BajaNomad - iPhone, internet and Baja

iPhone, internet and Baja

BornFisher - 12-5-2011 at 08:40 PM

Can you get online with an iPhone in Baja?
If you can add something beside a "yes" or "no', please do!
Gracias!

goldhuntress - 12-5-2011 at 11:53 PM

Yes you can but if you use the cell signal it will cost major bucks. At the border we always put it on Airplane Mode and make sure our Data Roaming is off and we leave it that way until we are again NOB. We use wifi exclusively to get online, make calls with the Skype App and to text on Textfree. The reason we put it in Airplane Mode is that you get charges for the voicemail because the iPhone has visual voicemail and that is considered data. We don't want to incur any extra charges and once had $25 in charges just for voicemail. Also I just get worried about bogus charges when I'm hooked to 3g in a foreign land. If you do this though, you cannot use the phone to make 3G calls or text. If you do want to use the phone for calls I recently figured out you can turn the Cellular Data off instead of the Airplane Mode on to avoid the voicemail charges but I haven't tried that myself yet so I can't say for sure but theoretically it should work. Then you could use Viber too for free iPhone to iPhone calls. We are trying this senario in the next few days so I will know more then. By the way my carrier is ATT.
You asked for more than a yes or no answer :lol:

Riom - 12-6-2011 at 02:08 AM

(updated) I wrote a bit here about using it with a Telcel sim - then realised that most US iPhones are probably locked to a carrier, so that won't work.

In the unlikely event you do have an unlocked non-Verizon iPhone , a Telcel Amigo sim will give you 3G, sometimes 2G, access at a reasonable price, see
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet

Otherwise, turn off 3G when in Mexico and use only wi-fi.

[Edited on 2011-12-6 by Riom]

Joelt - 12-6-2011 at 02:09 AM

I don't really understand how it all works but I have heard that the roaming fees add up fast if you don't disable the roaming. I know of 2 people who ended up with huge bills in the hundreds of dollars. So if you are going to use it for internet I would turn the roaming off again as soon as you are done. Call your service provider and they shoul be able to tell you how it all works and the charges.That is if you have time. I would make sure you know how it all works and what the fees are before using it.

latina - 12-6-2011 at 07:35 AM

I have an unlocked iphone and last year in La Paz I got Movistar chip for the phone which gave me a Mexican phone number, and I just buy phone time or phone plus data. I found that the phone plus data for emails etc. ran out pretty quickly and added up, so now I just use my data where I have wireless access. If you put Skype on your phone you can talk to anyone anywhere with your wireless signal instead of 3G or Edge. Hope that helps.

Bob and Susan - 12-6-2011 at 07:38 AM

yes...people use it here all the time

BornFisher - 12-9-2011 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by goldhuntress
Yes you can but if you use the cell signal it will cost major bucks. At the border we always put it on Airplane Mode and make sure our Data Roaming is off and we leave it that way until we are again NOB. We use wifi exclusively to get online, make calls with the Skype App and to text on Textfree. The reason we put it in Airplane Mode is that you get charges for the voicemail because the iPhone has visual voicemail and that is considered data. We don't want to incur any extra charges and once had $25 in charges just for voicemail. Also I just get worried about bogus charges when I'm hooked to 3g in a foreign land. If you do this though, you cannot use the phone to make 3G calls or text. If you do want to use the phone for calls I recently figured out you can turn the Cellular Data off instead of the Airplane Mode on to avoid the voicemail charges but I haven't tried that myself yet so I can't say for sure but theoretically it should work. Then you could use Viber too for free iPhone to iPhone calls. We are trying this senario in the next few days so I will know more then. By the way my carrier is ATT.
You asked for more than a yes or no answer :lol:

Thanks, that was a big help once I had phone in hand. Yes I see where by going to settings, general, network, you can disable data roaming, or cellular data. Also I looked at a text from ATT and found the data rate is $20 per MB in Baja. I then went to usage, cellular usage, reset, took the phone off wi-fi, opened 3 web pages. Looked at usage and it was about 600KB. Which means you can open about 5 web pages for $20.
No wonder people run up huge bills!!!

BCSTech - 12-9-2011 at 12:32 PM

Check your ATT online account. You should be able to add/buy International Data Roaming to your phone, which will save you some money. If you don't see this in your phone options online, then you probably have a new account and you will need to call ATT Customer Service to get it added..

goldhuntress - 12-9-2011 at 01:08 PM

We did some experimenting with the Cellular Data off. The Viber and Textfree apps won't work. I called ATT and was told we'd still be charged for voicemail even if we don't retrieve it. If you just want to get online and don't mind spending a little time finding and hanging out somewhere that has WiFi then the easiest thing is to just leave it in airplane mode and your bill will be your usual amount. Otherwise, if you want more flexibility definitely sign up fore a Mexico data plan before you go.

mulegejim - 12-9-2011 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goldhuntress
We did some experimenting with the Cellular Data off. The Viber and Textfree apps won't work. I called ATT and was told we'd still be charged for voicemail even if we don't retrieve it. If you just want to get online and don't mind spending a little time finding and hanging out somewhere that has WiFi then the easiest thing is to just leave it in airplane mode and your bill will be your usual amount. Otherwise, if you want more flexibility definitely sign up fore a Mexico data plan before you go.

Good stuff - I was just trying to figure this out before going to Mexico in January and you saved me a lot of time. Thanks, Jim

mrfatboy - 12-9-2011 at 06:02 PM

I just did the first step to unlock my Verizon iphone 4S. Verizon said I'm good to go. I just need to get a mexico sim card to do the final unlock.

I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area?

