This is a cheat sheet for calling with your Telcel service

2. How do I send a text message (SMS) to the US or Canada?

You must either send it with +1-xxx-xxx-xxxx or with 001-xxx-xxx-xxxx

3. How can I receive a text message (SMS) from outside of Mexico?

The sender must send it as +521-xxx-xxx-xxxx or as +011-52-1-xxx-xxx-xxxx

Calling rules to, from and within Mexico can be tricky, here’s a simple guide.

CALL MEXICO FROM THE US & CANADA

To call a landline, dial 011-52-(10 digits phone number)To call a cellular, dial 011-52-1-(10 digits cellphone number)

Area codes are two or three digits.

CALLING IN MEXICO

To call a Mexican cellphone from a Mexican cellphone: 10 digits cellphone number

CALL US & CANADA FROM MEXICO

Dial (001)-(Area Code)-(7 digits number)

CALL A 1-800 NUMBER FROM MEXICO

For a 1-800 number, dial 001-880-(7 digits number)For a 1-888 number, dial 001-881-(7 digits number)For a 1-877 number, dial 001-882-(7 digits number)For a 1-866 number, dial 001-883-(7 digits number)For a 1-855 number, dial 001-884-(7 digits number)

TO SEND TEXT MESSAGES (SMS) FROM MEXICO

To Mexico: You send the text message (SMS) to the 10 digits cellphone numberTo US/Canada: You must add 001 before the 10 digits cellphone number or +1 before the 10 digits cellphone number

TO SEND TEXT MESSAGES (SMS) FROM US & CANADA TO MEXICO

You send the text message (SMS) to +52-1-(10 digits cellphone number)

Call landline phones in Mexico: Dial 045 first, then enter the phone number.

Call US numbers: Dial +1(area code) OR 001(area code) first, then enter the phone number.

To receive calls to your Telcel number from the US, tell your friends and family: Dial +52 (1) (your Telcel number) OR 011-52 (1) (your Telcel number)

Check your balance by text: Dial *133#, then press send. You’ll receive a response text.

Check your balance by voice: Dial *333, then press send and listen.

*133# press send to check balance by text.

The reason I wanted to try the SIM card was so I could use my phone while here and out and about for directions and looking up restaurants etc. while not on wifi at the condo.

The combination of the two has me pretty well covered I think

The Rates for other countries are posted in the app, All regular Canadian & US numbers are free to call except for toll numbers. You have to purchase credits in advance for international calls, there is no chance of getting an unexpected bill.

I have not used GV with Telcel data but have used Talkatone and can say first hand that it works great, I am sure GV would also work

We use the Telcel SIM card and an app called Talkatone it is a free (or paid) VOIP app that works great with Telcel data
it gives you a CND or US phone number to call or text with and you can forward your regular cell phone number to your Talkatone number it will work anywhere you have data or wifi.

Cool! Google Voice is very similar. You get a Canadian or US phone number and can make free calls using WiFi to the US and Canada. There are per minute charges for calls to other countries based on the country. It sounds as if Talkatone is similar, yes? Let's see ... hmmm, there is no mention of other countries and the website says that most Canada and US calls are free while others are "low cost." Bit sketchy.

12 months without money on the phone and the number goes away. Just buy another SIM card.

it that for sure true?
I hope so.
I let my number go dormant when I left in June and would love to reactivate it.
It was easy to remember and would help me avoid having to make changes where that number is an identifier.

For what it is worth, a local in Tijuana told me that the number is deactivated after 2 months.

12 months without money on the phone and the number goes away. Just buy another SIM card.

it that for sure true?
I hope so.
I let my number go dormant when I left in June and would love to reactivate it.
It was easy to remember and would help me avoid having to make changes where that number is an identifier.

cellular rates are equally as bad in much of the Estados Unidos!

Depends the company you buy from. T-Mobile is $40/mo. unlimited everything in the US and MX. No annual contract. Unlocked phones - not that it matters because it includes MX in the plan. We used it for years before moving here. Of course TelCel is cheaper but who wants to jump through all the hoops just to make a phone call when you're outside of MX?

I will definitely use it while travelling in the US as still will be much cheaper than the travel plan with Telus

Not so Grumpy in Zihua

You can use the SIM card in the US, Canada and Mexico. As I mentioned earlier in one of my posts, the Data is good to use in MX and the US but not so great in Canada because (if you read the fine print) your amount of Data is reduced regardless of what Amigo plan you are on. I usually keep my Data turned off and because it is usually only 2 or 3 G's, I don't use it for streaming movies etc. Phoning is not a problem though.

Reloading your SIM card from home is a bit tricky for the first couple of times because the pages need to be translated -- especially for moi because of my limited Spanish. Be sure you're dealing with TelCel directly because there are a couple of sites which will be more costly.

You also have to remember to notify whomever you're calling in advance when using the MX SIM card that the strange number they're about to see on their call display is from you. I usually email them in advance of the call and family and friends get used to seeing it.

Roberto!

Felicidades!

Can update at an OXXO for next month.

So $16 CDN compared to $300 CDN

Going to stick up on Victoria now with the savings

We are getting ripped off for cell service in Canada, as every Canadian knows.

Looks like I can get a Mexican SIM

So the budget will go up for Victoria!

Thanks Roberto

Turn on your phone, go to "Settings"
Select "General"
Select "About"
Scroll down to "Carrier Lock"
It should read "no SIM restrictions" for an unlocked phone.
At least that's how it works on my older Iphone.

Roberto!

Hola
Your directions don't work on an Android phone

Roberto!