't change carriers and use them with another company. There are a variety of places that can unlock the phone (they change the codes) for about $30.00 Once the phone is unlocked, it can be used with SIM cards that are generally used world wide. When you get to a country, you buy a pre-paid SIM card and the rates are very competitive with whatever locals are paying.
As long as it's GSM compatible phone and a SIM card can be inserted, it will work. I have an older Motorola phone that was used like this in Mexico and it was not expensive. This phone can no longer be used in US because it doesn't have the 9-1-1 chip in it, but can be used in Mexico and many other countries where that is not required. (Cell phones sold in US must have a 9-1-1 chip in them so the phone can be located in an emergency)
Anyone who lives in a remote or rural area and does not have a service nearby that can unlock the phone can send it to a service that will do this. They can be found online easily in a standard "Google" search. If you are in US, send it by FedEx Ground, cheaper and faster than UPS or US Mail and less expensive than regular FedEx Air service.
Hope this helps with the cell phone question. Any place like San Carlos with lots of high mountains around will inevitably have some spotty service.
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JZ
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 03:42 pm |
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Agree, that you can plug in a SIM card from a MX carrier and have cheap local service within MX. Note that this is for GSM phones only (i.e. Cingular), and this is not possible with phones using CDMA technology (Verizon, Sprint). About 65% of the world uses GSM (95% in Europe).
However, by going this route it will be very expensive to call the US (rates on pre-paid cards are very cheap for local calls, but quite high for long distance calls). Plus for people calling you from the US it will be a long distance call for them (you will have a Mexican phone number), and the rates for you to receive the international call will cost a bit.
So the answer lies in what you want to do. The MX SIM works for low-cost local only calls, and maybe a call here or there to the US.
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John S
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Posted: Sat Nov 5th, 2005 09:29 pm |
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I think that cell phone use in Mexico would be best for local use only, and perhaps for friends and family in US to call you in Mexico. Of course the cost of long distance to US would be more expensive.
For those with a residence in San Carlos, they would more than likely use a VOIP service, like Vonnage or Skype. For those traveling in hotels, motels, RV's or boats, one could use a VOIP service with a computer as long as you have a high speed DSL connection, which are abundant in San Carlos. I used the Wi-Fi as Mirador Park when I stayed there last winter. In fact, I helped install the program and antennas at the Park.
For those that don't have a residence with phone or a laptop, then the best solution would be an International calling card. Get one with no fees or connection charges. I found that "Zaptel" works best, and one can get a PIN number and use it all over the world. There are no connection fees, surcharges or taxes. You can put $10/ $20, etc. on it with a credit card over the computer (very secure) and it will last a long time. Your friends and family can call you from US using a Zaptel type card, either on their cell phone or a land line. There is no monthly fee or connection charges, or long distance taxes. I used this card in the Middle East, Mexico, US, Canada, etc. I also use it with calling with my cell phone as well, but I only get charged air time, since I am not using my cell provider but my Zaptel's connections.
I have a Sprint phone in US and Motorola in Mexico that I buy SIM cards for. If I want to call US from Mexico, I usually use the Zaptel on a pay phone or else VOIP, depending upon where I am calling. A local cell phone may be good in San Carlos for someone who wants to give a local number to someone in San Carlos, like a realtor for instance, or a local friend. Using a Mexican cell phone for getting calls from US, you would generally just pay air time charges, and not any long distance charges, because you didn't make the call, and any long distance charges are usually figured into the charges for the person calling you.
All the major cell companies have a "rate" for calling Canada, Mexico, etc. Generally they range from a flat fee of $4.00 -$7.00 per month and then about $.10 per minute for the calls. But they also charge you taxes and other fees on the long distance, so if one makes a lot of calls that can add up. If you use a cell phone but make the call through a Zaptel-type PIN number, then you don't pay anything extra for the monthly fees or taxes. For those on retirement or fixed incomes, these can add up.
Some cell phone companies have to 'program' your phone to call outside US, and sometimes they will try to sell their 'long distance program', but they have to program, which will cost more per month and more per minute than a Zaptel card. But cell phone companies have to allow you to access overseas lines without the company being able to charge you anything but air time. The first month I did this with Sprint, they billed me over $300 for long distance charges. I called them up and told them to take off all those calls because they didn't go through their lines, it was Zaptel. Of course, they did take them off, which they had to do. I have used an orignal $20.00 on Zaptel since August, and made calls from US to Middle East (Israel) and from Canada to US, Mexico, etc.
Hope this info helps those like myself who are often traveling out on the road, or staying in Mexico (like San Carlos) for extended periods and still want (or need for work) to be able to communicate with friends, family or even clients in US or overseas.
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garth
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Posted: Sun Nov 6th, 2005 01:49 am |
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| guaymas and san carlos are not in a verison area and our cell phone bills have been outrageous with the north american plan. sbout 400 usd a month even though they told us thered would be no roaming charges. we hasve found verison continually has misrep-resented their rates and charges b oth witgh this and other plans.
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The Kid
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Posted: Sun Nov 6th, 2005 03:49 am |
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I work for a major US corporation from our house in SC. Vonage is the key. My verizon phone won't work in SC, Hermosillo is the closest spot, and it is expensive. We have eliminated a regular phone in the states and use Vonage. For another $27 a month, we set up a 2nd line for the house in Mexico. Our clients call a US number and it comes right to the house. If you call our US home while we're in SC, it rolls over to the SC house. No international charge to caller. This isn't practical for the average person, but designed for a business person. I do my job for my company and my wife runs her business with the same lines. All for $54 a month. It's an option to think about.
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JZ
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Posted: Sun Nov 6th, 2005 08:21 am |
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Ok, for SC anyway, Verizon is really, really bad. Two reasons, 1) coverage is very poor and 2) their so-called NA plan still charges you roaming fees in the SC area. Some limited parts of MX are truly no roaming and no long distance, but not the state of Sonora for the most part. It is free to call from the US to SC, but not receive calls in SC or make calls from SC.
By contrast, Cingular's coverage is outstanding, and the NA plan is free to: 1) call from the US to MX, 2) receive calls in SC, and 3) make calls in SC to the US or MX. Plus, if you have a BlackBerry, you get all your e-mails right on your phone over GPRS.
That said, Verizon data service in the US for the last 6 months, and at least the next six months is superior to Cingular (much higher data rates with true 3G using EVDO technology). But soon Cingular will catch up.
Bottom line, if you go to SC often, get rid of your Verizon service!
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Glorybe
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Posted: Thu Nov 10th, 2005 10:11 pm |
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Hi Bart.....I had just sent an email requesting information on the cell service and in particular, Verizon, but I found some information here....sorry....thanks
Glorybe
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