Using Cell Phones in Brazil

[Oakwood99]

While I already have a pre-paid phone I use in Brasil, I recently invested in a new BlackBerry to help me stay connected with work, and other various electronic accounts. This is the "world phone edition" so I assume that means this phone is already unlocked, and I just need to purchase a sim card in the particular country where I will be traveling. Not something I necessary need to do, but was a bonus of getting a new phone. I would imagine that as technology advances, there will be more and more world phones marketed to the international traveler/mongerer.

Hell, I may be even selling my pre-paid Vivo phone for what I initially invested, R$50.

ryjer

Where did you get your prepaid phone from? I normally get it from my apartment vendor, this time I went with somone else. Is there a place to rent one for 9 days on Copa?

Thanks

[Pokerjay1]

Thanks for the info and you're right about being able to atleast make the international call from your bed in the room or from the beach.

[Ryjerrob]

While doing a little research on my particular BlackBerry, I came across a link for roaming INFO. I hope this is of help to some.

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_br.shtml

ryjer

[Orgasm Donor]

I'm waiting on the info of making calls to the united staes with the new brazil chip and number. Would you happen to know what it cost with the Brazil number as opposed to using the American chip with international calling activated. I am not interested in checkin voicemails, but I will have to call back to the united states more than few times. The internet cafe small bills start to add up. Not that it will break the bank but I was looking for a cheaper more convenient alternative to going into the internet cafe.

So really to sum it up, if you can, please let me know what are the rates for calling out of brasil with a tim chip and when recieving calls from the united states (ie. Someone calling you from the US) is it free?

You said something about 25 centavos per minute. Curious to know, is that about the same rate you get when using the pay phones? I've always used pay phones for calls to the chicas and so forth (what a rookie! ). I know those cards (for the pay phones) run out in no time so its probably more. Expensive.

The 25 Centavos was for SMS texting. 25 Centavos per SMS text.
Calling the USA with your "Brazilianized" phone should be cheaper. Considering that if you used a US service, you are usually charged for "international roaming" rates PLUS "international calling" rates. Meaning, "international roaming" rates are for the add'l cost for a US service using the Brazil system. I.E. The difference between using your ATT phone in Brasil to call a chica on the other side of the city, or using your ATT phone in Brasil, using the Brasil phone system to call internationally... the more complicated it gets, the more it costs, and probably the crappier the connection.

CALLING WITH TIM

local calls
(# of the phone)
different city
(0-41-area code- # of the phone)
international
(00-41-country code-area code- # of the phone)

Im not really clear with how the rates are, probably the internet is cheaper, but there if you keep your calls brief and only to "touch base" with the US, it shouldnt be too bad. Consider the luxury of being able to call the US from your hotel room, without using the pricey hotel LD service, or imagine yourself somewhere rural or the beach and being able to make that call.

I didnt make any calls the the US while I was in Brasil so I dont know the rates. Perhaps someome else can contribute here.

Here is the link for international visitors using TIM cell service.

http://www.tim.com.br/portal/site/Po...web_estado=21&

[Pokerjay1]

I'm waiting on the info of making calls to the united staes with the new brazil chip and number. Would you happen to know what it cost with the Brazil number as opposed to using the American chip with international calling activated. I am not interested in checkin voicemails, but I will have to call back to the united states more than few times. The internet cafe small bills start to add up. Not that it will break the bank but I was looking for a cheaper more convenient alternative to going into the internet cafe.

So really to sum it up, if you can, please let me know what are the rates for calling out of brasil with a tim chip and when recieving calls from the united states (ie. Someone calling you from the US) is it free?

You said something about 25 centavos per minute. Curious to know, is that about the same rate you get when using the pay phones? I've always used pay phones for calls to the chicas and so forth (what a rookie! ). I know those cards (for the pay phones) run out in no time so its probably more. Expensive.

[Orgasm Donor]

I also have a world phone. I didn't realize that I needed to call and have it unlocked. I guess that's a slight security feature. If you loose the phone, and it's not unlocked, the finder needs to put some work into unlocking it. I may do the same for my next trip.

ryjer

Well, sort of security...
The real purpose for locked phones is to keep you locked into their contract until theyve recouped real cost of your "free phone".
IMHO its a pain in the ass for everybody.
I suppose I can use the "keypad security lock" feature, but that turns into a PAIN every time I want to shoot off a quick text.

