Mexico has a variety of telephone services from simple traditional land lines, to sophisticated 3G wireless technology. The dominant company for land line services is Telmex. However, this is more expensive so Mexicans typically turn to other options. The most common option is the international calling card. These cards provide the consumer with significant discounts on long?distance and international calls.
Wireless Services in Mexico
In urban areas, VOIP services are used to facilitate communication. These include Skype, and Vonage. As far as mobile services are concerned, the cellular telephone service is extensive. America M'vil a spin-off of TelMex offers a mobile phone service under the name TelSol. Other mobile service providers include IUSACELL and Movistar. In rural areas, Telcel may be the only option to get coverage. Telcel also has coverage for larger cities. Incoming and outgoing calls between mobiles are very expensive, especially when compared to fixed lines. Mexico is divided into regions. Charges will increase significantly if a call is made outside the home region. Check with each phone operator about possible discounts. Depending on the amount of time that will be spent in Mexico, contract plans, pre-paid plans, and Sim cards are available.
For a shorter period of time, a Sim card would be best. Many companies offer a traveler{s sim card, enabling the traveler to use their own cell phone by inserting a small chip. Refill cards are available to increase the credit on the phone. For a longer period of time, a contract may work better. Contracts offer lower charges, but there is a line rental and minimum terms. The contract usually lasts for one to two years. Pre-paid services in Mexico offer access to the Mexican phone network without the minimum contract term. On the other hand, the charges are the highest of options. Roaming with a rented cell phone means that you will pay for all calls in addition to a daily fee. This fee may not include insurance. Call destination and time of day are factors that influence the rate. This option is no longer a very popular way to receive mobile services in Mexico.
Calling Mexico from Abroad
To call Mexico from the US, dial 011 followed by 52, Mexico's country code. Then dial the area code and Mexican phone number. To call the US, dial 00, 1, followed by the area code and phone number.
