| Author | Message | ||
     Molly New member Username: Mollster Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2007 |
I'm going to Argentina for 5 months to study abroad. I had heard it was tough or frustrating to get a cell phone once I'm there. Is that true? If so, what advice does anyone have? I want to buy one since renting will be more expensive I think. Also, has anyone had any trouble with customs prescriptions wise? I have doctor's notes, etc. but I wasn't sure what the deal is with that. Thanks! I'll probably think of more things but that's all I got on the top of my head. | ||
| larry Rogers Junior Member Username: Larryr30 Post Number: 50 Registered: 6-2006 |
Molly, Welcome to the forum... I live here in the Capital Federal area of Buenos Aires, thats the city center...It takes about 5 minutes to get a cell phone, that is a basic cell phone. If you go with something like a nextel its alittle more complex, but not difficult. The cell phone that you would want to purchase would be a prepaid type account. The phone will cost you no more than 100.00 pesos, around 33.00US Dollars, this will include your first months minutes and like 300txt messages (the service is CTI), but there are many more. Most run about the same price for basic service. Do look into increasing your txt messages per month, b/c everyone here is a freak about txt messages... Also, most phone cards offered can be bought at the majority of Kioscos.... For reference I spend about 80 pesos a month, about 28.ooUS to use my phone and I get service just about anywhere in the city. Hope this helps and sorry, I don't have any info. on prescriptions.. | ||
| Aegir New member Username: Aegir Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2007 |
If I buy a cell phone in Argentina will he work in all South America? Regards Aegir | ||
| Alexandra Harbert New member Username: Allieneco Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2007 |
I found it easy to buy a cell phone. To add minutes just buy a cell phone card ( at a kiosko) with however many minutes you want and call the number. | ||
| luciano pereira New member Username: Luciano Post Number: 11 Registered: 6-2007 |
Almost all cell phones that are selling in argentina are tri or quad band, even the really really cheap ones are two band gsm. I am very sure that they work in all latin american from a technical point of view but plans may not cover or are very expensive to call some countries some times is cheaper to buy another cell phone for other u$s33 and have all the freebies in each country all depends how much you talk, i am an iden - nextel user and i have no problem to talk to the states or mexico but nextels are a bit harder to obtain. | ||
| robert lipmar New member Username: Miami_bob Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2006 |
MOLLY do you use a gsm cel phone in the usa? eg cigular/at&t, t-mobile do you have many people in either arg or the usa who you normally talk to on nextel radio service? ================================================== if you already own a good gsm phone, you can have it unlocked and buy a sim card or chip from movistar, personel or cti movil. google: unlocking cel phones and check out some of the websites to get info. unlocking means that your celphone can accept a sim card or chip from any gsm company. cel phones are generally sold blocked. to buy an unlocked phone checkout ebay.com or tigerdirect.com i've had chips from personel, movistar and cti. cti has the worst local service in bs as, but has the best nationwide service if you will be traveling from bs as to the interior frequently, cit will do the job with the least frustration. movistar and personel are approximately quite simular--good local service, poor service to use outside of greater bs as. you must buy a sim card--called a chip in argentina at a large company office. both have main offices on corrientes near florida. and a few other branches around town. personel also has contracters that sell chips. cost per minute variables with pre-paid. lower cost at night and calling people who use the same carrier. buy 50 peso and 100 peso cards or re-fills at the larger company offices. the larger cards get a lower rate per minute. international credit cards--both movistar and personel have problems accepting international credit cards. you need cash in pesos and a copy of your passport NEXTEL--the international radio service is great!!!! you can call by radio between argentina and the usa with great reception!!! i use nextel in the usa and bring my phone and charger. the phone works great in bs as and the major argentine cities. argentine calls are us$2.00 per minute, but the radio is free. i only use nextel for international radio or with argentines who use nextel. nextel only has contract service in argentina. i do not spend enough time in bs as to have a monthly contract. i looked for and could not find a pre-paid nextel plan. MY overseas cel is a motorola razr v3, unblocked and purchased on ebay for about us$100. when i travel, i buy a local sim card or chip and have used this phone in europe, UK and all over south america. the quality of the phone is much better than the 100peso pre-paids and i use it all around the world. bob | ||
