On 2007-04-06, John Navas <spamfilter0@navasgroup.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:30:40 -0500, Dennis Ferguson
><dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote in
><slrnf1dbff.82.dcferguson@akit-ferguson.com>:
>
>>On 2007-04-06, John Navas <spamfilter0@navasgroup.com> wrote:
>
>>>>International roaming rates are pretty stiff -- have you considered
>>>>getting your phones unlocked and using local SIM cards?
>>
>>I have a negative opinion about local SIMs in Mexico. Last I checked,
>>Telcel was charging about 3 pesos/minute for domestic calls, and
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>10 pesos/minute for calls to the US. Also, while incoming calls are free
>>on Mexican cell phones now, they usually cost a US caller 25 or
>>30 cents/minute. At these prices, if most of your calls are to or from
>>the US, if you can get the 59 cent/minute roaming rate from Cingular you
>>may end up better off overall just using the Cingular phone and saving the
>>cost and hassle of getting the local SIM.
>>
>>Of course, to pay 59 cents/minute, you need Cingular World Traveler
>>or Cingular Mexico added to your account, at $6 and $5 monthly,
>>respectively. If you can just add one of these plans for the
>>month and then cancel it, the price will be paid for with less
>>than 15 minutes of use.
>
> TelCel calls within Mexico are much cheaper than AT&T/Cingular roaming,
> about 32 cents/minute, and it's sometimes possible to find discounted
> SIMs that reduce the cost even more.

I think you are just repeating what I said above. If you want to phone
Mexicans, or have them phone you, the local SIM is fine, but most people
who spend a week away are generally more interested in phoning home. I've
not heard of a discounted SIM that charges less than that per minute
price, or I'd buy one. I bought the same service that most of the Mexicans
I know use, so if there is something cheaper it isn't widely known.

In fact, most of what I use the Mexican SIM for is so Mexicans can
send me text messages telling me to call them back on my Verizon
phone. The very best phone deal for frequent travel to Mexico isn't
a Mexican cell phone, through for a week this makes no sense either.
I admit it is a close call, but for a week you've got to put on
a fair bit of use to save money overall (including the acquisition
price of the local SIM) over 59 cents/minute.

If you are going to China, buy a local SIM. If you are going to
Mexico, maybe not.

Dennis Ferguson