Psst, hey buddy, wanna buy a SIM card?

[huenix]

I am going to RM in July and it turns out that I will have to have both internet and voice calling while there for work. I think i understand how the Telcel prepaid system works but I was curious if anyone travelling before July that had a prepaid SIM card would be willing to sell it?

The caveat is that the SIM cards apparently expire if you dont use or add funds for 60 days.

I would think this would be a pretty easy thing to do.. Go on the trip, and get the balance before i leave, then just sell the card for the balance plus a couple bucks for the cost of the SIM.

If I can't get one this way I will probably just buy one off Ebay but they are nearly double the price.

Also if anyone has used Telcel prepaids, do you just add funds, pay per call, then text altoX to 5050 to deduct the data cost from the balance? Everything I have read hinted at that.

 

[oldbuyer]

I have a telcel sim but I use it twice a year and doing that keeps the account active even though it does go out of service whenever the balance laspes more than 60 days after a minimum 50 peso top up. You do not loose the funds but you must add funds to restart it after 60 days of no top ups.
You are best off buying your sim while in Mexico. Stop in a telcel office and bring your passport (required). Sim with some starting airtime is still probably 150 pesos. If you want a free data doggle with a seperate sim they run about 450 pesos for a month of service and you just let it expire as the monthly fee is about 420 pesos/mo. If you only need to send and receive email and occasional internet you can use your voice sim and account to buy hourly, daily or weekly data plans by texting a specific number to telcel. They then deduct the plan cost from your voice account balance.
You obviously need to bring an unlocked smart phone for data but an old cheapy basic phone works for calls and texts as long as it is unlocked from your US carrier.

 

[huenix]

I have a telcel sim but I use it twice a year and doing that keeps the account active even though it does go out of service whenever the balance laspes more than 60 days after a minimum 50 peso top up. You do not loose the funds but you must add funds to restart it after 60 days of no top ups.

So if you only went once a year, would the card simply be unusable the next time you went or could you recharge it?

You are best off buying your sim while in Mexico. Stop in a telcel office and bring your passport (required). Sim with some starting airtime is still probably 150 pesos.

You apparently don't need a passport any more for them, a fact for which I am kinda glad. You can buy activated SIM cards from Ebay for $25 and a package deal with minutes and data for twice that. The thought of trying to find a Telcel office and such on the way to the resort leads me to just paying the extra $20 it would cost and buy one before I go.

 

[oldbuyer]

So if you only went once a year, would the card simply be unusable the next time you went or could you recharge it?
Telcel says they will recycle your phone number after 6 months of no use. I leave mine with a local friend so visitors can use it.

You apparently don't need a passport any more for them, a fact for which I am kinda glad. You can buy activated SIM cards from Ebay for $25 and a package deal with minutes and data for twice that. The thought of trying to find a Telcel office and such on the way to the resort leads me to just paying the extra $20 it would cost and buy one before I go.

I've seen the Ebay listings but make sure it's telcel Mexico (not SA) and the phone number has as local prefix for where you are staying otherwise every call is a toll call at a much higher rate.

I would buy a local sim then leave it there with a friend or pass it on to a new arrival. Another option is an at&t go phone which has cheap rates in MX or if you have T mobile they now have a no roaming tarriff in MX. Telcel is about the same cost as my Go phone but I have it on an Amigo(a) plan which gives you free texts and calls to 3 local phone numbers which is why I still keep it.

 

[huenix]

Yeah, I contacted the guy about it, its a Telcel Mexico card. am prolly being a cheapskate trying to save $15 on a trip that I spent over 2k on airfare alone for but its the principle.

 

[jeffcarp]

Here's another thought for you. Why not rent a MiFi device for your data needs and then use a voice over IP app how to make your telephone calls?

 

[huenix]

Here's another thought for you. Why not rent a MiFi device for your data needs and then use a voice over IP app how to make your telephone calls?

Still would cost more than prepaid data from telcel. I can use my iPhone as a hotspot plus have voice capabilities for less money.

Good thought though.