| luciano pereira New member Username: Luciano Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2007 |
A personal or movistar chip with 36 pesos of credit cost around 10 pesos (u$s3,3) you can buy it in Retiro - the train station - opposite to Sheraton Hotel, be aware is not a Tourist Friendly place, for the less aventurous go to any store they will charge you 50 pesos for the same. | ||
| MIchael Calero New member Username: Michael795 Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2007 |
I am not that great with electronics but I was in Prague, Czech Republic and purchase a phone, where I bought cards for my minutes. Now, I am wondering if that phone is any good to have it switched to work in Bs As? | ||
| luciano pereira New member Username: Luciano Post Number: 15 Registered: 6-2007 |
GSM services are provided in a number of bands (e.g. 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) for what i know Czech replublic uses 900/1800 and Argentina Mainly 1900 and CTI 850/1900. So ... it's possible that could not work you have to be sure that the phone is multiband, check manual or in internet for the phone model, the other problem is that maybe your phone is blocked and don't accept other chips For 33 bucks i just bought a new one, it's not worth the trouble, except you have a very good phone. | ||
| robert lipmar New member Username: Miami_bob Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2006 |
MY MOTOROLA Rzr is a quad band phone--it works everywhere that gsm is used. Dr PEREIRA, for only bs as, the 100peso phone for one trip makes sense. I'm in bs as 4 times per year or more. i also travel to other countries where i want to buy a chip, not another cheap phone. i like to have my accessories. the us$100 razr makes sense for me. WHERE in Retiro do they sell discounted personel cards? I'm with personel now. i was buying my time at the personel office on callao y paraguay MIKE, with a us$35 phone, it is not worth the hassle to pay someone to unblock it. if you do a lot of international traveling,it might make sense to take my approach, else dr. Pereira's suggestion makes more sense. you are staying a five minute walk from the alto palermo mall. there are many little stands that sell pre-paid cel phones. If you buy a little better gsm phone, you can get it unblocked in bs as or back in the usa later for use on future international adventures. your verizon usa phone cannot be adapted to use in bs as with local rates. verizon can set it up for international calling, but it will be very, very expensive to use in bs as for local calling. good luck in palermo. private message me if you want to chat further. i just got back from bs as and had some interesting night life adventures. bob | ||
| robert lipmar New member Username: Miami_bob Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2006 |
Numbers for your new cel phones: gerardo pettigrew--a north american taxi driver who works 6am to 6pm everyday except wedsday. gerardo speaks perfect english and is a very honest guy. he has helped me out so many ways over the five years that i've known him--from usa 011 54911 5375 0542 or from bs as 15 5375 0542. Want to buy a leather coat--go shopping with a local who will help with negociating. AS TAXI a very good radio taxi service. call them and give them your cel# and address. they will open an account for you. they have many taxis all over town. generally during the day outside of a tourist area, almost all the radio taxi drivers are basically ok. at night if you don't really know where you are, a radio taxi that you either call yourself or have the restaurant or club call for you is not a bad idea......... 4639 9999 there are many good services. this is only the one i use. Porteno members may have better suggestions. bob | ||
| luciano pereira New member Username: Luciano Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2007 |
The Retiro Chip Tip: There is no discount, you can buy just the chip (it is packaged with activating instructions) and this is how it works: Whe you bought a chip let's say movistar (u$s 3,3) they give you a first time customer gift of u$s 10, so is cheaper thang bought a card of u$s3,3 becasuse with a new cheap you got double time to talk, the downside is that sometimes you have to wait a couple of hours to activate the new chip But there are some chips - mostly CTI - that give you a first time customer gift of more than u$s 20. You have to look at the flower shop at the corner or people selling it on the street. (not the very best place to show your wallet so have that 10 pesos or 20 pesos apart don't even think in paying with 100 pesos - as with any 'street salesman' in any corner of the world nothing special - From a tourist point of view I think it dosen't worth the effort but if you have a local friend you can ask him to buy for you a couple of 10 pesos or 5 pesos chips. | ||
