Using Cell Phones in Brazil

[Edward M]

Plan on returning frequently Stop to Love? If not, best to just rent a phone. If you plan on returning frequently, you'll need an unlocked tri-band or quad-band phone that will accept a SIM chip. Motorola, Sony-Ericcson, Samsung are the brands that quickly come to mind. They can be found on eBay for $150+
Go to www.celluloco.com they have a feature on their site that checks the phones worldwide compatibility.

I got one for "free" by getting a pre-paid plan with Cellular One and I just had to put down $50 for my minutes. I just had to make sure I went to a Cellular One store and not a reseller. The resellers had waiting periods and procedures to unlock the phone but mine was ready to use right away. Funny that the legit Cellular One store and the resellers were all in kiosks in the same mall.

[Java Man]

I am knew at this. Can anyone tell me what type of cell phone I need to bring with me that I can use in Brazil?

Plan on returning frequently Stop to Love? If not, best to just rent a phone. If you plan on returning frequently, you'll need an unlocked tri-band or quad-band phone that will accept a SIM chip. Motorola, Sony-Ericcson, Samsung are the brands that quickly come to mind. They can be found on eBay for $150+
Go to www.celluloco.com they have a feature on their site that checks the phones worldwide compatibility.

[Stop To Love]

I am knew at this. Can anyone tell me what type of cell phone I need to bring with me that I can use in Brazil?

[General Custer]

Hello all,

I am taking my first trip to Rio and SP next month and wondering if anyone has experience with the Vivo wireless service? Seems like they are the only wireless provider to support GSM 850 in Brazil, and the only unlocked phone I have is standard U.S.A. dual band 850/1900 (a Motorola C139). Has anyone used Vivo SIMs in a U.S. dual band phone in Brazil? Is it comparable to Tim/Oi/Claro - buy the sim for prepaid service and recharge as needed with cards? Thanks in advance.

General Custer

[Spinnerman]

I use Tim cause most of my friends in Rio use Tim, so it's cheap to call each other. Dead simple to refill. Dial 222 the voice speaks slowly and clearly tells you your balance, then gives you your options you want numero 1, to refill, then it says in portuguese enter your 16 digit code. Which you do, done, nothing else to do. Dead simple.

[Java Man]

When I first start traveling to Rio, I did not understand the automated menu to recharge the phones, and had the news stand vender do it for me. It's really not that hard.
Currently I'm using Claro. To recharge Claro, dial *500, when the automenu answers enter "2" then enter the code from the recharge card, followed by *.

The fine print on the Recharge card also states you can recharge your GSM phone by dialing *577* followed by the recharge code followed by #

Dial *544# to find how many credits you have left. Claro will send you a free text message with that information and when the credits will expire.

If your looking for an cheap unlocked cell phone, ebay is a good source. Another good vender is: www.N1wireless.com
I purchased my unlocked Morotola RizR from them. They're located in NYC.
If you want to get an unlocked phone in Rio, go to the open air market in Centro. (All those stolen phones have to end up somewhere.) They'll even Mod it for you. I recommend having a local buy it, in order to get a fair price. Like everything else, the price increases when they hear a gringo voice.

FYI, If you're thinking of buying a phone from one of the cellular phone companies, they charge more for phones used with the pre-paid calling cards. Currently the cheapest phone at Claro.com.br, at $R140, is the Samsung C260.

[Ryjerrob]

I was a little intimidated by the whole automated voice system myself. I would ask others to recharge my phone, then started doing it myself. It really wasn't as difficult as I first thought. Another way is if you find a news stand that doesn't actually sell cards, but does the recharge for you. I do have my own vivo phone, but am looking at trying something else since my travel plans are always including new destinations.

ryjer

[Cho 637]

More or less, yes. You have to understand as much Portuguese as is necessary to navigate the menus for the service provider.

Certain stores and travel agencies have the machines you mention. They will send the credits automatically to your phone without you having to enter a code. This does not work for TIM--you still have to enter a code which the machine provides, and so still must understand some Portuguese. For the rest of the providers, you don't have to do anything. You'll automatically have the credits.

You are right, in that you need to understand a little portuguese when using TIM. However, I had it explained to me when I brought the sim card. After inserting the sim card dail *222, then press 1 (for a pre-paid card), then enter the number from the card (scratch off), it will tell you that you were successful. That's it. It will ask you some more questions but it is not necessary to answer them, you will have your credits.

[Jesuscola]

Someone correct me if I am wrong because I have not done this in awhile, but I believe if you purchase a card at a newsstand you have to know Portuguese or have someone who does do it for you.

I have found it easiest to either recharge at the supermarket or at Lojas Americanas. All you have to do is hold up the phone, tell them 21 for the city code, tell them the company - Oi, Claro, Tim (for example) and the amount. All these will appear on screen so you just point if necessary. Then you need to enter your number twice into a keypad. No Portuguese is necessary.

