TelCel use in Canada & the U.S.A.

I was just at the TelCel office in Laguna Mall to top up my SL200 TelCel plan. The teller (or whatever they call the people behind the desk) spoke great English so I asked a couple of questions.....

First was.... can I use my phone (with Mexico/Telcel Sim card in it) in the USA and Canada? She explained... no problema - use it as if you were still in Mexico..... dial 001 then 555 555 5555 on whatever number you want. It's still free calls to Mexico, U.S. & Canada - just like you were still here.

Second..... If I let my cell number expire, can I keep the same number when I return? Answer.... YES, no problema as long as I renew it within 6 or so months. She said if I wait a year or so, I may loose the number.

Don't know about Canada and the USA. Dialing from either country you dial 011 52 then the area code and the number for Mexico. I think this needs a little checking out

I have used my Telcel phone in Canada and the US as recently as March.
I simply dial the Canadian or US number without a prefix and all is well.
The cost is higher, but not excessive.
I have never had to call Mexico from NOB, nor have I received calls from Mexico or NOB.

Agree with Zenwoodie... Calling using my Mex phone/Mex sim is simple.. just dial the number... additional small charge is not prohibitive...

However, if you are calling a Mexican cell phone from your Mexican TelCel phone while you are in the U.S., you must add "+ 52 1" for the country code, even if this is not necessary when you are here. Don't forget the "+" sign. My husband and I discovered this when we'd try to call each other on our Mexican phones while in the U.S. No additional charge, all still free, but you must add those numbers and the plus sign.

zenwoodle wrote:I have used my Telcel phone in Canada and the US as recently as March.
I simply dial the Canadian or US number without a prefix and all is well.
The cost is higher, but not excessive.

Are you on a Telcel plan, or do you pay as you go? Thanks.

Frijoles wrote:

zenwoodle wrote:I have used my Telcel phone in Canada and the US as recently as March.
I simply dial the Canadian or US number without a prefix and all is well.
The cost is higher, but not excessive.

Are you on a Telcel plan, or do you pay as you go? Thanks.

I just use pay as you go.
I top up online through my Bancomer account. Did it for 6 months a couple of years ago.
I am heading NOB at the end of the month and will continue with this.

I just switched to AT&T because I was tired of having to deal with a renewal every 23 days, and they would not let me auto-renew. AT&T gave me a 1 year plan which I can suspend at will. Also they say there is no extra charge for calling from within Canada or US.

I have used my telcell plan in the US and Canada. In the US you are on T-mobile or verizon (I forget which) and in Canada it is Rogers. Be careful to turn roaming off because At&T's signal was usually more powerful and it would take over the phone if I had roaming off. When I needed to call a Mexican cell I needed to add 011521 before the number.

The pone drawback is that folks in the US or Canada can't call you unless they have an international plan. They can text or message you for free.

Then it is T-mobile that is part of the plan and not AT&T. Using AT&T will end up costing you expensive roaming charges!

I have the same AT&T plan and it works fine.

Two year plan, $4,000 (as I recall, maybe $4,200). Well worth it.

What I can't do is use the phone feature outside of Mx., but I have Skype on my "Smarter than I am" phone and that works fine.

mexilady wrote:I have used  my telcell plan in the US and Canada. In the US you are on T-mobile or verizon (I forget which) and in Canada it is Rogers. Be careful to turn roaming off because At&T's signal was usually more powerful and it would take over the phone if I had roaming off.  When I needed to call a Mexican cell I needed to add 011521 before the number.

The pone drawback is that folks in the US or Canada can't call you unless they have an international plan. They can text or message you for free.

If I want to call a Mexican land line from Canada using my Telcel phone I think the prefix is 01152. Can anyone confirm?

Canada_Mike wrote:I just switched to AT&T because I was tired of having to deal with a renewal every 23 days, and they would not let me auto-renew. AT&T gave me a 1 year plan which I can suspend at will. Also they say there is no extra charge for calling from within Canada or US.

Do you think a ATT mobiley will work in Mexico?
https://www.att.com/devices/zte/mobley.html#sku=sku7700323

I use the Amigas sin limites plan and when I was in the US I called the service number *264 to ask how to make US calls in the US. They told me dial +1 first then the area code and number. Amigas Sin Limites plan has unlimited calls so there was no charge specific to the useage in the US.

sallys other sister wrote:

Canada_Mike wrote:I just switched to AT&T because I was tired of having to deal with a renewal every 23 days, and they would not let me auto-renew. AT&T gave me a 1 year plan which I can suspend at will. Also they say there is no extra charge for calling from within Canada or US.

Do you think a ATT mobiley will work in Mexico?
https://www.att.com/devices/zte/mobley.html#sku=sku7700323

No idea, SOS, but I'd love to know. I don't see why not, and also why not when you cross the border.