I asked this before but can't find what was suggested in the search....I'm looking for a phone that I can use here in Maine and when traveling in Mexico - mostly for emergencies since we can Skype or Google Voice from the hotel for free when we call home.If I remember correctly the phone needs to be GSM and I can buy an amigo sim card on Amazon or once in Mexico at an OXXO. This way it's pretty inexpensive.GSM service here in Maine isn't as good as CDMA - there are phones that do both GSM & CDMA but I'm having difficulty figuring out what type of phone will suit both Mexico and Maine.I have no personal cell phone now.Any helpful suggestions to this Luddite would be appreciated!

You need an unlocked GSM phone. You can get a SIM card to join the Telcel Amigos sin limites plan (150 pesos for unlimited calls/texts to and from Mexico/USA/Canada, unlimited Facebook/Messenger/Whatsapp/Instagram while in Mexico, and about 1GB of data, at most big box stores in Mexico (Walmert, Chedraui, La Comer,etc.). You can recharge your account at all OXXO and thousands of little stores, or on line (website or Telcel app).

IF you had an unlocked cell phone from the US, or anywhere, you could just buy a SIM card for 26p, put money on it and be set.Yes, you can buy "plans" or normal, but either way, it's cheap. We don't call the US or Canada (or call much at all) so we just put 100p per month on the phone. After 30 days, you need to put on more money to keep it active. 100p gives you 30 days, and the balance rolls over. Without money being added, you keep the number for 1 year, just add money and you are done.In February, he had to fly to the US for 2 days. He took the phone, but wanted to call me. We went to TelCel and asked for the cheapest phone. Out the door, just under $18 US we got a phone for me, SIM card, and 10 days of unlimited calling to the US and Canada. Included in that price was 5 days of unlimited everything for his phone. It's cheap.Don't buy the card on Amazon. We made our living (and bought our house here in Zihuatanejo with the proceeds) on eBay. Wish I had known that I could buy SIM cards here for 26p and turn them for huge money on eBay and Amazon!A number of people, including Tequila, have found that the TelMex phones and their service are so inexpensive and reliable that even though they are based outside of Mexico, they use the Mexico service. Plans are explained on the TelMex website and payment can be done there too.Don't know about GSM vs CDMA, but I've not heard of any cell phone not working here that isn't just wifi.

Here is a link to a current discussion on the Zihuatanejo Message Board that may also be helpful to you: http://www.zihuatanejo.net/tablero/thread/137752.html

Motorola phones are about as close to "universal" as you can get. Even the MotoE series has quad band (CDMA and GSM capabilities). MotoEither buy from Motorola direct, or ensure you buy an unlocked phone from Amazon or whoever. If you buy from Verizon, ATT or another cell provider they will have locked the phone to their service before you receive it.

OXXO also has very inexpensive phones and are everywhere. They also have the SIM cards.

cell phone in Mexico | Good Sam Community

Talleyho69
Moderator
Apr 04, 2020
I'm still sold on our 100 pesos a month from TelCel. Lots of time and data, no I don't know how much of each. Our unused money rolls over to the next month.

Most people use Whatsapp. We just discovered their video calls, and like everything of theirs, it's free. Excellent quality from here to the US.
edbehnke
Explorer
Apr 04, 2020
verizon
Wm_Elliot
Explorer
Mar 28, 2020
An update....
I bought a GSM Samsung A-20. T Mobile offers free use in the US, Mexico and Canada. There is a limit on data (5 GB in Mexico & Canada) but I never exceeded that cap while I was in Mexico.
Phone calls and texting was free and the voice quality was very good 90% of the time.
We traveled from Laredo to Cancun and back during February and March. This is a phone I use in the US mostly. Since I'm over 55 it costs about $45 a month including taxes.
Wm_Elliot
Explorer
Dec 22, 2019
The Samsung A20 international version phone I purchased on Amazon and later added a T Mobile sim card did not work very well here in Maine. Locally, US Cellular owns many towers and T Mobile customers can use these towers with most phones. This international version was not on the list of approved devices so I could only use T Mobile towers - which are pretty consistent along interstate highways but pretty rare elsewhere in Maine. Then there are the bands each phone works on... It's complicated. So I purchased the same phone - but not the international version and it works well. Time (about 2 months) will tell how it works in Mexico.
T Mobile covers calls and texting in the US, Canada and Mexico.
moisheh
Explorer
Dec 17, 2019
I gave up on my Telcel Lanix. Bought a Huawei Y5 2019. Great phone was just over $2000 pesos.
qtla9111
Nomad
Dec 17, 2019
Last month I bought an off-brand called STF Aura at Bodega Aurrera for $48. I have Telcel and I put 200 pesos a month on the phone. Works great, takes decent pictures, etc.

The new Samsung Galaxy 11 costs 20,000 pesos. No thanks, I'm not a video game junky. I need Whatsapp, GPS maps, calls, camera, and that's about it.
navegator
Explorer
Dec 17, 2019
I have an AT&T phone from the US it works fine in Mexico,

navegator
Wm_Elliot
Explorer
Dec 17, 2019
I ended up buying an unlocked Samsung A20 GSM dual SIM phone using one (so far) T Mobile SIM with a no contract plan that costs $40 a month. This plan allows unlimited talk & text in the US, Mexico and Canada. A small amount of data is provided too - 2 or 5 gigs.
Unlike some of you I'll be in Mexico 60 days a year tops. Time will tell what type of service I'll get in Mexico.
Wm_Elliot
Explorer
Dec 15, 2019
AT&T has GSM service - most other US carriers use CDMA - which I think will not work in Mexico or any other country since the US uniquely uses CDMA. I might be mistaken but that's my understanding.
Tequila
Explorer
Dec 14, 2019
I have a Moto G5 dual sim, both my Telcel sim and AT&T sim work in Mexico, the uS and Canada.

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