Oh yes, one more thing. Call customer service and double check that you have international calling on your phone.

Yes I know they advertise it as a "World Phone" but that doesnt mean theyve turned on your international service! I found this out the hard way. Dont wait until you are in another country to find this out!
And just because you are being charged for it does not guarantee it has been activated. Turns out I was being charged for this service for 2 years and found out it hadnt actually been activated!

Sometimes they just charge you for the extra features on your service and hope you never use them.

I see in the last couple posts the Blackberry being mentioned. Being touted as a "world phone" but I would be shy about using the "data services" in Brasil unless you really know what you are doing. Most "smart phones" sold in the USA assume you have purchased the "unlimited data" plan and encourage you to stream music and video all day long. So Id be really careful about this to avoid any surprises when you get home. I guess it would depend if you are using SMS texting or actual internet email. Ive never owned a Blackberry, so Im not up on how exactly they work. Perhaps someone can contribute here.

OD

[Orgasm Donor]

Ogasm doner. Very informative. Thanks.

I have my 3rd Rio tip coming up very shortly, about 16 days to be exact but who's counting. ME! LOL

Anyway, I found this forum about 6 months ago so you can imagine I've traveled to brazil not knowing 70% of the great information you guys provide. I need to have a cell phone next time I go and wanted to know in detail if you can whhat it is that I have to do. Where to purchase a basic phone? Where to purchase a sim card? What kind of sim card does it need to be? Can I call and recieve calls from the united states?

Thanks

Yes there is more info on here than just mongering! In fact, I find it MORE informative than your typical travel websites!

Anyhow, Electronics are VERY expensive in Brasil! Try to buy something in the USA, Ive bought a RAZR V3 on Amazon, unblocked. It has been said there are some poor older versions out there. My latest was a ATT RAZR V3 GoPhone, bought outright from BestBuy. $120. Great phone, but it was still blocked. If you read my early posts, they will not unblock it until after 6 months, and was a PAIN to even get them to understand what I was trying to do.

Once in Brasil, there are privately owned cell-phone shops that can unblock it. The key word is "DESBLOQUEADO CELLULAR" to look for in shop windows. I got mine done in Belem, for $30 reals.

I chose TIM for my service because all my other contacts in Brasil used TIM as well. I dont know if it made a difference, but sometimes they make it cheaper to call or text someone on the same service. It cost 25 centavos per text. The preferred method of communicating in Brasil.

You can get a SIM chip almost anywhere, most news kiosks sell them, but they probably will not be able to help you register whereas a small phone shop can help you through the routine. You will need a passport for ID, the chica I was with just let me register on her ID. I bought her $20 reals of credits for the favor, and also insured that she could reply to my messages.

I wish I could tell you the routine to "RECARGA" (add more credits), but my helpful chica also helped me with that. You have to go through these portuguese voice menus, So if anybody want to help out here by giving a step-by-step on this routine, please contribute.

You can always do some "social engineering", ask nicely. Who knows, that cute chica on Copacabana might add her number to your phone book. Ask the concierge at your hotel, or drop into the phone shop.

You can call, and receive calls from the USA, with your new Brasil number. Ill post info about that in the next day or two. On occasion you can pop in your USA SIM chip, but it will be way expensive. You will be paying for international roaming, which will be lots more expensive than making a simple international call on your "Brazilianized" phone. Remember, checking your voicemail in the USA will be a bit more complicated. It will no longer be simple as pressing a button. You will have to access the USA first, then know your voicemail number after that.

A few years ago, I was in Rio when I had T-mobile on contract. My work in USA called me and my phone rang just like it was a local call. They had no idea where I was. But this time, with my ATT PrePay service, my phone just said "no signal" or "emergency calls only" until I put my Brasil SIM in.

OD

[Poucolouco]

If you are technical you can install the correct language pack to get the languages you want. Language packs are not too difficult, but do require some tools.

But you are absolutly on target, you might not know what you are getting.

