Buying a SIM once you are In-Country?
 

Hey gang-

As I mentioned in another thread, I'm trying to find a good deal on a prepaid SIM for use in Chile. My United Mobile SIM is no good there. Telestial has a Movistar SIM on their site that sounds great, but they are out of stock.
http://www.telestial.com/view_produc...T_ID=LSIM-CL01

So, it occured to me I might just purchase a prepaid Movistar or other SIM at a local cellular store once we get there. Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

Thanks!

Kupe

I can't comment about Chile specifically, but that's entirely practical.

The only caveats are that you won't know your # until you arrive (so if you are getting a couple and want to meet up with other people at the airport or something, you won't be able or you'll have to use your American numbers)... and if there are any options to the prepaid service, some might have a delay of 2-3 days before they take effect (O2 UK's BoltOns come to mind).

But otherwise, no problem at all. In some countries like Switzerland, you *have* to get the SIM locally, by law.

Thanks Jim- I may give that a try. And once I got the number, I could log onto CBW and change my PIN2DEST target to that number. That way the folks at home won't have to change anything- they will dial the same PIN2DEST number as always.

But I've come across something else. I suspect that UM might actually work in Chile, and I'll check when I get there. I posted my reasoning in this thread:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1464

Kupe

Give it a try - you can always get a local SIM if it won't work.

Jim-

Just got back from Chile and found it isn't quite so simple. ;( I posted my results here:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1517

Kupe