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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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Unlocked HTC One cell phone in Todos Santos
I just bought an unlocked HTC One cell phone that I am currently using with T-Mobile in the U.S. I would like to be able to use the phone when I
visit Todos Santos for a week in July, but I'd rather not pay the $1.99 per minute international roaming charges. What are my options? Can I buy a
SIM card in Todos Santos (or at the airport in Cabo?)? Can I purchase a SIM card ahead of time online? Am I better off just getting a loaner for the
week? I can able to use the phone over WiFi without a carrier, but that won't help me if I'm stuck someplace while out and about.
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pauldavidmena
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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By the way, when I visited in January and did nothing, I was essentially off the grid unless I was connected to WiFi. Not entirely a bad thing...
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BajaNomad
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Depends on how much time you expect to spend on the phone perhaps?
If you're there for only a week, it might be best to just pay the $1.99/minute "if" you get stuck out and about - 'cause if you're already on a
regular t-mobile plan, the wi-fi calling minutes are off your regular plan at home.
Otherwise, you might want to consider a Movistar or Telcel SIM card.
Here's the Movistar info:
http://www.movistar.com.mx/movil-prepago-sim-hablar-navegar
http://www.movistar.com.mx/movil-cobertura
I believe Telcel still has better coverage however. You may want to verify this first if that's a make-it-or-break-it factor.
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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BajaNomad
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http://liferemotely.com/trip-shenanigans/mexico/138-prepaid-...
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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monoloco
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Location: Pescadero BCS
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You can always download a free magic jack or talk a tone app for your phone that will let you call numbers in the US over wifi.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
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| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
You can always download a free magic jack or talk a tone app for your phone that will let you call numbers in the US over wifi.
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Not necessary with t-mobile phones that have "wi-fi calling" such as the HTC One. The phone simply does that out-of-the-box. If you connect via
wi-fi anywhere in the world, it just uses your regular plan's minutes at home.
http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/4g-wireless-broadband-...
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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monoloco
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Nice!
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
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Location: San Diego, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
... talk a tone app for your phone that will let you call numbers in the US over wifi. |
Ahhh... thank you for noting this one. Talkatone and Groove IP appear to be alternatives... free or pay versions have calling over 3G/4G data, as
well as wifi. In other words, instead of using minutes, they can use wireless data-only within the wireless provider's coverage area (if no wifi
access is available).
Some people are switching their wireless phones (sometimes even old ones) to standalone no-wireless-plan, wifi calling phones (using Talkatone, or
Groove IP). In fact, some are gloating about saving $700 or more per year by shutting off what they view as their now unnecessary wireless plans.
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57575244-285/3-android-a...
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
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Location: Pescadero BCS
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I don't have a smart phone, I just use cheapo prepaid phones for the country I happen to be in, but I have Talk a tone on my ipod touch and it works
well to call US numbers from Mexico and Central America as long as I have a decent wifi connection. By the way Paul, for your local calling in Todos
Santos, you can get a prepaid phone with 200 minutes for about 350 pesos from one of the local Telcel stores.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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T-Mobile coverage is spotty where I live, so being able to make and receive calls via WiFi certainly comes in handy. We'll have WiFi where we're
staying in Todos Santos, so it will only be when we're in transit that it's useful.
In January, when we arrived at Los Cabos airport Dominic's Car Rental tried to reach us, but his calls went straight to voicemail (retrieved once I
had WiFi reception). Having some sort of access might have saved us ten minutes of wandering around the airport looking like gringos.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pauldavidmena
Having some sort of access might have saved us ten minutes of wandering around the airport looking like gringos. |
WOW Paul...I was rather shocked to see your avatar...I believe you win the prize for the most original one...I havent seen anyone in a TIE for a long
time...looks so strange!!!!
Ummm...if you are worried about losing 10 minutes on something, baja may not be the best place for you! 
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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shari - as for the ten minutes, I think it was more the human sharks sensing fresh bait than any real concern over time - although admittedly we were
anxious to relax and have a margarita in Todos Santos.
The photo was taken on my cell phone on my way to an interview in downtown Boston. I won't be dressing quite as formally in Baja! 
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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BajaNomad - thank you for the link to "Life Remotely". What a great site!
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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I'll probably activate international roaming with T-Mobile so that I can be in contact between the Los Cabos airport and Todos Santos, and then switch
to a SIM card when I want to make local calls. The question is: does Movistar have good coverage in Todos Santos (particularly in Las Tunas), or am I
better off with Telcel? I don't expect to use the phone very much, but you never know...
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pauldavidmena
I'll probably activate international roaming with T-Mobile so that I can be in contact between the Los Cabos airport and Todos Santos, and then switch
to a SIM card when I want to make local calls. The question is: does Movistar have good coverage in Todos Santos (particularly in Las Tunas), or am I
better off with Telcel? I don't expect to use the phone very much, but you never know... |
You are better
off with Telcel, IMHO.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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mrfatboy
Nomad
Posts: 478
Registered: 4-17-2008
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If you decide to get a telcel sim you need to go to a main office and bring your passport. Here is a link to their main office locations.
http://www.telcel.com/portal/contactanos/cacs/begin.do
I think you can also buy them online but they are pricery ($30). Never tried it though. PM me if interested and I might be able to dig up the link.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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I just found a website called http://www.mexicosimcard.com/ that claims to sell Telcel and Movistar SIM cards online. Can it really be that easy?
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mrfatboy
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That was the link I was going to send you  I'm glad you found it. As for being
easy? Never tried it. I bought my sim telcel sim in mexicalli last month. $12. Plus I put $10 on the card for minutes and data plans. It worked
perfectly in Cancun/PDC. great reception and fast data.
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mrfatboy
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On a side note, other family members used a different website to get moviestar sims. They never got them working. Might have been user error tho.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1768
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Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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I can confirm that the website will take your money - $24.95 for the SIM card (and 15 minutes of phone time) before adding data or additional minutes.
I'll provide an update once I get the card.
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