Smart Phone from USA for Mexico?

Recently, I went to TelCel to purchase the new Samsung 6, but they wanted 11,000 pesos for it plus a two-year contract. Since they are selling for a fraction of that NOB, I am having my daughter bring one down in July -- I think.

My question is, can I just walk into TelCel with it and they will swap out the SIM card? I'm pret5y sure there is more to it. I know nothing. I'm still using an old flip phone.

Please be nice.

Libby

Yes, as long as it has been purchased outright and not locked to any network it is just that easy. Drop a TelCel sim in it and you are good to go.

Cool! Thank you.

make sure you get an "UNLOCKED" phone

....and don't go to the big Telcel on the Libramiento, go to one of the little ones, they're "authorized" but independent. My fave is the one down the street next to El Torito.

I have a Samsung "Mega" - similar in size to the new Samsung Galaxy 6. I bought it unlocked from Amazon, had it delivered in the U.S. and brought it down here.

This particular model will take 2 SIM cards so I moved the SIM card from my U.S. plan over before I came back here. And then when I got here I went to the big Telcel store on the Libramiento and got a SIM card - Amigo plan with no contract. They made sure I got the right card (nano SIM), installed it, made sure it worked and couldn't have been more helpful. They were sort of fascinated by the phone that would use 2 SIM cards - had the same reaction from the AT&T guys in the U.S. Everybody wanted to see it and had lots of questions.

So I have both SIM cards active all the time. I still have a contract in the U.S. and the Amigo plan here. Completely seamless - if anyone calls on either line in either country my phone rings. And I can make outgoing calls on either card from either country. Obviously I generally use the service for the country I am in.

If you don't need a U.S. card then I agree you can bring an UNLOCKED Samsung Galaxy 6 down and get a SIM card at any of the Telcel outlets - including the one on the Libramiento. Make sure the phone you buy will handle GSM which is the standard in Mexico. I think the Galaxy 6 will handle GSM or CDMA but worth making sure.

Hmmm...11000 pesos is abut 715 US at todays rates. Yes you can buy and UNLOCKED s6 up north cheaper but not "way cheaper". Cheapest I've seen for an unlocked is $606. Figure the opportunity cost on your 600 bucks paid up front against 11000 pesos on a 2 year contract doesn't seem so bad. And telcel will unlock it for you for about 250 pesos after your contract is up.

I bought a large android phone from China for $80, dual SIM, unlocked. Took 6 weeks to get it but I'm retired.

I put 200pesos on it every 2 months and it does everything I want.

Does anyone have current comparison info on which cell plan provider is preferable - for whatever reason(s)? Am about to get a plan with one of them. Have visited them both on Libramiento and have the current plans from each. I note that Telcel needs 3references before I can do business with them. We are new at Lakeside, but that won’t be a problem. AT&T doesn’t require refs - they appear very hungry for biz. Thanks for feedback!

What will your cell phone needs be? Just for emergencies? Just to call friends and family here and in the states/Canada from time to time? Or heavy use and to do business on? For some reasons, you don't even need a plan. I'm a medium user and spend about 50/100 pesos every couple of months to top off my credit.

I have a I-phone 7 and use Skype with an internet connection as my 2nd. Number to the US. Works well for us.

Trailrunner wrote:What will your cell phone needs be? Just for emergencies? Just to call friends and family here and in the states/Canada from time to time? Or heavy use and to do business on? For some reasons, you don't even need a plan. I'm a medium user and spend about 50/100 pesos every couple of months to top off my credit.

I will need heavy use a few times a year, the rest of the time moderate

Does Skype with Internet have a quality connect, in your experience? I'll need a quality connection (no interruptions) for extended periods of time. What does your Skype connection cost you?
I'm new here, everyone, so I appreciate your replies and HOPE my responses are aimed in the right direction...

Telcel has better coverage. AT&T is spotty. Try the Sin Limite plan for $199 Pesos/month. Upgrade later if it's not sufficient. You don't need skype, the Telcel plans are unlimited for calls to USA/Canada/

The internet here is so unstable (from nothing to 20MBPS and back again) that I wouldn't classify any of the video streaming communication apps as reliable for any extended period of time. Streaming via cell will be expensive.

CanuckBob wrote:The internet here is so unstable (from nothing to 20MBPS and back again) that I wouldn't classify any of the video streaming communication apps as reliable for any extended period of time. Streaming via cell will be expensive.

Thank you!

David wrote:Telcel has better coverage.  AT&T is spotty.  Try the Sin Limite plan for $199 Pesos/month.  Upgrade later if it's not sufficient.  You don't need skype, the Telcel plans are unlimited for calls to USA/Canada/

Thank you!

CBob and David are both correct.

I'm happy with my AT&T plan for 2 years, works both here and NOB except fot the phone but I use Skype and that works fine.

Agreed Telcel has the best coverage if you get out of the Chapala area and travel a bit.

Clueless wrote:I'm happy with my AT&T plan for 2 years, works both here and NOB except fot the phone but I use Skype and that works fine.

If I had a phone that didn't work as a phone I'd get rid of it!

I bought a small computer David. It must have 80 apps on it, One of the apps will even let me make phone calls.

This older computer's name is an iPhone 6 plus. I have to admit that although I do occasionally make phone calls, mostly I use this computer for other reasons, like checking the stock market, sending emails and messages, reading the news, taking pictures, and on and on.

I had to get the plus, which is much bigger than I want to carry around, but being an old fart, I have to have this oversized "plus" model so that I can text.

I have an iPhone SE which is an iPhone 6 in the smaller iPhone 5 package. i love it!