By tools are you referring to software or hardware? The glass lens breaks easily on the V3. I bought extra lenses and the tools to open the case. They use a lot of silicone to seal it shut and the screws are micro miniature. After that experience I won't open it up again. Now if I were so inclined to do so, what might I need software-wise to install language packs?

[Off Road]

I think OD mentioned but to restate it:
To test your phone in the USA to see if it is unlocked - get a chip from another vendor, borrow a friends, see it if will work in your phone. For example, if you have Cingular, borrow a T-mobile chip and try. If it asks for a carrier password, your phone is locked (do not recall the exact text, but a password). It it works, your phone is unlocked. There are dozens of ways to unlock, search on google (e.g. unlock blackberry curve), you will get dozens of hits.

To purchase a sim chip here in brazil you need to bring your original passport and show them. They will register the chip for you. If you have a CPF (CEP is the zip code here), they will register with that (CPF is like our SSN). At TIM store the chip is R$15 and includes a few minutes. You can purchase credit when you buy the card, but they will want cash. You can purchase more credit at the newsstands.

You can also contact some of us who live here and are happy to help you unlock your phone and buy a chip. I have done this for quite a number of friends, but depends on my schedule of course.

[Off Road]

I have purchased several unblocked V3s on the internet for prices ranging around $150 each. But as Forest Gump said, "sometimes you never know what you're gonna get". The V3i that I use daily was purchased for a girl friend but when we opened the box and tried to set the language to Portuguese, discovered the only language options were English, Behasa Melaya, and Malyan Characters which take up all the language space in the firmware of the phone. Consequently I kept this phone in English and bought another for the gf.

If you are technical you can install the correct language pack to get the languages you want. Language packs are not too difficult, but do require some tools.

But you are absolutly on target, you might not know what you are getting.

[Ryjerrob]

Just in case anyone wants to know. I live in NY and have a Mororola Blackberry curve which can be used worldwide. I called Tmobile and had the phone unlocked and now all I have to do is buy a sim card from TIM or another brazilian carrier I think.

An alternative to those of you who don't want to purchase another phone for your travels.

I also have a world phone. I didn't realize that I needed to call and have it unlocked. I guess that's a slight security feature. If you loose the phone, and it's not unlocked, the finder needs to put some work into unlocking it. I may do the same for my next trip.

ryjer

[Poucolouco]

I have an original V3 and very happy with it (flashed and flexed though). What did you find better with a newer model?

I have unblocked other V3s for friends here in Rio (V3i and others). Some are a real pain to unlock (requires test point grounding, and some have a shield over the tp).

I would recomend to others, buy a unblocked phone from ebay, you can reconditioned ones that are pretty cheap, the V3 is popular. You can probably trade it on the last night for TLN sex with a gal, or two nights!

I have purchased several unblocked V3s on the internet for prices ranging around $150 each. But as Forest Gump said, "sometimes you never know what you're gonna get". The V3i that I use daily was purchased for a girl friend but when we opened the box and tried to set the language to Portuguese, discovered the only language options were English, Behasa Melaya, and Malyan Characters which take up all the language space in the firmware of the phone. Consequently I kept this phone in English and bought another for the gf.

[Pokerjay1]

Just in case anyone wants to know. I live in NY and have a Mororola Blackberry curve which can be used worldwide. I called Tmobile and had the phone unlocked and now all I have to do is buy a sim card from TIM or another brazilian carrier I think.

An alternative to those of you who don't want to purchase another phone for your travels.

[Pokerjay1]

I have a Motorola curve by Tmobile.

Can I buy a Brazilian sim card and use it in Rio.

Where and how?

[Pokerjay1]

Ogasm doner. Very informative. Thanks.

I have my 3rd Rio tip coming up very shortly, about 16 days to be exact but who's counting. ME! LOL

Anyway, I found this forum about 6 months ago so you can imagine I've traveled to brazil not knowing 70% of the great information you guys provide. I need to have a cell phone next time I go and wanted to know in detail if you can whhat it is that I have to do. Where to purchase a basic phone? Where to purchase a sim card? What kind of sim card does it need to be? Can I call and recieve calls from the united states?

Thanks