| MIchael Calero New member Username: Michael795 Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2007 |
Thanks Luciano, I am going to take the suggestion of the 33 usd cell phone, then buy chips. Yes Bob, I am staying close to alto Palermo mall so I should find a place there to buy it. Also , I understand the suggestion of not flashing too many pesos. I been around many places so I know the routine, just like all big cities be alert. Thanks again. | ||
| MIchael Calero New member Username: Michael795 Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2007 |
Hi Again, I am just looking at ebay.com and saw this phone base on this info would this phone be able to get service in Bs As with a sim card? Since many of you knows and I don't. ahahaha. The hugely popular Nokia 5190 is a lightweight personal phone with impressive talk and standby time that's loaded with a number of simple-to-learn features. With 35 different ring tones, fax and e-mail capabilities, and ever-increasing world of accessories, the 5190 is designed for fun, general-purpose use. Furthermore, the 5190's dual-band/tri-mode operation ensures you'll be able to receive cellular service anywhere it's available. Weighing in at 5.2 ounces the 5190 measures 5.2 inches high, 1.4 inches wide, and 0.7 inches deep, As a moderate-weight, midsize phone, the 5190 is highly portable and it's also extremely rugged in typical mobile phone environments--including being thrown into bags, cases and even dropped on the floor. The bright backlit display works well with the control keys to simplify finding and making choices. In text mode, five 16-character lines are displayed. The Nokia 5190 combines the latest technologies available in digital wireless today. The Nokia 5190 has one of the longest operating times in the industry. With the Ultra Extended battery, you can enjoy 5 to 8 hours of talk-time and 4 days to 2 weeks of standby time. Features: GSM 1900 One button Navi key On-screen help Large, backlit screen Stores up to 250 entries, depending on SIM card (Sim card not included) Clock with alarm 5 entertaining games Less than 6 ounces, only 5.25 inches tall Battery Life: Digital Talk Time up to 5 hours Digital Standby Time up to 225 hours Analog Talk Time up to 3 hours Analog Standby Time up to 26 hours | ||
| robert lipmar New member Username: Miami_bob Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2006 |
MIKE--find a quad band phone. if the phone has all four frequency bands used by gsm, then you can use it anywhere in the world that has gsm. i tend to use motorola products and the models from 3 years ago sell on ebay for us$50 with quad bands unlocked. i'm sure that nokia will have something great in approximately the same price range. bob | ||
| MIchael Calero New member Username: Michael795 Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2007 |
Thanks Bob, I will do just that with the quad. This way I can use it anywhere. I figure I can find a sim card within walking distance from where I am staying like you mention earlier. Checking ebay and bidding on a razor (with gsm with all four bands.) Bob , email me at mcalero523@aol.com and tell me about your experiences while there. | ||
| Mike New member Username: Canuck Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is it free to receive calls on your cel phone in argentina? Has anyone heard of or tried buying electronics like cel phones or PDAs in Ciudad del Este Paraguay? | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1219 Registered: 12-2004 |
This is a *general* comment about Ciudad del Este and it doesn't mean to sound offensive to anyone. I would equate buying there as buying in 42nd street in NYC. Vendors are savvy and ruthless and a good amount of the merchandise might be "trucha". So, yes, you may find bargains but make sure you never lose contact with the seller, that you test and retest what you are about to buy and that after a successful test vendors package exactly what was tested. Best would be to find a local that might do the buying for you. It may also be a good idea to finetune your bargaining skills. Finally, research further. There may be restrictions on what you might be able to bring back. And be on the alert for your safety. This whole area is tricky, a lot more being traded than just mp3's, digital cameras and speakers. My information may be out of date too... P.S. Most visitors recommend heading straight to the shopping center as opposed to buying in the streets. |