More or less, yes. You have to understand as much Portuguese as is necessary to navigate the menus for the service provider.

Certain stores and travel agencies have the machines you mention. They will send the credits automatically to your phone without you having to enter a code. This does not work for TIM--you still have to enter a code which the machine provides, and so still must understand some Portuguese. For the rest of the providers, you don't have to do anything. You'll automatically have the credits.

[Exec Talent]

Someone correct me if I am wrong because I have not done this in awhile, but I believe if you purchase a card at a newsstand you have to know Portuguese or have someone who does do it for you.

I have found it easiest to either recharge at the supermarket or at Lojas Americanas. All you have to do is hold up the phone, tell them 21 for the city code, tell them the company - Oi, Claro, Tim (for example) and the amount. All these will appear on screen so you just point if necessary. Then you need to enter your number twice into a keypad. No Portuguese is necessary.

[Off Road]

I have a stupid question about cell phones. I have never had a cell phone in brazil, but am thinking of using one next trip. If I bring my own cell phone from the US, will it work, or do you need to get one from there.

Best thing to do imho, is to bring your phone, buy a sim chip here and use that, it will not cost much.
1. You have to have a phone that uses a SIM chip, the cheaper the phone the better, as ET said phones are stolen all the time (just keep in your pocket, do not set them on a table).
2. The phone must be unlocked. Phones are typically electronicly locked to one service provider (cingular, t-mobile, etc). You can test by putting in a friends chip from a different provider and see if it asks for a code when powered on. You can unlock phones from a lot of places, just google cell phone unlock.
3. When you get here, go to TIM, Oi or Claro store and purchase a SIM chip. TIM is R$15. You will need your passport to purchase.
4. This will be a pre-paid chip, you purchase cards as the newstands for various amouts like R$15, R$25. You enter the code on the phone and there you are! Calls are not very expensive.

Some guys will buy a phone there in the US, not too expensive, bring down here and then trade sex on the last day for the phone. You can find a lot of phones that are unlocked on e-bay.

[Jesuscola]

If I had 5 centavos for every person (Brazilians) whose cell phone has been stolen, I would have enough for a free termas program. Although prices have come done here on cell phones, they are still being stolen.

If you are renting an apartment, the agency should be able to provide you with a cell phone. If you stay at a hotel, consider buying a cheap phone and then recharging it at the supermarket or Lojas Americanas.

I wouldn't use your American cell phone, no. It must not only be GSM (3 or 4 band) but unlocked as well. Many apartment rental agencies will provide you with a cell phone, and some provide cell phones for rent at a cheap rate. That said, if you plan on staying longer than 10 days or so, and making frequent trips, consider buying the cheapest phone that Tim or Claro has (on sale, you can occasionally find a cheap Nokia for around R$100 reals), or picking up a Motorola V3 unlocked on Ebay for around $100 US. Then get a chip from your favorite provider for around R$17-R$25 reals.

Used to be that, depending on the provider, the chip would become unusable after 3 months of inactivity, but I understand that a new law has passed that mandates a number stay active for a minimum of 6 months, regardless of provider. So if you know you're coming at least every 6 months, it may make sense to get your own phone and number. Just make the phone a disposable one as ET advises.

[Exec Talent]

Yes, your phone will work but you may have to have "international roaming " activated by your service provider before you leave on your trip. Remember, you will be using international roaming which can cost much more than your regular charges (T-Mobile is $2.99 a minute).As long as your phone is GSM (has a sim card), you can purchase a sim card from a local service provider like TIM, or Claro (about R17), then you can purchase a pre-paid card (for minutes) from any newstand. Much, much cheaper than international roaming.

If I had 5 centavos for every person (Brazilians) whose cell phone has been stolen, I would have enough for a free termas program. Although prices have come done here on cell phones, they are still being stolen.

If you are renting an apartment, the agency should be able to provide you with a cell phone. If you stay at a hotel, consider buying a cheap phone and then recharging it at the supermarket or Lojas Americanas.

[Cho 637]

I have a stupid question about cell phones. I have never had a cell phone in brazil, but am thinking of using one next trip. If I bring my own cell phone from the US, will it work, or do you need to get one from there.

Yes, your phone will work but you may have to have "international roaming " activated by your service provider before you leave on your trip. Remember, you will be using international roaming which can cost much more than your regular charges (T-Mobile is $2.99 a minute).As long as your phone is GSM (has a sim card), you can purchase a sim card from a local service provider like TIM, or Claro (about R17), then you can purchase a pre-paid card (for minutes) from any newstand. Much, much cheaper than international roaming.

[Brazilman]

I have a stupid question about cell phones. I have never had a cell phone in brazil, but am thinking of using one next trip. If I bring my own cell phone from the US, will it work, or do you need to get one from there.