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JD - 03 Feb 2004 02:51 GMT

None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.

I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

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michael turner - 03 Feb 2004 03:04 GMT

> None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
>
> I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
> whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

This is for GSM coverage in Mexico.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_mx.shtml

Signature

Michael Turner

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Matthew - 03 Feb 2004 03:37 GMT

>None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
>
>I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
>whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

I have used my T-Mobile phone successfully in Merida, Yucatan many
times. It operates on the same frequency as US phones. If you have
a multiband switch to whatever you would use in the States.

Coverage is fine in Merida and for about 20Km in the surrounding
undeveloped areas. It works fine in Progresso as well.
You do lose coverage the farther you get from the city. Going east on
180 you lose signal past Uman and going west you lose signal around
Izimal. You again pick up signal east as you get to Campeche and west
it works again near Vallodolid.

The only problem is that the caller identification shows a random
local number at some Telco switch if the caller is not in Mexico. You
can receive calls from anywhere using your usual mobile number,
however unless the caller is in Mexico it will be some nonsense caller
ID number.

I hope you find this useful.

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Pavel - 03 Feb 2004 08:35 GMT

: The only problem is that the caller identification shows a random
: local number at some Telco switch if the caller is not in Mexico. You
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
:
: I hope you find this useful.

I find this useful. Do you know if the same is true in Cancun?

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JD - 03 Feb 2004 11:08 GMT

great, thanks

> >None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> I hope you find this useful.

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Donald Newcomb - 03 Feb 2004 04:19 GMT

> None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
>
> I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
> whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

I'm pretty sure the answer is, "Yes." Telcel has brought up GSM-1900 in most
of the tourist spots. Iusacell has extensive CDMA coverage. I think Verizon
roams on Iusacell.

Donald Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

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Mike S. - 03 Feb 2004 16:53 GMT

>> None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>of the tourist spots. Iusacell has extensive CDMA coverage. I think Verizon
>roams on Iusacell.

We're travelling to Cancun this spring and I've been looking at the
options. Like most foreign destinations, the cheapest per-minute rate
seems to be with local prepaid.

I see that Telcel has an "Amigo" prepaid GSM package, but an unable to
determine whether they officially sell SIM cards without a phone.

The US resellers (e.g. Telestial) do sell Amigo SIMs but, as usual, their
prices for the SIM alone seem to be what you'd pay in the foreign
destination for SIM _and_ phone! (These are the guys who'll happily sell
you a T-Mobile USA $30 Easyspeak starter pack for $99 without blinking an
eye).

Any guidance/experience?

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John Cummings - 03 Feb 2004 04:39 GMT

> None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
>
> I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
> whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

I was nearby, in Calica/Playa del Carmen on January 4th
and Cozumel on the 5th. I found no cellular CDMA with
a Motorola SC-725 (AMPS A and B), and TDMA on B with
a Motorola M77a.

I use a Cingular Nokia 6340i, and was expecting to
use Tellcell GSM 1900 MHz per the international
roaming section of their website. Instead, the
6340i locked on Telcell's A-cellular analog. I
moved my SIM to a Nokia 5190, and was on MEX-02
(Telcell, 334-020) at $.79/minute. A CS tech fixed
up the "prefer GSM" section of the account once I
got back, so I'm ready for next time (if ever).

Here's a map at GSM World:
http://www.gsmworld.com/cgi/imap_gsminfo.pl5?cou=mx&net=rm&z=3&x=23&y=17&frame=middle

http://www.telcel.com/gsm/international/roaming2.htm?origen=footer

Hunting around here makes me think VW doesn't have
a Mexico partner:
http://www.vzwrentinternational.com/

John C.

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Pavel - 03 Feb 2004 08:37 GMT

"John Cummings" <n4bkn.no@spam.bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:IAFTb.11424

: I use a Cingular Nokia 6340i, and was expecting to
: use Tellcell GSM 1900 MHz per the international
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
: up the "prefer GSM" section of the account once I
: got back, so I'm ready for next time (if ever).

Curious, what do you mean by "prefer GSM" section of the account?

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John Cummings - 03 Feb 2004 16:38 GMT

> "John Cummings" <n4bkn.no@spam.bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:IAFTb.11424

> : I
> : moved my SIM to a Nokia 5190, and was on MEX-02
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Curious, what do you mean by "prefer GSM" section of the account?

I suppose that "prefer GSM" was a setting for the
6340i, sent to the SIM by the tech.

John C.

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Michael Notforyou - 04 Feb 2004 01:01 GMT

> > None of the carriers seem to be able to tell me.
> >
> > I am going to visit Merida Mexico, in the Yucatan. Can anyone tell me
> > whether Verizon (CDMA) or GSM coverage will work there?

Verizon Wireless uses Iusacell, Comcel, Portatel (Sur and Sureste),
and Telcom Golfo as their roaming partners in Mexico.

According the PRL 50113, the roaming partner for Merida is Portatel
del Sureste, and I sure can't find a Website for Portatel at all!

I did find this about roaming partner Iusacell:
"Grupo Iusacell is a wireless cellular and PCS service provider in
seven of Mexico's nine regions, including Mexico City, Guadalajara,
Monterrey, Tijuana, Acapulco, Puebla, Leon and Merida. The Company's
service regions encompass a total of approximately 92 million POPs,
representing approximately 90% of the country's total population."

Either call Verizon Wireless customer service at *611 from your mobile
phone or Iusacell at +5218003334321.

*Michael Notforyou*

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