Keri
Super Nomad
Posts: 1393
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
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Mood: muy contento
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Telcel help please
My telcel phone broke and I went in to buy a new one. I wanted to make sure I got one that I could put a state side chip in too ,so when I cross the
border I could change chips. First the guy told me I couldn't do that and then he told me I would have to check first to see what phones were
compatible. which of course he didn't know of any. I know you can do this, I had a client that does business here in Baja and lives in the states, He
showed me his phone and how he changed his chip. I didn't pay any attention to what type phone he had.Didn;t know I needed to at that time . Does
anyone know how this is done and what type phone I need. And I should add I want to use a prepay. I don't want a monthly bill. thanks,k 
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
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Mood: muy cool
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hope this helps
it is my understanding that unlocked cell phones will work with your simm card. A quad band will work most anywhere in the world.
Check this out:
http://www.jr.com/category/office/cellular-phones/n/42946056...
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
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Travelling VERY Light ?
My Kyocera Telcel prepaid phone takes up about 2x2x4 inches of space. Seems like that shouldn't be a problem with most travellers.
Of course, my U.S. phones are CDMA so I don't have the option of changing out chips. Still, I haven't found it inconvenient to carry two (actually
three) phones along.
BTW, in the case of Cellular Chips, it is SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) as opposed to SIMM which refers to
Single-Inline-Memory Module, a common designation for older RAM chips.
[Edited on 1-5-2009 by MrBillM]
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Riom
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Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Keri
My telcel phone broke and I went in to buy a new one. I wanted to make sure I got one that I could put a state side chip in too
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Most of the Telcel Amigo phones are capable of working in the US, but because they are locked to one carrier (Telcel), they won't. Some of them are
also missing an alterative band (GSM 850) used in parts of the US. Plus, you'll have the hassle of fiddling with the inards of the phone each time
you cross the border.
You can buy an unlocked phone from an independent phone shop, or pay to unlock a phone, but I think for you it's much easier to simply buy one cheap
basic phone for each country. No messing with easy-to-lose SIM chips. If you choose the same manufacturer you could share the rechargers (or have a
spare).
In the US, 7-11 Speakout is a good phone option for very infrequent users. Sold at 7-11 stores (you might have to hunt for one with the phones in
stock), phone+sim usually quite cheap like Telcel Amigo. Uses the AT&T network. Needs a minimum of one $25 recharge per year, and one call made
at least every 4 months, so minimal running costs.
As I spend much more time in Mexico than the US I find this suits me - the US phone costs under $3 a month (I hardly use it), the MX phone $5-10/mo,
and no fixed bills for either.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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My Motorolla Razor V3 (an old cingular..now AT&T) phone works with Telcel SIM cards. However; I did have to pay/download a program to
unlock it myself.
I am pretty sure many Telcel offices/kiosk's can unlock it for you for a small fee.
Telcel uses GSM, so if you get an unlocked GSM phone it should work both in the USA and Mexico. (Provided your carrier in the USA uses GSM also)
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