David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Sprint Cell Phone in Baja, any improvements?
Alas, I am on Sprint... and it has been a few years since I needed it on a trip, but I may again soon. When we cross the border, we get an automatic
message announcing we are in Mexico and welcome to the service they have, dial 001 first or whatever. The phone only worked in an area with digital
roaming (Tijuana and Ensenada) and never worked on the gulf side (Mexicali).
Has it gotten better, what about in Baja Sur, like La Paz?
If need be, I guess buying a phone in Mexico is an option, but it would be cool to get Baja Nomad while on the trip (where there is Internet 3G or
whatever it is called. I have an Android phone.
Thanks amigos!
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bigmike58
Nomad
Posts: 286
Registered: 1-20-2012
Location: Homeland CA/Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
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mine works in mulege, but it's close to $3 bucks a min. I had to call sprint intl and have it enabled (iphone).. The best deal I've found is the
AT&T 450 min mex/us phone for 50 a month and the minutes rollover.
[Edited on 7-7-2012 by bigmike58]
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8970
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Send 'CG' a U2U/Email and ask him what he thinks of his service. He now has Boost Mobile (Sprint) and can share with you details about how his plan
works.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
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I would bite the bullet and get a Mex. cell phone for when you're here. There's plenty of "internet cafes" around where you can pick up a WiFi signal
for your Android. Just put minutes on the Mex phone while you're here and store it while you're in the US. Works for us.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ncampion
I would bite the bullet and get a Mex. cell phone for when you're here. There's plenty of "internet cafes" around where you can pick up a WiFi signal
for your Android. Just put minutes on the Mex phone while you're here and store it while you're in the US. Works for us. |
Thanks, I think we are heading for Gonzaga Bay the first night, and having never bought a Mexican cell phone before, would there be a place in San
Felipe to get one... where (and SF Nomads chime in please)?
At the very least, will my Android work for the Internet anywhere there is a cell phone signal, or only on a wifi?
Thanks mucho... and nc, hope to see you down south!
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5938
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
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From what I know, Mexico is a GSM territory.....which means AT&T rules. I've been lucky for choosing such a crappy carrier up north that actually
works.....down south.
CDMA is if you're with Sprint/Nextel. They aren't as embedded in Baja...if at all.........
My friends always ask for my phone to call their wives when out at point breaks.....
But.......my neighbor works for Qualcomm and says they're making big time investments in infrastructure in Mex/Brazil over the next year.
So if you want service, don't go with Sprint. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it.
[Edited on 7-8-2012 by ateo]
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Riom
Nomad
Posts: 492
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
having never bought a Mexican cell phone before, would there be a place in San Felipe to get one... where (and SF Nomads chime in please)?
At the very least, will my Android work for the Internet anywhere there is a cell phone signal, or only on a wifi?
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CSI http://www.csibaja.com/ on Mar de Cortez in San Felipe have basic phones, and sim cards, and speak English. Be sure to take your passport and get
them to register the sim card with the Mexican government for you.
Whether your phone will work on Telcel as well as wi-fi depends on the phone model and the radio technology in it, and whether it is carrier locked.
Whether it's Android, iOS, etc makes no difference.
Generally a Sprint phone would use incompatible technology that won't work for data in Mexico, but there may be newer models that have dual technology
and could work (when you get a Telcel sim card) - what make and exact model is it?
I've written a lot of articles about Mexican phones (mainly on usingTelcel for the internet) and using US phones in Mexico (especially San Felipe) at:
http://www.sanfelipelife.com/category/Phone-Internet
Rob
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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Never a problem anywhere in Mexico with AT&T. Anywhere in the world for that matter. Don't know what it costs. My secretary pays the bill.
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
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I recommend a TelCel Amigo phone from the main TelCel store in San Felipe.
You no longer need to register your phone with your passport, that policy was rescinded several months ago.
A brand new phone comes with time on the phone and it costs a total of $25 dollars and if you're going to use it alot, buy additional minutes and put
them on the phone while you're there.
I've had the same TelCel phone for about 6 years and although your minutes will freeze when you don't use your phone in Baja for more than 30 days
once you return and put another $10 dollars on it and it's back up again.
It's the only way to go!
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Online
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I've had my Tel Cal amigo 299 peso phone for 6 years also, and love it.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great info... Thanks Tim.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Desertbull
I recommend a TelCel Amigo phone from the main TelCel store in San Felipe.
You no longer need to register your phone with your passport, that policy was rescinded several months ago.
A brand new phone comes with time on the phone and it costs a total of $25 dollars and if you're going to use it alot, buy additional minutes and put
them on the phone while you're there.
I've had the same TelCel phone for about 6 years and although your minutes will freeze when you don't use your phone in Baja for more than 30 days
once you return and put another $10 dollars on it and it's back up again.
It's the only way to go! |
I agree with Desertbull. Right now Telcel is offering $300 pesos free when you buy a new phone, so the phone is almost free. BTW last month when I
got a new phone, they still asked for my passport.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20375
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If need be, I guess buying a phone in Mexico is an option, but it would be cool to get Baja Nomad while on the trip (where there is Internet 3G or
whatever it is called. I have an Android phone.
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in most cases i turn off my smart phone when i enter mexico and don't turn it on again until entering back to USA,... why would you want to ruin a
vacation by turning on a telephone or computer?
p.s. i also use maps much more than GPS. call me luddite!
p.p.s. i do have a cheap mex phone that i load up with $$/minutes as needed - for the little use of phone in mexico, this seems cheapest solution
compared to roaming plan, when using so few minutes in mexico
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Well, I know how much fun it is to read other Nomads posting during their trips. Nothing better than the latest details as they happen or soon after.
A lot of people are here on Nomad to read the latest conditions or beautiful places on the peninsula. If I don't read or post onto Nomad while on
vacation, I will still have a great time... I was just trying to give something while I am there.
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