Cellphones: Calling-Using-Buying-Importing-Activating-Renting

There is another aspect as well. The company that you are locked on must have a contract agreement with the other company for exchasing SMS's.

Eg A couple of years back when I was in Brasil, using my Greek sim card, my phone was locking on Oi, a local company, and I could exchange SMS's with other users of my Greek company but not with users of Vodafone (another company in Greece) although I could talk to them. But not SMS's.

When I was locking on TIM I could do that because TIM had a contract with Vodafone. So if you can not get through with one try another if it is available.

FYI all companies in European Union must sell unlock cell phones with at least a two year guarantee.

As per suggestion here I plan to buy a v190 unlocked quad ban phone from ebay for about $15 usd. I plan to be in columbia, BA, Santiago and Rio. Is there a way I can buy one SIM card for all of this or do I need to buy one for each country?

Thanks

[QUOTE=Bartonsky]As per suggestion here I plan to buy a v190 unlocked quad ban phone from ebay for about $15 usd. I plan to be in columbia, BA, Santiago and Rio. Is there a way I can buy one SIM card for all of this or do I need to buy one for each country?

Thanks[/QUOTE]A SIM card from any particular country with international roaming probably will work for all those countries. But you'll be paying international roaming rate whenever you are out of that country, even if you are calling a local number. Also, people might hesitate to return your call, or even answer your call if they notice your foreign phone number.

I suggest just buy a local SIM card when you arrive to each country.

Thanks to Miami Bob's cell phone instructions ([url]http://www.argentinaprivate.com/forum/showpost.php?p=372852&postcount=51[/url]) up and running on Personal. Copy of the old passport and two hours later, the kid was good to go. Visited Personal agent in Palermo, Plaza Italia, painless. Everyone very accommodating, gave it my best dumb Gringo look and whalla: no Espanol. For me, it is an important deal. No more having to rely on a Landlord's phone. Had an old Razor and got the unlocking code from ATT. Thought that was going to be the most difficult hoop to jump through. However, another painless hoop. Thanks Mr. Bob.

[QUOTE=Chica Seeker]My spanish is limited and I prefer text messages with the chicas as well.

It gives me time to understand better what they are saying.[/QUOTE]My spanish is pretty good / fair Where can I get a cell phone for cheap? Rent one? Yeah like in the real world. Working girls love text messages too!

So what do you say once you get one of the girls on the phone?

"Hello 12 different names cause you use a million of them, I want to bang your ass come over?"

So you work out a price, is it rude to ask about price?

Thanks guys I'm off to BA in 26 days!

[QUOTE=Slamcity]My spanish is pretty good / fair Where can I get a cell phone for cheap? Rent one? Yeah like in the real world Working girls love text messages too!

So what do you say once you get one of the girls on the phone?

"Hello 12 different names cause you use a million of them, I want to bang your ass come over?"

So you work out a price, is it rude to ask about price?

Thanks guys I'm off to BA in 26 days![/QUOTE]Bring your own and buy a chip for it here. A chip is about U$5 and you buy cards from kioskos for various amounts of money and use them as you need them.

Argento

[QUOTE=Argento]Bring your own and buy a chip for it here. A chip is about U$5 and you buy cards from kioskos for various amounts of money and use them as you need them.

Argento[/QUOTE]Hmmm. I might be stupid about phones but I'm pretty sure than my Samsung phone does not work this way. Right? I'm pretty sure American phones can't do this.

Help please!

[QUOTE=Slamcity]Hmmm. I might be stupid about phones but I'm pretty sure than my Samsung phone does not work this way. Right? I'm pretty sure American phones can't do this.

Help please![/QUOTE]If you have unlocked tmobile / ATT should work (old cingular phones will not)

[QUOTE=Slamcity]Hmmm. I might be stupid about phones but I'm pretty sure than my Samsung phone does not work this way. Right? I'm pretty sure American phones can't do this.

Help please![/QUOTE]What you need is an "unlocked" GSM phone. GSM phone means it uses a SIM card. Unlocked means it can use a SIM card from another phone carrier other than the one initally issued the phone.

