BajaNomad

In Mexico, it's business as usual/Jesse your thoughts

Baja Bernie - 6-9-2006 at 07:44 AM

The picture of Mexico's richest man, Carlos Slim tells it all!

Anybody who really cares about Baja will find this an interesting read.



http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060609/news_1b9mex...

Bruce R Leech - 6-9-2006 at 08:12 AM

Quote And while Slim gets richer, top computer engineering graduates get only about US$15,000 a year, if they have the personal connections needed to get a job at all. Opening a small business remains a daunting prospect, involving copious paperwork and often bribery. unquote

while allot in th article is true and good info I need to disagree with the comment about starting a small business. even for a foreigner I don't think there is a place in the world that is easer to open a small business. once you are legal in Mexico and get you emigration all out of the way, which is not required for Mexicans it is so easy to start a business here compared to the US. infarct I could in one day start a new business here. and the tax and accounting is very striate forward.

Sharksbaja - 6-9-2006 at 11:40 AM

You mean it's easier than being an illegal and opening a restaurant in the U.S.
Just try to get a liquor license here. DNA required!:rolleyes:

Bruce R Leech - 6-9-2006 at 11:49 AM

they don't even know what DNA is here yet. they still haven't discovered fingerprints.:lol:

Eli - 6-9-2006 at 01:47 PM

I hear you Bruce. I could never in a million years have created my business in the states. I came down here with $3,000.00 DLLS. and the idea that if I spent my grubstake and didn't have a way to perpetuate myself, I would just have to go North and look for a job waiting tables or what ever minium wage job the socity up there would have to offer me.

That was 17 years ago almost to the day. Now I am retired from the business and living simple but plenty decent from investments that I started without capital, education or experinse.

La Vida no esta comprado; tomorrow, it could all fall apart, but today I thank my lucky stars for the chance Mexico gave me to live so well and retire young. Yep, Only in Mexico!

Bruce R Leech - 6-9-2006 at 03:54 PM

Mexico is loaded with opportunities, they just don't teach the peple here that :o

JESSE - 6-9-2006 at 06:02 PM

I am not completely against people like Slim, i mean, you have to have some sort of respect for a guy who became the worlds 3rd richest person, in Mexico, without coming from a vastly rich family. My problem is that Mexican politicians, are perhaps, one of the most stupid and corrupt in the world, and all thanks to political parties who even with free elections, keep thinking only about power, money, and themselves. What Mexico needs is change, and change wont happen unless the local people get fed up and start demanding for a different political and business environment.
One of the biggest problems is the border with the U.S., it has been used for decades as a escape valve for the problems of the nation, we need to close it in order to deal with our realities, we rely too much on foreing remitances and oil.

Mexico IS loaded with opportunities.

Bruce R Leech - 6-9-2006 at 06:52 PM

Righto Jessi I could not agree with you more . I wish you would run for president. but they would probably kill you so you better not.:lol:

bajalou - 6-9-2006 at 08:22 PM

Looks like he does a little more than just TelMex - From Forbes

"Just call him Midas. Latin America's richest man upped his wealth this year by an incredible $10 billion, thanks to a growing and diverse empire that includes holdings in retail, banking and insurance, and auto parts manufacturing. Shares of his flagship wireless telecom outfit, Am?rica Movil, soared 76% during the year. And his fixed-line operator, Telefonos de Mexico, or Telmex, is reportedly gearing up to double its customer base this year, primarily in Mexico, by signing up 600,000 broadband Internet subscribers. As one of its largest shareholders, Slim was purportedly contemplating taking MCI private?until Verizon bid to acquire the beaten-down phone company in February. Said to have one of Latin America's largest collections of Rodin sculptures; is also the founder of Foundation of the Historic Center of Mexico City, dedicated to restoring colonial buildings in Mexico City's historic city center."

Also - he sits on the Board of several US companies including Philip Morris and SBC and heads a comittee onthe New York stock Exchange.

Bruce R Leech - 6-11-2006 at 06:29 PM

and that is just what he is reporting on his taxes.

PJC - 6-12-2006 at 09:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
The picture of Mexico's richest man, Carlos Slim tells it all!


I am wondering what percentage of Mexican citizens can afford what must be very high priced broadband at the hands of Slim's telecom monopoly?

PJC - 6-12-2006 at 09:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Quote And while Slim gets richer, top computer engineering graduates get only about US$15,000 a year


Which in Mexico used to be a decent salary, before all these rich Californians wandered in and started throwing limitless cash at the local real estate market. :-\

--Larry


A dear friend who lives in Rosarito off of Las Glorias (sic) told me that his house is now worth $500k! It has appreciated on par with San Diego county. That is just crazy!

bajalou - 6-12-2006 at 09:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PJC
I am wondering what percentage of Mexican citizens can afford what must be very high priced broadband at the hands of Slim's telecom monopoly?


Telnor DSL while not the fastest in the world is about 1/2 or 1/3 of the cost that I've seen quoted in the US (Except the initial Promo rates)

Less than $20 US a month for DSL plus about $15 a month for phone service. And for me it has been very reliable for the last year and a half or so.

PJC - 6-12-2006 at 09:30 PM

Thanks. That is cheap by US standards. I think that Telnor charges for every call though, right?

