Economical Cell Phone Service

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 9:24 am

The AT&T store in Chapala is giving a great deal on cell service. Pay 4,200 MNP cash up front and you get two years unlimited calling and text including Mexico, Canada, and the US with no roaming charges, 2 GB of data a month, and you can keep your existing number no extra charge. Pay half that amount for one year.

Also, no CURP, proof of identity or proof of address needed. The store staff speaks English or gets one that does on the phone. I get 26.6 Mbps down and 17.34 up on their 4G network.

by addtocart Sun Jan 22, 2017 9:48 am

Isn't ATT's coverage still pretty limited? They bought USACell a year or so ago to enter Mexico and the coverage was very spotty.

by Clueless Sun Jan 22, 2017 9:55 am

RichD wrote:The AT&T store in Chapala is giving a great deal on cell service. Pay 4,200 MNP cash up front and you get two years unlimited calling and text including Mexico, Canada, and the US with no roaming charges, 2 GB of data a month, and you can keep your existing number no extra charge. Pay half that amount for one year.

Also, no CURP, proof of identity or proof of address needed. The store staff speaks English or gets one that does on the phone. I get 26.6 Mbps down and 17.34 up on their 4G network.

Sounds good, however the coverage question is a good one; anyone have experience on this point?

I went there about 3 weeks ago and the girl not only didn't speak English, but didn't know much when my wife (Spanish first language) asked her questions.

Is there any kind of service I can get here that will let me use the phone and chip I get here NOB?

I doubt it.

by CanuckBob Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:10 am

I don't use my cell phone to call long distance NOB (since Telmex is free) however I do send a lot of local texts and use data for Facebook, etc. I just add $$ when required and only pay about $100 pesos per month.

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:14 am

Clueless wrote:Is there any kind of service I can get here that will let me use the phone and chip I get here NOB?

I thought that "no roaming charges" answered that question.

That girl you referred to shares the desk with Alejandro and if she can't help you, she calls him on the phone to help you and then tells the girl what to do. YMMV

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:15 am

Bob, it comes to 175 pesos a month with data.

by CanuckBob Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:17 am

Yeah, it's a good deal for those that want to use a lot of data or call long distance. I have looked at just about every plan and for my use it is better to just "pay as you play" with TelCel.

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:21 am

I didn't particularly like going every month to charge up my old Telcel Amigo plan phone.

by ferret Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:44 am

You can buy multiple cards and keep them in your wallet. When you run out, just use a coin to reveal the numbers, dial *333 (that needs to be checked 'cuz it's been quite a while since I did this), and follow the instructions given and put in the revealed number. Then check your balance.
The Lada cards are available, in various denominations, at Oxxo etc.
You also have to check the expiry date on the cards.

I much prefer paying in advance for multiple months but, in a pinch, a card in your wallet can be a life saver.

For some reason, we ended up accumulating high balances on these amigo cell phones because they had to be fed regularly. You can transfer those minutes to any other cell phone except I forget how. But the accumulation of minutes was a PIA. I much prefer one price for a month so I know exactly what I've got and when I get it.

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:12 am

Sorry, but I am not inclined to fugg around with those kind of plans, nor is their claimed economy needed. At a full service cost of only $8.33 USD a month, I like to do other things than play with cards and such.

by Intercasa Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:12 am

I got the plan when it was 3,000 pesos for 2 years, good deal and free roaming / calls / data in the USA. I will never run out of minutes nor need to buy cards or remember to pay

by Zedinmexico Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:30 am

RichD wrote:I didn't particularly like going every month to charge up my old Telcel Amigo plan phone.

I agree eventually I gave up completely.

Z

by tabacone Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:38 pm

I questioned coverage also but so far I've been fine except for a couple slow spots in Riberas. Good coverage to Melaque and in and around Guadalajara.

by Carry Bean Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:39 pm

I just got the plan Rich got and so far so good. Bought it at the AT&T store across from Farmacia Guadalajara. I wanted to ask at the time but other customers came in if you can get an add-on plan if you go to Europe for use there for brief periods. On the old Telcel plan I had a massive amount of minutes but could never use the phone when I needed to because I would forget to top it up. Telcel should have a way of paying for a year at a time if you choose to.

by papa chango Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:46 pm

Intercasa wrote:I got the plan when it was 3,000 pesos for 2 years, good deal and free roaming / calls / data in the USA. I will never run out of minutes nor need to buy cards or remember to pay

I also got the plan when it was that cheap. It works out great for me. I like the fact that I don't have to worry about charging up with any cards for two years. Alejandro speaks excellent English and I thought that he was a gringo when I first met him.

The last time I checked my speed with Speedtest in Ajijic I was getting 44.34 Mbps down and 37.26 Mbps up with AT&T 4G.

Surte

by Clueless Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:14 pm

Again, I admit my ignorance.

What is roaming?

Does this mean I can take my Smarter-than-I-am phone from here and use it NOB or the Caribbean to call where w/o added charge?

In other words, can I use it in California to use Google for directions and check my emails?

If I can get all that for a flat rate and not have to worry about remembering to recharge, etc. that sounds good.

99% of the time, I check email and the Google news.

by RichD Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:33 pm

NOB yes, the Caribbean very doubtful, for the plan says:

"The minutes and / or messages included in the contracted plan apply if the user is in Mexico, the United States or Canada to call and send messages to Mexico, United States and Canada (including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico), excluding Calls with additional charge such as 900 numbers or sending Premium SMS." - Translation by Google.

https://www.att.com.mx/att-con-todo-damos-mas.html

by gvprod Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:55 pm

Telcel still has the largest coverage within mexico

by Clueless Fri Jan 27, 2017 8:56 am

Anyone have the phone # for the store on Hidlago?

Thanks.

by Carry Bean Fri Jan 27, 2017 9:55 am

765 2297

by Clueless Fri Jan 27, 2017 10:10 am

Thanks.

Their website says open at 0900, sign on door says 1000.

Just called - - no answer.

by MexiMiss Fri Jan 27, 2017 10:18 am

Just FYI... I have the month-to-month Amigo $150/mo. plan, and call to MX from the US easily by dialing the +52 prefix from the US. I refill online at Telcel.com. Comes with 400MB of data, which I turn on and off as needed, lasts me a month because there is always wifi somewhere, no charge for FB, WhatsApp, unlimited talk and text. I think it's better than having a contract.

by RichD Fri Jan 27, 2017 10:46 am

I do not like contract service either and the 25 pesos more a month I pay is well worth it to me for all the aforsaid reasons. YMMV

by Trailrunner Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:42 am

No contracts for me either, prefer pay to play, TelCel costs me about 50 - 75pesos/mo.

by Clueless Fri Jan 27, 2017 4:53 pm

A lot of misinformation however I finally got the plan of 2-years for about $4,200.00 pesos and it works from both Mx to NOB and Nob to Mx and NOB to NOB and Mx to landline in Mx.

If it works as good as touted, it's worth it to me even though I go NOB rarely.

Thanks for the direction.

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