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onward
Joined: 14 Aug 2011
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject: getting a cell phone |
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hello... i'm new to the forum and new in mexico, but am sure i'll be on here a lot asking for and hopefully giving advice/information...
just wondering if anyone knew how to get a cheap, prepaid cell phone in mexico... i understand that i probably won't get a great calling rate, but i really only need it for minimal calls and probably no texts...
thanks in advance! |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Cheap, prepaid cell phones are the most common type of cell phones in Mexico. You can buy them literally everywhere. They are sold as kits which include the phone, the number, and the service with a given provider. A given kit is the same whether you buy it at the provider service outlet, a booth in the mall or the grocery store, an upscale department store, or a window-and-counter shop on the street.
Alternatively, if you already have a phone, you can just buy the chip to put in it. |
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onward
Joined: 14 Aug 2011
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks! |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Another alternative is to buy a cheap cell phone and buy "tiempo aire" when ever you need it for as little as 20 pesos at a time. This can be done at many, many stores and even on line. |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| MO, I think we're talking about the same thing. The cheapest way to buy a cell phone is in a kit. And then you buy more air time, as needed.That�s what I was referring to, too. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| notamiss wrote: |
| MO, I think we're talking about the same thing. The cheapest way to buy a cell phone is in a kit. And then you buy more air time, as needed.That�s what I was referring to, too. |
Oh, I see. When I bought my very basic cell phone a few years ago, it came with 300 pesos worth of tiempo aire and then I had to buy more as needed. |
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New Haven
Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 52
Location: Merida, Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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Not all chips work in all phones, though. When I wanted to use my Mexican-purchased phone in the US, I had to have it "unlocked", a mysterious procedure that I had done at a Telcel kiosk. Even so, I was restricted to certain providers in the US. I want to say that it had to do with the difference between analog and digital...not sure if that is exactly right, though.
Sharon |
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onward
Joined: 14 Aug 2011
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| i bought a phone from an "oxxo" shop today for around 300 pesos, but am unable to activate it... someone mentioned to me that you need a number that's more or less the equivalent of an american social security number? any suggestions? |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| onward wrote: |
| i bought a phone from an "oxxo" shop today for around 300 pesos, but am unable to activate it... someone mentioned to me that you need a number that's more or less the equivalent of an american social security number? any suggestions? |
You need a CURP(it�s not really like a Social Security number, in that it isn�t directly related to taxes, it�simply an identification number that every citizena and resident is supposed to have) to activate your phone via text, but if you go to a store or kiosk with your passport they can do it for you there. What company is the phone? The two biggest companies, MoviStar and TelCel have kiosks in pretty much every department store in the country, WalMart, Chedrahui, if it�s another company it might be a little more difficult. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| BadBeagleBad wrote: |
| onward wrote: |
| i bought a phone from an "oxxo" shop today for around 300 pesos, but am unable to activate it... someone mentioned to me that you need a number that's more or less the equivalent of an american social security number? any suggestions? |
You need a CURP(it�s not really like a Social Security number, in that it isn�t directly related to taxes, it�simply an identification number that every citizena and resident is supposed to have) to activate your phone via text, but if you go to a store or kiosk with your passport they can do it for you there. What company is the phone? The two biggest companies, MoviStar and TelCel have kiosks in pretty much every department store in the country, WalMart, Chedrahui, if it�s another company it might be a little more difficult. |
I bought my Telmex cell phone about 3 years ago at a time when I didn't yet have a CURP and had no trouble getting my phone activated. However, I bought it at a store that specialized in cell phones, and they took care of whatever had to be done for me. |
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onward
Joined: 14 Aug 2011
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 1:10 am Post subject: |
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| BadBeagleBad wrote: |
| onward wrote: |
| i bought a phone from an "oxxo" shop today for around 300 pesos, but am unable to activate it... someone mentioned to me that you need a number that's more or less the equivalent of an american social security number? any suggestions? |
You need a CURP(it�s not really like a Social Security number, in that it isn�t directly related to taxes, it�simply an identification number that every citizena and resident is supposed to have) to activate your phone via text, but if you go to a store or kiosk with your passport they can do it for you there. What company is the phone? The two biggest companies, MoviStar and TelCel have kiosks in pretty much every department store in the country, WalMart, Chedrahui, if it�s another company it might be a little more difficult. |
thanks... i'm about a 15 minute walk from walmart so i'll try them tomorrow... it's telcel so hopefully they'll have a kiosk, but if not at least i can buy a bit of cheese for my british girlfriend:) |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| BadBeagleBad wrote: |
| onward wrote: |
| i bought a phone from an "oxxo" shop today for around 300 pesos, but am unable to activate it... someone mentioned to me that you need a number that's more or less the equivalent of an american social security number? any suggestions? |
You need a CURP(it�s not really like a Social Security number, in that it isn�t directly related to taxes, it�simply an identification number that every citizena and resident is supposed to have) to activate your phone via text, but if you go to a store or kiosk with your passport they can do it for you there. What company is the phone? The two biggest companies, MoviStar and TelCel have kiosks in pretty much every department store in the country, WalMart, Chedrahui, if it�s another company it might be a little more difficult. |
You can do it with just a passport |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
I bought my Telmex cell phone about 3 years ago at a time when I didn't yet have a CURP and had no trouble getting my phone activated. However, I bought it at a store that specialized in cell phones, and they took care of whatever had to be done for me. |
That was before the law went into effect. But they probably had you in the system as a non-Mexican, so when the law went into effect you still didn�t have to register. I know MY cell phone company was chingue y chingue until I registered my phones. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
You can do it with just a passport |
Right, that is, if you are not a resident, and are just on a tourist visa. Thanks for clafifying that, Guy. |
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Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe this link will help with the process, though you will likely have to have your CURP to do it online. (They are issuing CURP numbers automatically with FM3's and FM2's).
http://www.telcel.com/registrocelular/index.html |
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