Will T Mobile, ATT, Google FI and Republic Wireless work in Mexico. No and Yes! Neither AT&T or TMobile work directly in LB. In a short answer, they trade time with Telcel and Telefonica MovieStar. With the AT&T Viva Mexico Plan you get a set amount of Talk Time that rolls over from month to month. The ATT Viva Mexico plan charges an additional $15 per month. TMobile just announced a plan to begin no additional fee service in Mexico. TMobile will use the same Telcel/MovieStar backbone. The advantage to TMobiles plan is the inclusion of international texting and data at no additional charge. The data stream will be 2G speed – good enough for email and slow surfing. The TMobile package is $50 per month and I believe that does not require a contract. TMobiles plan that includes free calls from Mexico was just announced three days ago. Not all agents may be up to speed on the details.
In the US Verizon is probably the most expensive cell phone carrier. They have a great network with a huge amount of coverage and somewhat great support. You’re right, Verizon works at the SJD airport, Cabo and La Paz. They charge a handsome fee for their Mexico Plans.
Republic Wireless is the phone I carry. It works on the Sprint backbone which means they buy bulk time from Sprint, resell it and provide their own customer support. There is no one to talk to but their email support is prompt and targeted to your level of expertise. My phone died two weeks ago and within 72 hours, I had a new phone all done via email. Their system works on WiFi when you are in that environment and cell when mobile. Seamless transitions as you walk out the door. When I’m in Mexico, I use the WiFi only plan that costs $5 per month (plus taxes = $8). That gives me unlimited text, data and talk to the US (while I’m on WiFi). In the states I upgrade to the $25 plan ($30 including taxes). That plan gives me everything you get from Verizon at half the cost. Except I get unlimited data. Remember in Mexico it only works in your WiFi environment. But, it’s only $8 per month. With Republic Wireless you have to buy the phone outright since there is never a contract with them. Phones start at $100 for their entry level phone. Consumers Report magazine rates them very highly.
AT&T is the phone that my wife uses. The Viva Mexico plan is an additional $15 per month. That works well over most of the peninsula. There are some gaps in coverage in the mid-section of the Baja.
TMobile just announced a new $50 per month plan that will allow free calls to the US as well as data and text! The data speed slows to 2G when out side the US. Good for email but not much else. Call quality with TMobile is good and data speed is good. Their coverage in the US is just OK.
Changing carriers is easy if you’re not on contract. However, TMobile often offers to buy out your old contract to switch. Some carriers will loan you a phone for a couple of weeks in the US to see if you can get reception where you need it. I’ve had a lot of folks tell me that Sprint (Republic Wireless) would not work in the Columbia River Gorge. Well, it worked just fine. We drove from Tahoe to the Gorge and Portland and my Republic phone worked great.
If you own your own phone line in Mexico and DSL internet in Baja, then you get a certain amount of free calls to the US now. You also get free calling anywhere in Mexico. Unfortunately that doesn’t apply to someone calling you. This free calling program by Telmex is very new.
The cheap phones at OXXO will call the US but not for free! Those calls can be pricey. If you have an Iphone 5 or newer from Verizon, it has an unlocked Sim Slot on the side. You could add a prepaid sim card to your Iphone and have a Mexican Cell number/phone. That would not change any Verizon settings.
add a prepaid sim card to your Iphone and have a Mexican Cell number/phone. That would not change any Verizon settings.
thecomputerguy2014 