Every year people are looking for the best mobile phone 'Roaming Package" as they head to Mexico for a short or long stay. Several choices out there, but I will provide current information on what I do. There is also a new international Plan available from Rogers in Canada. I have included information for Shaw Mobile customers (from Rogers ... at the bottom). You have to migrate your number to Rogers by Dec 21 or will lose it and your entire account. Links are provided where possible, so you can look at the info and decide for yourself.
Read the fine print (numbers after each perk) and call customer service for verification of your understanding of the deals. I hope this is helpful to someone.
I place our Rogers plan on hold for a nominal fee, for my time (months) down there. In past years, Rogers does plan holds based on monthly billing cycles, not your days of departure & arrival. Yet adding or deleting a service or upgrading, they can do it to the day! I remove my Rogers SIM card as I leave Canada (take paperclip to help remove SIM and use a ziplock bag to hold it/them), then insert and use my Telcel SIM and phone number (year after year) in Mexico. First month can be prepaid using various internet services. No accidental $15-$18 charge for accidentally turning off airplane mode for 1 second with it still in the phone! Telcel ends up being a lot less expensive monthly. There are so many Wifi spots around town that you can control how much data you use.
Give banks and other important companies/people your complete Mexican phone number, so you don't have issues with banking login or other two Factor Authorizations. Each institution does it their own way. You likely have to phone and talk to a person at the institution or use the phone number on back of bank card, to have additional phone numbers added to your file.
For people calling you from Canada, long distance costs can quickly mount, depending on your caller's plan. Make use of Messenger, FaceTime, Zoom, SMS, iMessage or other service. If I run out of data early, it is just another 150 pesos for another 26 days or so (depending on usage). Purchase online, at OXXO or other local location.
I provide my important contacts with my Mexican number so they know who is calling internationally. This way they don't block my call. I know it could be useful at times to use a Canadian number, but find it expensive to keep my Canadian plan going.
You can look at the Rogers sites for the plan mentioned by Shaun on the Freedom Telephone Service thread elsewhere on the message board..
Rogers Home Internet Customers https://www.rogers.com/plans#mobile-plans Offer available to new and existing Rogers internet, TV, home phone or home monitoring customers activating a new mobile line or upgrading their device.
Other important info for Shaw Mobile Customers: IMPORTANT NOTICE
Shaw Mobile customers must transfer to Rogers by December 21, 2023.
With Rogers and Shaw coming together, Shaw Mobile customers must transfer to Rogers to maintain mobile service. Rogers has attempted to contact all customers to facilitate the move. Effective December 21, 2023, any remaining Shaw Mobile lines will be cancelled. This means you will lose your phone number, voicemails and can no longer use your mobile service. To maintain your mobile service with an equivalent plan and pricing, contact Rogers at 1-844-551-1957 immediately.
How do you keep your SIM card and Telcel Number year after year? When I return to la Manzanilla each winter after being away for 8 - 9 months i am told I have to get a new Telcel number.
Your SIM shouldn’t expire that fast; the Telcel website used to say it would save the number for about a year. However, never say never, Dhyana! You can try a couple of methods.
You could always purchase a small amount ($5) on your account (phone number) from afar, using recharge.com or some other service. Then you know for sure it works.
Another way to possibly make the system keep your number is to simply put your Telcel SIM into your phone for a few minutes and turn it on. You should get a notification from Telcel that your account is out of money and you need to recharge it. The system now thinks the card (phone number) is trying to be active. Purchase a top up package when you arrive. No need to actually make a payment. You can do this simple process several times during your absence.
Have a friend already there make a payment and top up your number before you arrive. That can be nice also.
I have used all 3 methods with success for ourselves and others. I find it nice to make a small payment online before leaving Canada so my phone number is actually usable when I arrive. Then I top it up at OXXO or next door at Alberto Perfecto’s.
No guarantees these will work, but it has in the past few years. See you soon!
I transfered my "main local canadian number" (that i have had for decades) to fongo.com for a one time fee of $25 to transfer my number. It is free of charge to use fongo. So when someone from canada calls me on my canadian number, it rings on my phone and on my tablet.
I can use fongo to MAKE calls to canada for free, but i usually use my telcel line.
When i go back to canada, i get a new line with Fizz.ca for 30$ a months (unllimited calls, voicemail, caller ID, text and gigs of data. I then call forward my fongo to my fizz and VOILA!
When i return to mexico, i cancel my call forward.. and when someone calls me from canada it rings on my phone and tablet. No long distance charges to the person from canada calling me in mexico.
Benito, does using Fongo.com and Fizz.ca mean you are out of the clutches of the Cel Company oligarchy completely, or is does it only work while you are out of Canada?
Yes Jane... nO more telux, bell, etc... Although fizz is a subsidiary of Videotron and not available everywhere in Canada. There is freedom mobile that has really cheap plans.
I use Fizz.ca in the summer and fongo.com all year round.