[QUOTE=Sportsman]What you need is a "unlocked" GSM phone. GSM phone means it uses a SIM card. Unlocked means it can use a SIM card from another phone carrier other than the one initally issued the phone.[/QUOTE]Just buy a throw away. 40 or 50 bucks and get yourself a phone, then you can text them two simple words, queres cojer? You will get some pussy quick.

Email sucks for chicas. Plus texting is easier than talking and everybody does it there. Except you have to learn a new spanish phrase "no tengo credito" when they don't feel like answering.

With a little care and savy you should get one of these cel's for us$20 to $25 including shipping. I own 3. This is a great model--long battery life--can set for both eng and spanish texting with good word completion software--and good recption. They have bluetooth. Good recption and sound quality. The v197 has been discontinued for 2+ years.

Buy from a reliable seller 99%+ revues and over 1000 sales. Then you can buy used in very good to like new condition dirt cheap.

Search for my posts below about how to buy a "chip" at the personal stores and load up on time CHEAP! The phone must be advertised as unlocked. It is irrelevant what carrier had it in the usa. Buying from the Personal store with a photo copy of your passport will permit you to reactivate the same number if you are out of the country 90 to 120 days and with luck even longer and retain the same number. Store all your phone numbers in the phone and not on the chip. Then if the chip is deactivated because you are out of the country too long, you will still have your friends' numbers stored!

If you buy a chip off the street it will be about the same price and registerred under someone else's name and you will not be able to re-activate it if it gets turned off.

Suerte,

Bob

Greetings,

I'll be making my first trip to BA in two weeks and I'm looking forward to sampling the local talent. First of all, I assume having a local phone and number is preferable to using my iPhone with roaming. I've gotten a very attractive rental quote from phonerental.com.ar - free rental for 7 days with reasonable per-minute charges. Is this a reputable firm?

[QUOTE=Va Steve]Greetings,

I'll be making my first trip to BA in two weeks and I'm looking forward to sampling the local talent. First of all, I assume having a local phone and number is preferable to using my iPhone with roaming. I've gotten a very attractive rental quote from phonerental. Com. Ar - free rental for 7 days with reasonable per-minute charges. Is this a reputable firm?[/QUOTE]Hi Steve,

Is there some reason why you wouldn't post exactly what the "reasonable per-minute charges" were that you were quoted?

Absent this info, it's impossible to give you any feedback other than the "Free rental / free delivery / free pickup / give us your credit card" cellphone rental companies are notoriously over-priced to the point of being predatory. Among other practices, they typically charge you per minute for both outgoing and incoming calls even though in Argentina incoming calls are actually paid by the caller and thus free to the cellphone user.

Another issue is the actual number of minutes for which you are charged. They log into the cellphone's account online with their service provider to ascertain the number of minutes you've used, but there always seems to be a discrepancy between this number and the number of minutes you are charged, or should I say the number of minutes that they charged on your credit card as per your signature on the rental agreement, fait accompli.

Who knows though, perhaps you found a great service.

Thanks,

Jackson

A cheap phone with pre-card is costing about 150-200 peso and eventhough I don't have experience with many of my friends buy chips and use them on there home phone.

That must work a lot better

Apologize for not posting the rates; just laziness! First week's rental is free; additional weeks are US$ 7; insurance is US$ 5.

These are the quoted rates in US dollars:

Local $ 0.29

National $ 0.58

Argentina - Mercosur $ 0.89

Argentina - U. S. $ 0.79 - Special Promotion.

Argentina - Europe $ 1.28

Incoming minute $ 0.29

You can unlock the phone you use or an old spare phone, if you call your service provider and tell them your going to be traveling internationally, and want the phone unlocked. I did it with T-mobile, and they emailed me the instructions.

Once your phone is unlocked you can buy a chip very cheap, think less then 5 dollars. Then you'll have a local phone number. Then you can buy a card and put credit on the phone.

I don't know all the plans, but the one I used for about 3 years now, is Claro, (many people don't like Claro. I've had no problems with it.) If you put a 50 peso card on it, you get 40 peso bonus, which give you more then 90 minutes talk time, cell phone to cell phone or landline. I think it almost the same price country wide. It might be 10 centavos more. You also get free 50 text massages, that I think are good for 30 days, and free incoming calls, except if they call pay phone or locotorio. That's true with all the cell phones in Argentina.

