taking U.S.A cellphnoes to Colombia

Crazy4Cali says on Oct 20, 2006, 13:09:

Try Google search and you can find this thread

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Peter Miami says on Oct 20, 2006, 13:30:

Buy it in Colombia I always take my cellular and it work in Colombia but I think it might be better for you to buy one there, they are very cheap.

Peter Miami

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ColombiaVeg.com says on Oct 20, 2006, 14:17:

US Cell Phones in Colombia Mr Bell, pretty much any GSM phone from the US will work in Colombia, with one condition: Most are sold locked. You will need to unlock it either in the US or Colombia. In Colombia, the cost depends on how new the model is. The newer, the more they will charge you. If it is too new, they may not have the necessary software to unlock it yet. So take a model that has been around 6 to 12 months. I unlocked an older model last year in Bogota for about $10 dollars. It works fine. Once you slip in a chip from a Colombian providor, you will be fine. In fact, the people unlocking your phone should tell you if you can expect any problems. For a compatible GSM phone, worst case is the loss of some of the phone's unsupported extra features. I have also seen unlocked cell phones sold on Ebay. You may also get a free or very cheap cell phone from the cell service provider in Colombia, if you contract for post-pay service.

Hope that helps!

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tejasmarcos says on Oct 20, 2006, 15:54:

cell phone prices are generally higher here than in the USA, as are all electronics for that matter. the key as stated above is to bring your own unlocked gsm phone. i use an ulocked motorola razr and it works fine.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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medellinmike says on Oct 20, 2006, 18:14:

USA Cellulars in Colombia Hello,,,, Yes these guys are all correct, ColombiaVeg , tejasmarcos and miami peter, better to get a plan here if your here for any stay over 3 months, those cards can get alot more expensive than a $50 USD month plan that has 500 minutes plus...Comcel has all the latest phones, the GOLD V3i with chip,is only 849 thousand pesos thats only 350 USD same as on ebay....the black , silver and blue are cheaper...the cards sell for 15 thousand pesos and to reprogram any GSM phone is 30 thou pesos

have a great week

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Robert Jorge says on Oct 20, 2006, 22:44:

Just bought a pink Moto Razr for 520.000 2 months ago; Comcell. The silver color was almost 100.000 cheaper! That was at a Comcell in Villavo. Shop around. You can find different prices at every store / kiosk. You might be able to do better. You can get a basic cell for about $20 US at Comcell. A new SIM in Colombia costs 15.000 pesos. My opinion, just buy a new phone for 15 bucks, and save your time and effort. Take a passport size photo, with copy of passport. Even if buying a SIM, it is required by the government.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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panthdave says on Oct 21, 2006, 04:23:

Agree Unlock GSM Phone is the way to go.. Learned my lesson with my Sprint Phone with roaming rates..which does work in Medellin but got killed so now I have a comcel sim chip with a unlocked GSM phone..and leave the Sprint phone home..You can get very cheap unlocked gsm phones unless you need the fancy phone.. I am more conservative and spent only 40.00 and works great...to what I need it for...Phone calls...Don't need video-pictures-internet...email...Just need to receive and make calls.. I also can forward my calls from Sprint phone at home to my comcel phone for .20 per minute on the international plan if I want..

panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

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el norteño says on Oct 24, 2006, 06:14:

Nextel Panthdave,

Your Sprint phone worked in Colombia?
You didn't need to pay a Colombian provider?
Also, what does GSM mean?
Thanks

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johnarizona says on Oct 24, 2006, 23:25:

2-3 bucks a minute for most usa based plans but in colombia you can go to an internet cafe and pay about 500 pesos a minute to call the usa...thats what about a quarter?, 10 times less than your home plan...leave cell at home and go to internet cafe and send emails and make calls.

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poco says on Oct 25, 2006, 13:52:

Everything is higher in Colombia are generally higher here than in the USA, as are all electronics for that matter.

Unless of course you "get around the tax",, Let's see,, that is a minimum of 16%. So, if you try to get around the tax by bringing in a phone then you are a cheap skate and want to TAKE MONEY AWAY from the national government,,, what a thought to post here,,

When you state that bringing an item is cheaper,, you might as well be saying "I KNOW LETS BEAT SOME POOR COLOMBIAN VENDOR OUT OF A SALE".

I'm so cheap I also want to beat some poor people out of a few bucks the government collects to use for their medical care.

This is typical of the "UGLY AMERICAN SYNDROME" or to put it in other words,, "STUPID GRINGO" thinking.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Luke says on Oct 25, 2006, 21:28:

Sprint My Sprint phone works in Colombia, but it goes through Movistar. Cheaper to use an internet cafe.....

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el norteño says on Oct 26, 2006, 16:48:

internet cafe The times I've used internet cafes for calls the quality has been awful. 99% of the time I use email. But, it's good to know if I have to speak to someone, I can use my Sprint phone.

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Caveman says on Oct 26, 2006, 18:00:

phones and taxes if the taxes really pay for medical care then why do i read in other postings that there is a cost of about a 100 US dollars a month have i been reading information that is in correct ?.

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Crazy4Cali says on Oct 26, 2006, 21:07:

$100/mo? That's the gringo tax levied on Colombianas who have gringo boyfriends.

When DIAN finds out a Colombiana has a gringo boyfriend, they tell her that she must call her gringo boyfriend and have him send her $100/mo (or more depending on what estrato she lives in). That's why many gringos comment here (and elsewhere, I suppose) that their Colombian girlfriends ask them for money every month.

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panthdave says on Oct 27, 2006, 02:57:

Correct Sprint Phone works on Movistar Old Network Movistar and Comcel are promoting GSM but they still have the CDMA Network so you can roam with your Sprint Phone but I advise you not to do that unless you unlimited funds and don't care about a 300-400 Cellphone bill...NOT ME...I have a unlocked GSM phone or I use my main girls cellphone in Medellin..Even if you have unlimited funds that is such a waste to pay 2.00 per minute..for any outbound or inbound usage local or international..Will be in Medellin next weekend and hope the Dollar goes back to normal.. The Dollar took a dump yesterday against the Peso..

Peace Out



panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

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nine inch nails says on Nov 17, 2006, 07:28:

WHERE TO HAVE SIM CHIP REPLACED OR PURCHASE COMCEL PRE-PAID?? My last trip to MDE they would not sell me either a chip or pre-paid phone because I was not a CO citizen. I was only there 3 days so did not have the time to further pursue, however if anyone could please provide me some gouge for my next trip (hopefully soon) I would greatly appreciate it. I was thinking I could offer my taxista a little extra $$$ to purchase a pre-paid phone in his name if he was willing.

get down, get down. are you afraid of the boogie monster?

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