Udo - 12-9-2011 at 08:30 PM

BTW:

iPhone works via ATT & Telcel, but without a plan from the US, I would not want to get the data roaming charges in the US. You'd croak!

yellowklr - 12-10-2011 at 10:21 AM

Hey Bill
Yeah I agree with what everyone says here........
One thing you have to get for the IPhone is the Navionics App for boating its awesome
Its a mini chartplotter and works without cell coverage
Its the best 10 bucks I ever spent!!!!!
See ya at Salina!!!

goldhuntress - 12-10-2011 at 11:11 AM

Another good app that doesn't need cell or wifi service is iBird Explorer Pro. It's 14.99 and it's like having a 4000 page birding book right on your phone and it includes Baja.

Riom - 12-10-2011 at 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area?

Telcel is the only one with 3G coverage, use their Telcel Amigo (prepaid) sim, not a contract. Lots of San Felipe specific Telcel info at my site:
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet

Rob

mrfatboy - 12-10-2011 at 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Riom

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
I plan on going down to San Felipe soon. What is the best (price wise) sim to get for that area?

Thanks for the info. I bummed that these sims have a time period (deadline) on them. I would like to buy one and just used it until it runs out.

Maybe I will just use the wifi at the Bar Miramar :lol:

Riom - 12-10-2011 at 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
Thanks for the info. I bummed that these sims have a time period (deadline) on them. I would like to buy one and just used it until it runs out.

Maybe I will just use the wifi at the Bar Miramar :lol:

The sim doesn't really have a time limit (if you buy a recharge at least once every two months) but each data packet does. Still, you can just buy a 1-2-7 day packet during a trip, then save the sim (recharging each two months) until the next trip and buy another short-term packet of data.

But I agree, it's a lot of bother compared to just using wi-fi somewhere. I spent a few months travelling in the US and Canada last summer and never found the need for gsm/3g data at all, there was always somewhere like a hotel or McDonalds with free wifi. Not too different in Mexico, in the tourist towns.

latina - 12-10-2011 at 04:46 PM

Movistar also works with the 3G coverage (in La Paz anyway) and Edge in Cabo San Lucas... You do not need a contract, you just top up the card whenever you need to. After 5 months away in Canada I put my Movistar sim card back in my phone when I returned and just carried on as before, buying time when I need it, BUT with a different phone number. If your card is inactive for too long you will lose your phone number, as I did...

mrfatboy - 12-11-2011 at 06:30 AM

What is the easiest way to to purchase a telcel sim? Telcel store? I would be crossing in calexico. Can I purchase on the web and have it mailed to me?

Riom - 12-11-2011 at 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
What is the easiest way to to purchase a telcel sim? Telcel store? I would be crossing in calexico. Can I purchase on the web and have it mailed to me?

Normally I'd say wait till you're in San Felipe and go to CSI, a computer/TV store south on Mar Cortez. They have English-speaking people who can help register it for you (you'll need a passport). Not sure of the current price, a while back it was US$20 for a sim with a small amount of money on it (you'd need to recharge it immediately).

But CSI, and the other dealers in town, might not have microsims, so you may need to go to a company store in Mexicali (there are none in San Felipe). See if you can ask CSI in advance: http://www.csibaja.com/

It's difficult, probably impossible now, to get a sim online since they have to be registered to a user. Any sims online would also be from the wrong area, so a non-local number (wouldn't matter for just data).

Unless you have a really strong need for data while out of town (but not too far, as the mobile signal runs out), wi-fi is much simpler for a short stay.

[Edited on 2011-12-12 by Riom]

Roberto - 12-12-2011 at 08:44 AM

Is it an AT&T iPhone? If so, it will work just fine. Verizon iPhone is not GSM, which is what you want for Mexico. I have the AT&T Mexico plan.

Quote:

With AT&T Mexico, get competitive rates that allow you to stay in touch, no matter where in Mexico you call or go.*

59¢ per minute while traveling in Mexico
9¢ per minute when calling from the U.S. to a Mexico wireline number
25¢ per minute when calling from the U.S. to a Mexico wireless number

* Outside this destination, pay-per-use roaming rates and pay-per-use International dialing rates apply. Pay-per-use international messaging and data rates apply if used without a discounted (international messaging or data) package.

For more information, please visit att.com/global.

Works fine. I don't get charged for voicemails, and I turn off Cellular data. I use it a lot. The phone will still work with WiFi for those types of features.

Regarding purchasing a SIM. If you have an iPhone 4/4S you need a MicroSim. I have been told by my Mexican coworkers that you cannot get one. One of them had a 3G, and bought a cheapie Telcel phone and used the sim for that, but it won't work in a 4S. They also told me you can't get a MicroSim from Telcel without buying a phone. Haven't tried it myself, but that's what I've been told.

[Edited on 12-12-2011 by Roberto]

mrfatboy - 12-12-2011 at 09:20 AM

I have an verizon iPhone 4s which has both gsm and CDMA bands. It's the first iPhone that has it. As stated above the iPhone requires a micro sim. You can cut a regular sim down a micro with a sharp knife. There are YouTube videos that show you how to do it. You could so buy a sim card cutter on eBay/amazon for $5. Looks like a stapler. If you cut a lot this would be a great investment.

Does anybody know if telcel phone/data reaches to places like laguna percebu 17 miles or so south of San Felipe?

Roberto - 12-12-2011 at 11:25 AM

You're right. Only the 4S has this feature. Cool! Add another item to the list of things I didn't know. :lol:

I get coverage (though spotty at times) right down to the turnoff for Campo Cristina. So Percebu' is possible.

[Edited on 12-12-2011 by Roberto]