Many people like Movistar or Personal. I don't know there prices since I have not used them.

Also check what phones work in BA on this site, to make sure the phone you pick will work in BA.

Those prices are certainly much better than what your current provider will probably charge you by the minute for any international roaming calls. However, as an example, I used to get prepaid cards to call Argentina from the US which cost me a.17 (USD) per minute. I can call Argentina from a US phone number via Skype and it costs me about the same.79 seems rather excessive. Not sure about local rates.

I'd take Tessan's advice and get your phone unlocked (many take about a minute to do once you know the steps and the code) and just buy a chip down here. Movistar (my favorite) Claro (used to have it and had minor problems) and Personal (probably best not to use) locations are all over the place here. Buy a chip, buy a card to charge it with and you're set.

It would be as easy to take Joe's advice next if for some reason you couldn't get your phone unlocked. Just buy a cheap POS and use that here. It's what I did when I first came.

I don't remember what the actual rates are, but I'm betting they're way, way cheaper than what you quoted. And the prices don't seem to include the per-call fee that is charged (at least by my carrier and Personal) just to initiate a call. Plus, like Jackson says, they are charging you for any incoming calls too (at.29/ minute! If you use the phone to communicate with chicas, they will be calling you too.

[QUOTE=Va Steve]Apologize for not posting the rates; just laziness! First week's rental is free; additional weeks are US$ 7; insurance is US$ 5.

These are the quoted rates in US dollars:

Local $ 0.29

National $ 0.58

Argentina - Mercosur $ 0.89

Argentina - U. S. $ 0.79 - Special Promotion.

Argentina - Europe $ 1.28

Incoming minute $ 0.29[/QUOTE]

If you don't want that your name can be traced back through your number you can tell the guy you didnt bring your pasport and invent a name and a pasport number.

I have had succes with Donald Duck

I used personal "pay as you go" last year for 3 months and it was pretty bad / very very expensive.

I used to upload it very often (say 20 pesos) and it used to finish off v quickly in matter of minutes (5~8 minutes) of talk time.

Then I started loading it with 100 pesos, it was slightly better as you get 20 pesos bonus on it.

Personal is NOT recommended in my opinion.

Maybe Movistar or Claro would be better.

Locals told me, Movistar is the BEST.

Ideally anywhere in the world, its always best / cheaper to have a post paid connection.

[QUOTE=Captain]I used personal "pay as you go" last year for 3 months and it was pretty bad / very very expensive.

I used to upload it very often (say 20 pesos) and it used to finish off v quickly in matter of minutes (5~8 minutes) of talk time.

Then I started loading it with 100 pesos, it was slightly better as you get 20 pesos bonus on it.

Personal is NOT recommended in my opinion.

Maybe Movistar or Claro would be better.

Locals told me, Movistar is the BEST.

Ideally anywhere in the world, its always best / cheaper to have a post paid connection.[/QUOTE]I think it's only cheap to call if you have a (2 year) contract but as far as I know it's not possible for non residents to sign the contract.

I use personal and have used movistar, I didnt note a lot of difference. I useally upload 60 to 80 peso a month but I mainly use my cell to sms. If I have to call I normally use a locutorio or call from home

The best carriers in Buenos Aires Capital are Personal and MoviStar, period. No questions asked. Claro has always been known for poor reception in the Capital, but it does have the greatest range of coverage in Argentina as a whole. So if you plan on traveling only with in Capital Federal, I would suggest Personal and Movistar, pricing is pretty much the same.

If you plan on traveling throughout Argentina, I would suggest you try Claro. But as a whole, if pricing is an issue, STAY OFF THE CELL PHONE. This is a Latin American country and as such rates aren't very low.

Pretty much every apartment that you rent should have a restricted land line that you can use for making calls to other landlines. You should only really need the cell phone to call other cell phones. My cell phone conversations usually last on the whole about 5 minutes. So it isn't much of an issue for me.

