Comments on: Shopping Cell Phone Service In Merida http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm Online magazine about living, working and traveling in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:05:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brigitte in NJ http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm/comment-page-2#comment-136488 Brigitte in NJ Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:29:20 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm#comment-136488 There is a new plan offered by ATT to its American customers called Viva Mexico. It expends the calling territory to Mexico, meaning it considers the non-roming territory to include Mexico. So the US parties can called you on your American number and reach you in Mexico, with no additional digits to dial or extra charges. And you can call your American parties dialing with no extra digits (just the area code and number). The plan is a little more expansive than a regular US plan, but it works. I have been using it for two weeks from Chelem. Under that plan you can also call all the Mexican numbers (cells and landlines in any Mexican states). Warning: The plan is not widely advertized by ATT, so you have to ask for it by name and be patient until the clerck finds it in the system. It is called Viva Mexico and has several levels of free minutes available. ALSO, text and data are very expensive on that plan. Make sure the clerk BLOCKS the data and text features on your plan. Otherwise, those two words text from your kids are going to cost you a fortune. There is a new plan offered by ATT to its American customers called Viva Mexico. It expends the calling territory to Mexico, meaning it considers the non-roming territory to include Mexico. So the US parties can called you on your American number and reach you in Mexico, with no additional digits to dial or extra charges. And you can call your American parties dialing with no extra digits (just the area code and number). The plan is a little more expansive than a regular US plan, but it works. I have been using it for two weeks from Chelem.

Under that plan you can also call all the Mexican numbers (cells and landlines in any Mexican states).

Warning: The plan is not widely advertized by ATT, so you have to ask for it by name and be patient until the clerck finds it in the system. It is called Viva Mexico and has several levels of free minutes available. ALSO, text and data are very expensive on that plan. Make sure the clerk BLOCKS the data and text features on your plan. Otherwise, those two words text from your kids are going to cost you a fortune.

]]> By: Wes http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm/comment-page-2#comment-129836 Wes Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:04:54 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm#comment-129836 I live out of the city near Komchen and do not have a land line phone or cable service. - how can I get internet service??? IUSA used to have a microwave service but I understand they have discontinued it (atleast to new customers) - any ideas/suggestions??? I live out of the city near Komchen and do not have a land line phone or cable service. – how can I get internet service???
IUSA used to have a microwave service but I understand they have discontinued it (atleast to new customers) – any ideas/suggestions???

]]> By: Brenda Thornton http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm/comment-page-2#comment-116026 Brenda Thornton Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:28:45 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm#comment-116026 I just read Cathy's post regarding having a number registered to an individual. There is legislation before the Congress in the United States to require registration for prepaid cell phones because they are often used by individuals who are involved in trying to hide their identities or for illegal purposes. However, here in the States, if that means that the businesses fear they will lose a little business by requiring that, I can see it being difficult to get through Congress. I just read Cathy’s post regarding having a number registered to an individual. There is legislation before the Congress in the United States to require registration for prepaid cell phones because they are often used by individuals who are involved in trying to hide their identities or for illegal purposes. However, here in the States, if that means that the businesses fear they will lose a little business by requiring that, I can see it being difficult to get through Congress.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm/comment-page-2#comment-115925 Cathy Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:16:40 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm#comment-115925 If my experience is accurate, the prepaid phones are a little more complicated now, because each mobile phone number has to be registered to a particular person. If you're an official Mexican resident, you can register your phone using a text message or on the Telcel site, both of which look easy. If you're a tourist, you have to register your phone in person at a Telcel office. Here's how I got mine: 1. I bought the phone at an OXXO. The cashier installed the SIM and did everything but register the number to my name. 2. On the advice of a Telcel call center rep who tried to register me and couldn't, I brought my phone and passport to the Telcel Centro de Atención al Cliente in the Gran Plaza mall. The office is across from Santander bank. 3. The staff there used my passport to register the phone number in my name. If I understand it correctly, the plan I bought recharges my air time for three months. When those 3 months are up, if I don't buy more credit ("saldo"), I'll lose the phone number and will have to buy a new SIM and register a new number. Since it was a pain to register, I'll try using prepaid.com to buy a little time each month while I'm in the US so when I return in 5 months I'll still have the number. If my experience is accurate, the prepaid phones are a little more complicated now, because each mobile phone number has to be registered to a particular person. If you’re an official Mexican resident, you can register your phone using a text message or on the Telcel site, both of which look easy. If you’re a tourist, you have to register your phone in person at a Telcel office.

Here’s how I got mine:
1. I bought the phone at an OXXO. The cashier installed the SIM and did everything but register the number to my name.
2. On the advice of a Telcel call center rep who tried to register me and couldn’t, I brought my phone and passport to the Telcel Centro de Atención al Cliente in the Gran Plaza mall. The office is across from Santander bank.
3. The staff there used my passport to register the phone number in my name.

If I understand it correctly, the plan I bought recharges my air time for three months. When those 3 months are up, if I don’t buy more credit (“saldo”), I’ll lose the phone number and will have to buy a new SIM and register a new number. Since it was a pain to register, I’ll try using prepaid.com to buy a little time each month while I’m in the US so when I return in 5 months I’ll still have the number.

]]> By: Tamara http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm/comment-page-2#comment-113193 Tamara Sun, 02 May 2010 12:51:58 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/shopping-cell-phone-service-in-merida.htm#comment-113193 I will be in Progreso for a month in June. Is it still possible a Mexico Sim card and if so where? My other question, I will be returning in September for a longer period of time, while waiting for an FM3. With the new laws what kind of cell phone will I be able to purchase while waiting for my papers. I will be in Progreso for a month in June. Is it still possible a Mexico Sim card and if so where?

My other question, I will be returning in September for a longer period of time, while waiting for an FM3. With the new laws what kind of cell phone will I be able to purchase while waiting for my papers.

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