Post: #1

Any tri-band cell phone will work. I'm using the LG KS360 which is nice for text messaging:
http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_ks360-2467.php

If you're not sure whether your phone will work in a country simply use this site:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml

For Colombia the system is simple: those who make the call or send the text message gets charged. You can receive calls/messages for free. As a result, girls almost always answer their phone. The three companies are Movistar, Comcel, and Tigo. Comcel seems to be the most popular so it would be a good idea to go with them as you can get discounted calls with other people using the same service. To get good discounts, simply recharge your phone on days they have a "triple" promotion, where you get 3x what you put in.

Brazil is a little more confusing. I've used Claro and TIM (another company is Vivo), and I'm pretty sure you can charged to send AND receive. As you can imagine this is ridiculously expensive and one long phone call with a girl can cost something like 5 dollars. But each company has "promotional" minutes and sometimes I make calls that are free, though I don't know why. It's like playing the lottery. If you have TIM you can check your balance real quick by putting in *222# then send.

In Argentina I used Movistar but don't remember their charging structure.

One thing about South America is that there can be a huge delay with text messages. I would say about 3% of my text messages take several hours to get to the recipient. The other week I was with a girl and her phone beep beeps with a text message I sent to her five hour before.

Post: #2

(11-15-2009 12:07 PM)Roosh Wrote:  As a result, girls almost always answer their phone.

One thing about South America is that there can be a huge delay with text messages. I would say about 3% of my text messages take several hours to get to the recipient. The other week I was with a girl and her phone beep beeps with a text messaging I sent to her five hour before.

That is some very interesting insight that would explain a lot when I look back at some of my own experiences.

Post: #3

Some thoughts:

- make sure your cellphone is unlocked.

- Of the 3 countries, Colombia was the most expensive. Partly because the man is always the one paying for the call, and partly because the minutes were just plain expensive. I'm not sure but my guess would be like $0.20 a minute. Argentina was the cheapest by far. Partly because its a very text-happy country (Im assuming texts were cheaper), and partly because the fees were just cheaper. Brazil i dot remember too well, but probably expensive.

-Comparatively, cell phones in the US cost much less. Lots of things are actually surprisingly cheaper in the US.

Post: #4

I don't want to have to worry about my phone getting jacked. I'm thinking of using calling cards as an alternative or renting a cellphone. Any suggestions on those two?

Post: #5

(03-16-2010 01:41 PM)feomateo Wrote:  I don't want to have to worry about my phone getting jacked. I'm thinking of using calling cards as an alternative or renting a cellphone. Any suggestions on those two?

Just buy a cheap phone locally for 30 bucks if this is a huge concern for you. You can get these anywhere.

Post: #6

Colombia is text happy too! Women always have minutes to sms back-n-forth. You have a 90% chance of getting a reply when you sms.

Unless she is on a date, or already in a motel bangin - Colombian women answer their cell phones 95% of the time as there is no charge.

otherwise, you get the infamous "I cannot hear you" reply if she does not want to talk to you at that moment.

Post: #7

Using calling cards is a good idea if you dont want to get laid.

Post: #8

I know this is against the grain of everyone on here, but in recently in DR, I went no cell phone. Cold kicked it old-school, and used a time and a place for meetings. Small place though.

In Cartagena, I used my hotel phone. No cell phone. Cost me like $20 in total. Used super strong Game and only told girls I would call them in the afternoons.

Headaches from non-stop calls and texting: Zero.

I wouldn't necessarily advise this for others though. Unless you have been swooping fly girls since the days when Kurt Cobain shot himself dead and made his head all red like that little orphan Annie.

This all being said, for future, I think I will get a cell phone, regardless of how much I hate them.

Partytime,

"make sure your cellphone is unlocked."

How do you do this? I guess I need my IT guy to look into it.

Post: #9

(03-16-2010 07:12 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Partytime,

"make sure your cellphone is unlocked."

How do you do this? I guess I need my IT guy to look into it.

Depends on your cell phone. Do you have a GSM phone? (one that has a small chip inside you can remove).

if you use Sprint or a non-GSM carrier (Verizon/Sprint are non-GSM carriers) you're SOL.


If you have a GSM phone, you can request the unlock code after you have completed your contract with your carrier - or take it to a local phone techie in flea markets that sell cell phones. They will have a device to unlock your GSM phone.

Finally, If you have an Iphone, then its much easier!!

Post: #10

In Argentina, go with Claro. Stick with texting (recommended) and go with the pre-paid cards. When you buy a 50 peso card, you will get a 40 peso "regalo" for a total of 90 pesos of credits. I think it's something like 4 texts per peso.

If you're only texting, this will last you 2 months.

Post: #11

(03-16-2010 07:12 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  "make sure your cellphone is unlocked."

Personally I have a second, cheaper cell phone for travel. This way if I loose it or it gets stolen, i have no worries.

Lots of unlocked cells on ebay. you can also google how to unlock a particular model. sometimes its hard.

Its fun to look into your travel phone every now and then and see how many foreign girls you have in there

Post: #12

(03-18-2010 12:04 AM)gringoed Wrote:  In Argentina, go with Claro.

