SMS Costs for Telcel Mexico

[Roti2000]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be in Mexico City for three weeks later this month and I am trying to get my head around the Telcel plans (with my espanol limitada!).

I'm a heavy data user, so I will go for the 30 day internet Telcel Amigo @ $499 for 3gb.

But I am still a bit unclear about how the SMS works.

On their website they have Email2SMS: Telcel: Email2SMS

I'm assuming a user (anywhere in the world) can just email [mynumber]@itelcel.com. Question: do I incur any costs?


Apparently SMS (to send only?) is $.88. Or you can get a package (e.g. Paquete 300 SMS for $102).

Question: How do you sign up for the package? With the data plan it appears you make sure you have enough money in your account and then you send an SMS to sign up. I didn't see a similar procedure for the SMS paquetes.

Question: What is the charge to send SMS to the US?

Finally, for voice, is it right to assume that all incoming calls are free with the Amigo plan?

Gracias por ayudarme!

[jfinlayson]

I have all the same questions. Are incoming calls and SMS metered? Did you ever learn the answers, Roti2000?

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by jfinlayson

I have all the same questions. Are incoming calls and SMS metered? Did you ever learn the answers, Roti2000?

Make sure you check out AT&T prepaid PAYGO rates. Might end up better and you can get it easily in the USA.

[RTuesday]

Originally Posted by Roti2000

I'm a heavy data user, so I will go for the 30 day internet Telcel Amigo @ $499 for 3gb.

First the good news: there's a temporary promotion (until 15 Jan 2012) that doubles the data allowance, so the ALTA30 3GB/30 day option is now 6GB/30 days (whichever comes first). But...

But I am still a bit unclear about how the SMS works.

It doesn't work at all well. There is NO email to sms option for prepaid users (the Amigo plan), it's an option on (only) the postpaid plans. The "Paquete 300 SMS" is also only for postpaid users.

There is no charge to receive SMS. Sending an SMS to a US number costs 1.81 pesos in the border area (probably 1.89 pesos in Mexico City as they have a different tax rate). However, few if any SMS sent to outside Mexico actually arrive, and receiving international SMS isn't reliable either.

So, don't rely on SMS being of any use, except locally. Use email whenever possible instead.

Finally, for voice, is it right to assume that all incoming calls are free with the Amigo plan?

That's right. There used to be a charge for roaming outside your home area (which wouldn't apply anyway if you're always in Mexico City) but as far as I'm aware this was abolished last year. However, it may still apply in some regions, as there may still be some small differences in the plans depending on your region.

It can be very expensive to call Mexico mobiles from some countries - for example nearly a pound a minute (US$1.55) from some UK carriers. So do get the caller to check the price before they call, if they're family and friends.

I have a US (and UK) number at Localphone.com, which is then forwarded to my Mexico mobile if I'm outside of wi-fi range, at a cost to me of US 8.9c/min - this means callers in those countries can call me at domestic rates.

Final point if somebody does call you directly: insert a "1" between the country and area codes to reach your mobile number. So a mobile in Mexico City that is (55) 1234 5678 is called as +52 1 55 1234 5678 from other countries.

(and after writing all this I see the original questions was asked 18 months ago! Oh well, maybe it'll be of use to somebody sometime.).

[babble]

For a charge of about 100 pesos every 30 days, there is a service called "Amigo BIP", which allows an unlimited number of text messages to be sent either via a telcel web-page, or via a telcel operator, to an amigo mobile phone.

https://www.atencionenlinea.telcel.c..._amigobip.html
Telcel: Servicios Adicionales

This service can be activated online within a user's "Mi Telcel" account.