--------------

VA Steve, If you are renting an apartment, I would suggest you ask your rental agent to throw in a free cell phone rental and you buy your own minutes. Done deal.

I usually get many requests from people wanting to rent cell phones from my company. I usually give them the cell phone for free if I have some on hand. If I don't have any on hand, I try really hard to talk them out of renting phones only because it isn't really necessary. Just bring an unlocked cell phone from the states that will cost you $ 40 bucks, buy a SIM card for $ 20 pesos and top up your own minutes. Don't buy cell phones in Argentina, like most electronics, they are terribly over priced.

If you are a frequent visitor, I would suggest you try to get a cell phone with a contract, and use it while you are in town.

Regards,

BM.

BTW, If you do end up renting a cell phone I wouldn't advise that you falsify any information on the rental agreement, not only is it illegal, but there are liability issues as well. Dun be a weasel.

[QUOTE=BadMan]BTW, If you do end up renting a cell phone I wouldn't advise that you falsify any information on the rental agreement, not only is it illegal, but there are liability issues as well. Dun be a weasel.[/QUOTE]This might be different for a 2 year contract but really nobody cares about the pre-paid contracts. If you don't provide a adress they just fill out theirs and if they were serious about it they would demand a pasport.

If you are scared of the legal consequences you can just fill it out with unreadable writing

No need to reply. I stated my opinion.

You stated yours. They both remain unchanged.

Regards,

BM[QUOTE=Joe Hernandez][/QUOTE]

I bring my Nextel with me. Walkie talkie works perfect back to the USA. No extra charges with my plan for international walkie talkie.

Anyone tried Google Voice to Argentina, or while in Argentina?

Rates are supposedly $.03/ Minute to Land Lines, and $.16 per minute to cell phones. [url]http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?answer=141925[/url]

I don't know how this compares to "normal" mobile phone calling plans. Certainly it can't beat Skype-to-Skype calls. Also, I don't know if it works while in Argentina. I was in Brazil last week and could not set up Google Voice while there. I had to wait until I came back to the States to do so.

If anyone has tried this, please report back on how it works -- and if it works while in Argentina. If not, I'll post my conclusions later in August. It might be an alternative to local chips, if it works.

I'm ready to change from a regular cell phone to a smart phone. Anyone with advice on the "latest-greatest" phone out there? One that might assist me in communicating within Argentina and back to the US. And, what is the most cost effective way to utilize the smart phone in Argentina?

Thanks Guys,

Latuna

As one who used to have to go downtown to make n international call back in the old days (zzzzzzz) the alternatives today are incredible.

Today I use.

1. When I have to reach from wherever to wherever easily.

[url]www.comfi.com[/url] I pay online with creditcard in 5, 10 dollar amounts and using any browser anywhere I connect two phones (cell or land or mixed )anywhere together paying very cheap rates. Plus I always have my address book whereever I am and if I am at friends house I can sit and call anywhere and my friend pays nothing and I have two phones anywhere connected.

2. Anyone who I call repeatedly I have skype and a 3 meg fibertel line and the voice only quality is absolutely outstanding and free (I already have to have and pay for the line as an IT consultant who works remotely)

3. I always prefer and try to use land line to communicate overseas if possible as the quality of sound and voice to both sides is much better but if i have to use cell i still run it through the comfi system if i can...(In the states it works with sms also)

Kevins, you da man. I would have never known this info. What a great solution. My cell phone calls there last year were $4.99 a minute!

Thanks Man

Kevins,

I used calling card that I brought on Comfi, the last few years to call the US. I was in BA Jan. to April, and the local access number did not work, both the local BA as well as the 0800 number did not work. It had worked the previous few years, but did not work this last trip. I had to use skype on my laptop.

Are the number working now? I was thinking of trying Magic Jack for my next trip.

