phones in cozumel ?

[DandyDon]

Don.. on the iPhone (and other Smart Phones) there are 3 modes.

1. Cell phone to make calls
2. Data - to get email, internet and any auto update Apps (like stock listings, etc).
3. WiFi - same as Data but through WiFi

I am sure you knew the above but broke it down anyway.

Nope, I didn't; don't know anything about smartphones. Thanks for clarifying. I'm still carrying a Motorola model that came out in 2005 because it gets better reception that anything since and carry two on trips in case the current one fails and I need to switch. I can find decent ones on ebay for $10 usually.

 

[ccannon707]

After 6 months of non-use, you will lose the number. No ifs or buts. And you will lose any balance remaining on the card.

I travel extensively. I have pay as you go phones in 8 countries. I leave the SIM cards with friends/colleagues in each country and each makes a call with it every month to keep it alive. I retrieve the SIM when I get there. You cannot do this from the USA. Those calls don't count and would kill the balance in a minute or so.

Tridacna - I do work on the premise that non-use of the Telcel phone for 6 months will render the number lost, just wanted to mention I had heard conflicting info on this point - possibly from the Telcel guy. I remember having to work out the translation for "freezing".

When I check my airtime balance (in the US) Telcel thanks me for using their International roaming service in the texted response. When I make my quick call in the states to get around the 6 month non-use in Mexico I'm using their roaming service and minutes albeit thru their affiliate ATT. Yes the call price is high, but I keep it short. (24 pesos worth of airtime credit for 20 seconds) So far my # and phone have stayed alive. Just my experience.

I'm always happier to use it in Coz, calling the dive shop and buying airtime at OXXO.
:blinking:

 

[tridacna]

When I make my quick call in the states to get around the 6 month non-use in Mexico I'm using their roaming service and minutes albeit thru their affiliate ATT. Yes the call price is high, but I keep it short. (24 pesos worth of airtime credit for 20 seconds) So far my # and phone have stayed alive. Just my experience.
:

You are correct. By using the affiliate carrier, you are able to keep it alive.

Just an FYI.

I designed and worked on international telecom networks for over 20 years. Inter-country cellular calling is the most profitable service for any carrier. It is the last place that they can charge the "good old" rates of yesteryear with margins in the thousands of percentage points.

If you knew their underlying cost structures, you would be amazed. I don't know of too many businesses that buy at a tenth of a penny and sell at 99c/minute. It's outrageous.

Here's how good it is for them: Some countries will jail you for using Skype to circumvent their networks when you are there.

 

[Qnape]

Just back from 9 nights at the Cozumel Palace. I brought my company T-Mobile network Blackberry for work purposes - I just have them activate it for Mexico at work and forget about any charges - but the downside is i do eventually have to anser messages and emails, lol

As for voice, free calling from to the continental US & Canada from the rooms is a huge perk for us. No 800 number or operator assisted calls, or calls to cell phones in Mexico (US cell phones are fine). My daugher racked up an incredible 650 minutes in international calls to her boyfriend over the first 8 nights according to my "early check-out" receipt. Our cost, $0. Nice!

 

[DandyDon]

Got a list of those countries?

It's amazing how things work at times, how badly that it - but in the lack of competition, The Powers will do as much as they can get away with. I know that some national governments get hefty taxes and fees on the calls from the buyers and sellers both, and with the telecom quasi-monopoly in Mexico - I guess we're lucky it's not worse, altho it could get so.

A tale of the company: Telmex - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Note: Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world! He's the chairman and CEO of telecommunications companies Telmex and América Móvil and has extensive holdings in other Mexican companies through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso SAB, as well as business interests elsewhere in the world.

And since América Móvil merged back with Telmex (reminds me of SWBell merging back with AT&T decades after antitrust broke them up here in the US), it looks ominous: Capital FM Kenya: Mexico billionaires battle over TV, phone markets

 

[tridacna]

Got a list of those countries?

To name a few:

China
Vanuatu
UAE including Dubai
North Korea
Oman
Kuwait

Believe it or not, Skype is illegal in France too.

This is not to say that you can't use it or work around any blocks but about 10 minutes from my office is the "Bodies Exhibition".

BODIES...The Exhibition Home


The Chinese have a certain way of dealing with smart asses who try and screw them.


Try your luck.

 

[Brules]

Don.. on the iPhone (and other Smart Phones) there are 3 modes.

1. Cell phone to make calls
2. Data - to get email, internet and any auto update Apps (like stock listings, etc).
3. WiFi - same as Data but through WiFi

I am sure you knew the above but broke it down anyway.

When in CZM you don't get any roaming charges on #1 above if you don't make a call.

When in CZM you don't get any roaming charges on #3 above because WiFi is free at a WiFi hotspots or hotel you are staying.

#2 above. When in CZM if you have any Apps on your phone that auto update (I think Verizon calls it Push), like stock market quotes, GPS, mapping, email and all other programs that normally work on the Verizon 3G network while you are moving around and update automatically (a lot of programs do this).. this is where the Data Roaming charges will cost you a ton because they roam and update 24/7 as long as your phone is on.

Example.. Like GPS, if you walk from your hotel room to the restaurant, data Pushes info to your phone so as soon as you look at it the info is there, already pushed (updated) to your phone. Go back to your room and it tracks you. This is data roaming and costs nothing in the USA but a ton if outside the USA cause it runs 24/7.

This is what you have to turn off using my first post. The phone (for calling) and WiFi can remain on all the time and no charges apply unless you make a call.

But.. if you are in a WiFi hotspot and logged into a WiFi network all apps will update through WiFi but will quit updating as soon as you are out of the range of the hotspot. WiFi takes precedence over Data Roaming because it is faster.

Hope this clarifies my first post.

Also, if you have a newer phone that has "wifi-calling" enabled, you can shut the data down, and make calls over the wifi with no charges. Correct me if I am wrong but it should work just fine.

I have a Droid G2 (tmobile) and I plan on doing this when we go this summer.

 

[cobra269]

For Verizon users. I'm spending 2 wks in Cozumel in May so called them up. Here is the info provided.
1. Switch plan to Nationwide plus Mexico Single-Line. Makes MX the same calling area as the US - no roaming charges. Cost $54.99 per month vice my current plan of $39.99. So additional cost of $15 per month. Can switch back once back home.
2. Get 450 anytime mins and 1000 mins nights and weekends per month. Verizon to Verizon calls count against your mins.
3. Sending a text cost $.50 and receiving cost $.005 per text.
4. Calls while in Cozumel are direct no need to dial country code.
5. If you want no cost for texts that plan cost $74.99 for the above.
Of course there are plans with higher mins but cost more.

 

[mike_s]

For Verizon users. I'm spending 2 wks in Cozumel in May so called them up. Here is the info provided.
1. Switch plan to Nationwide plus Mexico Single-Line. Makes MX the same calling area as the US - no roaming charges. Cost $54.99 per month vice my current plan of $39.99. So additional cost of $15 per month. Can switch back once back home.
2. Get 450 anytime mins and 1000 mins nights and weekends per month. Verizon to Verizon calls count against your mins.
3. Sending a text cost $.50 and receiving cost $.005 per text.
4. Calls while in Cozumel are direct no need to dial country code.
5. If you want no cost for texts that plan cost $74.99 for the above.
Of course there are plans with higher mins but cost more.

what data usage (email , etc) is included in that?

 

[cobra269]

Can't answer that since I don't have those on my phone. So didn't ask. But according to their book data options start at $30 per month per line for 75 MB use.