|
|
MEXICO WIRELESS CALLING TIPS AND PROCEDURES
( Hacer llamadas en teléfonos celulares en
México )
You can turn on your wireless phone in Mexico
and hope it works or you can go there equipped
with the latest inside information to make
and take your calls without getting cut off...or
ripped off. Also, check the procedures for Making Local and Long Distance Calls in Mexico.
Important Tips When Using Cellular in Mexico:
- When you are calling your voice mail or any
US number from Mexico, you must enter "001"
(or, alternatively, "+1" on GSM
phones) before the number called to access
a US-based phone, even if it that phone is
roaming in Mexico. Most likely, the number
programmed for voice mail in your phone will
not work. Call "001" and then your
own number for voice mail access.
- The number for emergencies is not 911. The
general number for emergencies in Mexico
is "066". If you are using a GSM
wireless phone, some of the more common emergency
numbers are already programmed for you. So
if you can only think of "911",
or the European version, "112",
it may convert the call for you. Be ready
to speak Spanish. If you have trouble being
understood, try calling your hotel and ask
them for help. Program in their number as
soon as you arrive.
- You need some Spanish skills to use a Mexican
cellular phone efficiently. Even if you have your prompts switched to
English, most messages beyond the balance
and refill access are still in Spanish. Most Mexican cellular vendors and their customer
service do not speak English. Often, the concierge or someone else at your
hotel should be able to help. Be prepared.
- In most cases, calls to your own US cellular
service provider ("611"
or their
normal customer service number) usually
do
not incur any charges. Check with
your carrier
before you leave to make sure. They
may be
able to help with some of your Roaming
problems
in English.
- Mexican corporate cellular retailers may
not sell you just a SIM. If you really
want
one, some stores offer a promotional
phone
for as low as $20US and with that
you can
just use the SIM.
- Many cellular retailers offer pre-activated
phones and SIM's for the convenience
of tourists.
Don't be afraid to ask.
- Consider having one party call the other
back based on who has the cheapest rate.
- While the carriers claim your Mexican prepaid
account and number will expire after 60 days
of non-use, we have refilled both TelCel
and Movistar accounts as much as 1 year after
their "expiration".
- Some of the rules and charges are different
along the Mexico/US border. Sometimes charges
are lower, or you might access a US cell
site. Watch your Roaming indicator. Some
US carriers charge lower roaming rates in
Baja California.
- With most US carriers, Mexico Roaming must
be activated which is usually done for free
by customer service.
- Billing that crosses international borders
isn't 100% accurate or timely. Keep your
"Mexico" plan until all the charges
show on your bill. You might also have calls
that are never charged.
- Caller ID does not work on all networks in
all places. You may not be able to choose
which calls you answer and which you ignore.
Our experience has been Mexico GSM carriers
usually transmit Caller ID, CDMA carriers
often do not.
- There is often a per minute charge with US
GSM carriers for roaming calls that go to
voice mail, even if your phone is off and
even if no message is left. You can have
your home carrier temporarily disable voice
mail. Make sure your own network knows when
you are "home" by turning on your
phone once you arrive in the US. Some carriers,
like AT&T, don't charge for these calls
if your phone is turned off.
- Calls to US toll-free "800" numbers
(001-800... in Mexico) are not free. Per
minute (or per call) rates apply, but long
distance charges do not.
- These are observations we and other contributors
have noted while calling in Mexico, yours
may be different, and prices are subject
to change. If so, we'd like to hear from
you.
- Wireless Options in Mexico
- Our Recommendations
- Setting Up a Phone for making economical calls to and from
Mexico.
- Data Roaming Dangers
Procedures for Making Calls in Mexico:
- Long Distance Calls FROM Mexico:
To a Mexican telephone number: 01 + city
code + local number
To the U.S. or Canada: 001 + area code +
local number
To other countries: 00 + country code + city
code + local number
List of country codes
To a cell phone in Mexico: 045 + area code
+ local number
Operated-assisted calls in Mexico: 020
Operated-assisted calls to other countries:
090
- Long Distance Calls TO Phones in Mexico:
From within Mexico: 01 + city code + local
number
From the U.S. or Canada: 011 + 52 + city
code + local number
From other countries: international access
code + 52 + city code + local number
Calls to a cell phone from outside Mexico:
omit the "044" which often prefixes
a cell phone number
- In February 2009, Mexico passed a law requiring
cell phone service providers to track and
store all customer details, calls, voice
mails and text messages. The law requires
that purchasers of prepaid cell phones provide
identification at the time of purchase. The
purpose of these measures is to address the
criminal use of cell phones for extortion
and other illicit activities. If your Mexican
cell phone is lost or stolen it is important
to report the incident to the service provider
to avoid any legal proceedings against you
in case the telephone is used for illegal
purposes.
- As of November, 2006, the Mexican government
is adding a surcharge of at least $0.14 per
minute for international calls TO cell phones.
This does not apply to calls to landline
telephones. Some of Mexico's smaller cell
phone companies have obtained a court order
to block the charges. But Telmex, which controls
80% of the country's cell phone market, has
agreed to impose the extra charges. So that
international callers will know when they
are calling a cell phone number, an additional
digit will be required to complete the call.
Previously, a call to a cell phone was like
any other international call, 011-52 + 10-digit
number. Now to reach a cell phone, call 011-52-1
+ 10-digit number. Note that when calling
cell phones locally you call 044 + 10-digit
number. When calling internationally, the
044 is omitted.
- You can receive calls from telephones in
Mexico on your US-based wireless phone, but
the caller must use your country code as
though you were still in the country where
the cell phone was issued. For outgoing calls,
your cell phone will behave like a local
telephone. You do not need to use the country
code for calls to telephones within Mexico
but you do need the country code for all
calls to telephones outside of Mexico.
- 044: Many Mexico cell phone numbers have
the prefix "044". This is only
used when calling the number locally and
is omitted for incoming international calls.
For example, to place a call locally to a
cell phone you must dial 044 + the 10-digit
number. To place a long distance call to
the cell phone you omit the 044, e.g. 011-52
+ the 10-digit number. To place an international
call to a cell phone, you now must add a
"1" after the country code, i.e.
011-52-1 + 10-digit number.
- 045: If you are calling a Mexican cell phone
from within Mexico but it is a long distance
call, the prefix is 045; then dial the 10-digit
number. Omit the 045 when calling from outside
Mexico and dial 011-52 + the 10-digit number.
Using Land Line Phones in Mexico:
- You can make your calls from your hotel and
they will most likely charge a fee for calls,
including Local, Long Distance and "Toll-Free"
numbers. Some hotels can provide fax services.
- Pay phones in Mexico accept phone cards which
are available at local stores. If you are
calling from a pay phone and wish to call
collect or bill to a calling card, dial 09
for an international operator. Many public
telephones are out of order.
- You can buy a phone card at most convenience
stores that allow you to call anywhere in
the US for about $1 a minute. The cards come
in various peso denominations. This is probably
the least expensive non-wireless way for
visitors to make Long Distance calls from
Mexico to the US. It's not unusual to see guests walk out the
front door of their hotel and use the pay
phone out front.
- There are small telephone offices (casetas
telexónicas) that will handle your calls
and faxes for a fee. You probably won't be
able to use your calling card. Over time,
there have been fewer of the casetas and
more pay phones. The number of pay phones
is decreasing with the increasing use of
wireless.
- Voice-over-Internet or VoIP is an inexpensive
method to make calls in Mexico with high-speed
Internet access to place economical international
telephone calls. Skype is one of the most popular of these services.
|