Here in Las Vegas, we may get DSL in a few months! I have been fortunate to have cheap T1 service for years otherwise I'd go crazy.

bajalou - 6-12-2006 at 09:41 PM

Nope - for phone usage - 100 calls a month free then about .015 cents a call thereafter. I'm San Felipe and Mexicali is a local call - 120 miles away. The DSL is always on and doesn't interfere with the phone service. This is with their Prodigy Aire service. Our phones are not hard wired but work with a transmitter tower about 5 miles away - but can't tell it's not hard wired - unless a lot of wind might turn the antena. The thing I can't get used to is paying about 2 cents a min to calls to cell phones.

PJC - 6-12-2006 at 09:46 PM

A lot of third world countries charge much higher for inbound calls to cell phones. This kind of subsidizes the inbound calls.

How do you get DSL is you are using their fixed wirless for phone?

bajalou - 6-12-2006 at 09:58 PM

the DSL is part of their wireless phone set up. The box in the house has a ethernet connection marked "PC" and a port for a standard phone cord. I run a router off the system so my wife and I (and maybe a neighbor) can be online at the same time.

I"m only chaged for calls to cell phones, not from them.

Don Alley - 6-13-2006 at 07:22 AM

We have Telmex/Prodigy, and it's a bit more than Telnor...we pay $399MN for the slower (512) DSL service.

Edit: That should have been $349 MN.

[Edited on 6-13-2006 by Don Alley]

bajalou - 6-13-2006 at 07:37 AM

I'm paying for the slower also 512

My total bill including DSL, telephone and usually about 45P for calls to cells and including IVA is usually abour 400P - about $36 at todays conversion rate. Rarely have charges for calls to US as use Skype and Gizmo for them.

djh - 6-13-2006 at 07:50 AM

Ok, so I simply removed the word Mexico (below)..... Sounds alot like the US to me...

I really believe that the two party system serves the two party system most, and it is time for change in the US also... coalitions formed around specific issues rather than party lines.... perhaps apportioned government...?

HOWEVER.... as you well stated, Jesse: "change wont happen unless the local people get fed up and start demanding for a different political and business environment....."

:light:

I certainly don't mean to insult anyone who is deeply invested in one political party or another... to each their own, indeed. Just some food for thought - there are vast differences AND some amazing similarities between these two next-door neighbors....
Quote:
Originally posted by JESSE

....... politicians, are perhaps, one of the most stupid and corrupt in the world, and all thanks to political parties who even with free elections, keep thinking only about power, money, and themselves. What XXX needs is change, and change wont happen unless the local people get fed up and start demanding for a different political and business environment.....

Bruce R Leech - 6-13-2006 at 09:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
Ok, so I simply removed the word Mexico (below)..... Sounds alot like the US to me...

I really believe that the two party system serves the two party system most, and it is time for change in the US also... coalitions formed around specific issues rather than party lines.... perhaps apportioned government...?

HOWEVER.... as you well stated, Jesse: "change wont happen unless the local people get fed up and start demanding for a different political and business environment....."

:light:

I certainly don't mean to insult anyone who is deeply invested in one political party or another... to each their own, indeed. Just some food for thought - there are vast differences AND some amazing similarities between these two next-door neighbors....

Quote:
Originally posted by JESSE

....... politicians, are perhaps, one of the most stupid and corrupt in the world, and all thanks to political parties who even with free elections, keep thinking only about power, money, and themselves. What XXX needs is change, and change wont happen unless the local people get fed up and start demanding for a different political and business environment.....


you make some very good points.:light:

PJC - 6-13-2006 at 10:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
the DSL is part of their wireless phone set up. The box in the house has a ethernet connection marked "PC" and a port for a standard phone cord. I run a router off the system so my wife and I (and maybe a neighbor) can be online at the same time.

I"m only chaged for calls to cell phones, not from them.


That is very cool. I have not heard of fixed wireless with voice and data. Are there any labels on the box? I am interested to find out about the technology.

PJC - 6-13-2006 at 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
and it is time for change in the US also... coalitions formed around specific issues rather than party lines


Agreed. Unfortunately the "other parties" in the use are all fringe lunatics.

bajalou - 6-13-2006 at 10:14 AM

Our fixed wireless started with Lucent equipment but about 2 years ago got rid of them and got the new system - heard it was from Germany.

On the box in the house -
INNOWAVE Wireless Systems

and

PCU
enhansed multigain wireless

Only other thin on the box is a decal from Telephones del Norte

Can't see any names on the antena from down here except the big Telnor but seem to remember it might have been Seimens?

Good system

Jesse/djh

Baja Bernie - 6-13-2006 at 10:21 AM

Jesse right on!

djh I have been a committed Republican since I moved our of my Democratic parents home. That said, I have become completely turned off by both of our political party's and firmly belive their is a need for change. More and more it feels to me like I could be living in the old Soviet Union.

Not good.

PJC - 6-16-2006 at 05:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Our fixed wireless started with Lucent equipment but about 2 years ago got rid of them and got the new system - heard it was from Germany.

On the box in the house -
INNOWAVE Wireless Systems

and

PCU
enhansed multigain wireless

Only other thin on the box is a decal from Telephones del Norte

Can't see any names on the antena from down here except the big Telnor but seem to remember it might have been Seimens?

Good system


Thanks, I am googling for it now.

[Edited on 6-17-2006 by PJC]

PJC - 6-16-2006 at 05:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Our fixed wireless started with Lucent equipment but about 2 years ago got rid of them and got the new system - heard it was from Germany.


I found it!

http://www.alvarion.com/solutions/serviceprovider/products/e...

Cool stuff!