Forum Discussion

silversand's avatar
silversand
Explorer
Oct 03, 2018

Telcel (América Móvil) looks like the only game in town...

Hey Guys:

...with Telcel having over 80% of the mobile service business across Mexico, I imagine that their "coverage" for voice and data across the northern Yucatan peninsula (Campeche to Merida to Tulum corridor) is comprehensive?

Also, does anyone here have any recent (over say, the last 1.5 years-ish) interaction buying no-contract, pay-as-you-go phones and credits from Walmart (?) / Costco (?) / Telcel (?) in Mexico?

I'd like to buy a low-cost phone in Mexico, and load it with text and voice credits...data credits would be a bonus.

I have personal phones (3 of them) that will absolutely remain "State-side"

Cheers
  • Talleyho69's avatar
    Talleyho69
    Moderator
    Oct 03, 2018
    We don't have those kiosks here. TelCel or Movistar just use their SIM card in any phone from anywhere, add money as you go. That can be done almost anywhere.

    Download Whatsapp and you message and talk for free. It's incredibly simple.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2018
    PLUG N PLAY

    This WI-FI transceptor has taken many of my cellulars from no connection to 5 bars. I also have a tubular YAGI that 5-bars modems in a house a quarter mile distant. But the little screw on antenna the 12 db model works great. This has the most powerful transmitter on the market.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035APGP6?tag=amz-mkt-fox-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-win70-dsk00-nomod-us000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-5&ref=aa_scomp&noLL=1#Ask

    I use Wi-Fi WhatsApp 100 to 1 over Tel Cel messaging
  • silversand's avatar
    silversand
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2018
    Thanks, Talley.

    I prefer to acquire a phone in Mexico. Similar to a cheap $60 Samsung Luna (as sold through Walmart, for example) pay as you go, and load it up with credits.

    Has anyone seen the pay-as-you-go phone buy kiosks in Mexico, with an array of cheap phone choices?
  • Talleyho69's avatar
    Talleyho69
    Moderator
    Oct 03, 2018
    TelCel has good coverage everywhere. You can just buy a SIM card for 29p and put it in any phone that has a changeable card, or buy one of their phones. They sell plans, but we just put 100p on our phone every 30 days. The money doesn't expire if you don't use it up, but you have to put money on every 30 days to keep it going. I think the minimum for 30 days is 100p.

    End result, it's REALLY inexpensive and easy to charge your phone up anywhere.

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