For whatever it is worth:

Have an unlocked Iphone 2g with the Sype App. It has worked out quite well. Unlimited calls for Argentine land lines: 5.95 a month. Wifi is quite prevalent in BA and easy to access. I even used Skype on a locked Iphone to make local calls in BA. It is a work around. [url]http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/?region=uscanada&country=AR[/url]

[QUOTE=Damman]For whatever it is worth:

Have an unlocked Iphone 2g with the Sype App. It has worked out quite well. Unlimited calls for Argentine land lines: 5.95 a month. Wifi is quite prevalent in BA and easy to access. I even used Skype on a locked Iphone to make local calls in BA. It is a work around. [url]http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/?region=uscanada&country=AR[/url][/QUOTE]I have an unlocked G1 phone. The Skype app I had would call a phone number in the USA, so it was worthless in Argentina. I was already calling the USA to make the Skype call, which is pointless. Is there a different Skype app for the Iphone, which does not call a landline in the USA?

I tried to us it, using a g3 connection; it would always call a landline in the US. I tried it with Wi-Fi, same thing. I read something somewhere, where the cell companies don't want people using there g3 connection to make call, since they would not use up there minutes, so they banned phone app, that use the g3. I would guess it is the same thing for the Iphone.

On the other hand, if you're in the US trying to call Argentina, it will work fine, except you use some of your air time minutes. I have unlimmited minutes, so it does not matter to me. If you call from a normal computer, you don't need to use minutes.

Tessan,

Perhaps I am having an Alzheimer moment here. Road tested all this stuff last month when I was in Buenos Aires. On the unlocked phone with 2.2 OS, first generation Iphone, Skype app worked without a hitch, USA, AR, no restrictions, no nothing. Called Bubble Fuck Egypt and was good to go. Use T mobile wifi hot spot in US airports. Subscribe to their 24hr access plan when on the road.

For the locked (ATT) Iphone, first generation, Skype app worked without a hitch in Argentina, airplane mode on, wifi on. In the US, the Skype app worked without any restrictions when connected to a dedicated T mobile tower: airplane on, wifi on. However, it seems T mobile has an agreement with ATT to share services in certain airports and when I was on an ATT wifi system, even though I was a T mobile wifi subscriber, Skype would not work on an ATT system. I will be returning in three weeks and will find out if I am full of shit and this really is an Alzheimer thing.

[QUOTE=Tessan]I was thinking of trying Magic Jack for my next trip.[/QUOTE]Magic Jack works okay, as long as you have a good connection speed. There are times that it just won't let you call certain numbers, I have no idea why. For $20 a year, it's worth it. It's also nice, since it will send you an email with voicemail when it comes in.

Just picked mine up in the U. S. I'm happy. Got back to Lima, stuck in my Peruvian Sim chip and everything worked fine.

Just confirmed that the motorola 195s is in fact locked not as it was sold to me as unlocked. F****ked!

Pesonal says I can go to cell phone chip place and they will put in a chip and then the simm card. But does this destroy the phone for good or use in the states?

I really need to be accessible from the states these next two weeks. Any help / ideas would be much appreciated.

Thank you

What is best (Price / Performance) phone option?

This is for one already in B. Aires.

Suerte.

Jaggar

Does anyone have a good place to get a phone unlocked in a couple of hours? I hear that the price varies from 40-100 pesos. I want someone that is close to Microcenter and that is reliable.

Thanks.

Jose

[QUOTE=Josenext]Does anyone have a good place to get a phone unlocked in a couple of hours? I hear that the price varies from 40-100 pesos. I want someone that is close to Microcenter and that is reliable.

Thanks.

Jose[/QUOTE]Make and model? Have used unique phones over the Internet many tines and very satisfied. [url]http://www.uniquephones.com/[/url]

[QUOTE=Damman]Make and model? Have used unique phones over the Internet many tines and very satisfied. [url]http://www.uniquephones.com/[/url][/QUOTE]I have a TRACFONE and there seems to be an issue with this company and the way they locked the phones. Motorola W376g

[QUOTE=Giovanni be]I have a TRACFONE and there seems to be an issue with this company and the way they locked the phones. Motorola W376g[/QUOTE]Think you are screwed. From what I understand, you get it unlocked and it will only work for the time remaining on the "prepaid." They got some kind of "Kung Foo" security stuff. It is a waste of time and money I think.

This cell phone company shit is ridiculous. So much for the unregulated free trade market lover's BS.