Yeah, claro is cheaper and more widely used. SIM cards cost 5 pesos, and texts cost 0.35 pesos. Talk minutes are about 1 peso each. Outgoing is charged only.

Post: #13

Read a lot of Colombia threads so far... didn't run into advice on what do as phones go in 2015.

I have an iPhone 6 with Verizon. Any tips on the best course of action in 2015 when I hit Colombia? I don't know where to begin.

Post: #14

(03-28-2015 03:35 AM)Travesty444 Wrote:  Read a lot of Colombia threads so far... didn't run into advice on what do as phones go in 2015.

I have an iPhone 6 with Verizon. Any tips on the best course of action in 2015 when I hit Colombia? I don't know where to begin.

Verizon iPhone 6 should come unlocked out of the box. You could make a quick call to Verizon customer service to confirm this. There is a SIM slot on the size of the phone with a small hole. Use a pin to press into the hole to remove the tray. Save the nano-SIM from verizon and purchase a Colombian SIM when you arrive. You can purchase a pre-paid SIM from Tigo, Claro, UFF, at most malls depending on where you're flying to.

Post: #15

(03-28-2015 03:35 AM)Travesty444 Wrote:  Read a lot of Colombia threads so far... didn't run into advice on what do as phones go in 2015.

I have an iPhone 6 with Verizon. Any tips on the best course of action in 2015 when I hit Colombia? I don't know where to begin.

Typically I don't think Verizon phones will work here because it's not on GSM, but I think the iPhone 6 can function on GSM and CDMA (don't trust me on this). Here's a discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6531135

1) Make sure you have an unlocked GSM compatible phone. In the US that is AT&T or T-Mobile.

2) Go to a Claro or Tigo office and buy a Sim (around $5). You can even do this at other random businesses specializing in phones.

3) Add money to your account

4) Choose the service you want. In Claro they send you a text telling you how to choose; I'm not sure with Tigo.

When you go to get the Sim card the first time they will take care of steps 2-4 for you. After your first plan expires you will need to do steps 3-4 by either going back to their office or recharging your account at an Exito or other location and then do step 4 on your own.

Post: #16

Ok I found two modern and useful links for international phone newbies like me:

http://medellinliving.com/how-to-buy-use...-colombia/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407896,00.asp

This help me put together:
-SIM cards
-unlocked vs locked
-GSM vs CDMA vs 4G LTE

Last question:

Let's say I decided to puss and not bring my Verizon iPhone 6 even if it will work there with a SIM card (my research suggests it will) because of fear of a mugging.

Is my bet to buy an inexpensive used, pre-paid Android phone at a Claro store?

Or are prices better going on eBay or Amazon Wireless and looking for a cheap unlocked, GSM compatible smart phone that I won't care if I lose it?

I will research this myself now, hoping for any more tips.

I will be in Colombia probably 3-4 weeks total.

Post: #17

I've never looked at phone prices here, but almost all electronics are cheaper in the US. If you buy used there you could probably sell it at the end of the trip for the same or more. Check out olx.com, which is the craigslist of Colombia.

Post: #18

I'm bringing iPhone 5 and 6plus. Plan is to use iPhone 5 and if something happens to it, Ihave my 6.

If nothing happens to it, sell it maybe.

Post: #19

iPhone 5s:

Quote:
Model A1533 (GSM)*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
Model A1533 (CDMA)*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25)
Model A1453*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26)
Model A1457*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
Model A1530*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20); TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40)

iPhone 6:

Quote:Model A1549 (GSM)*
Model A1522 (GSM)*

UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)

Model A1549 (CDMA)*
Model A1522 (CDMA)*

CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)

Model A1586*
Model A1524*

CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)

TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)

https://www.apple.com/iphone-6/specs/

https://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/specs/

Anything before a 5 might not have universal bands, the Verizon 5 I used for a while didn't have AT&Ts bands for LTE so I was stuck with DC HSPA+

Post: #20

Hey guys,

About to buy iPhone 5 from Virgin Mobile (on sale for 200 but the 50 bucks account credit feels like its 150) but I want to get it unlocked. Virgin Mobile is telling me I have to use the phone for a year to get the unlock code.

Any suggestions? Would really appreciate it, about to go to South America in September.

Post: #21

(08-06-2016 12:08 PM)Franks Wrote:  Hey guys,

About to buy iPhone 5 from Virgin Mobile (on sale for 200 but the 50 bucks account credit feels like its 150) but I want to get it unlocked. Virgin Mobile is telling me I have to use the phone for a year to get the unlock code.

Any suggestions? Would really appreciate it, about to go to South America in September.

Just don't buy it then if you need it unlocked sooner. Buy a superior unlocked one off eBay or Swappa.com or something. You can get an unlocked 5c or 5S for even less than $200 USD. Virgin's not really hooking you up too much here.

Post: #22

Can I also use those unlocked iPhones while I travel to South America? As I change the nano Sim card that is.
It never occurred to me how I should maintain communication with the locals in, lets say Argentina. WhatsApp is good but WiFi can only last for so long. I haven't looked into "world phones" or burner phones either.

I was deep in research about GSM and CDMA use with iPhones. Started to get a little confusing when it came down to compatibility.

Data and text is good enough for me. Minutes...ehh not so much.