Using cellphones in Colombia

[Ricker]

$200. Hmmm not sure if I'd want to carry such a fancy phone in Colombia.

I do have one last question. Once I get a quad band GMS or what ever phone it should work once I slip in my Movistar sim card into it correct? Once there just buy credits for calls and credits for internet and I'm off and running? Using Wi Fi for the internet vs their system correct?

Well I guess that's more like 3 questions. Thanks ya'll!

Yes, and make sure it's already unlocked too.

[SlamCity7777]

How could you not.

http://techland.time.com/2013/08/28/...-iphone-looms/

$200. Hmmm not sure if I'd want to carry such a fancy phone in Colombia.

I do have one last question. Once I get a quad band GMS or what ever phone it should work once I slip in my Movistar sim card into it correct? Once there just buy credits for calls and credits for internet and I'm off and running? Using Wi Fi for the internet vs their system correct?

Well I guess that's more like 3 questions. Thanks ya'll!

[Gimmedub]

How could you not.

http://techland.time.com/2013/08/28/...-iphone-looms/

[Gimmedub]

1. safety of using modern fancy cell in medellin-on the street in poblado vs mayorista or down town. do people get assaulted for their phone?

yes. flash bling and you will get jacked. end of story.

2. will the phone be a target everywhere it is seen. i have used it elsewhere and it works very well. the system is fast and maps load well if i can get 1mg to 2 mg speed.

yes. but poblado and mayorista proper will be safe with all the police around.

3. for colombia and medellin especially:

a. which carrier has most consistent decent data 3g service? can i count on about 1mg most of the time?

tigo. 35mil for 1 gig data.

b. for service for one week with data, voice locally and texting locally best carrier that is easy to get to a company store by foot from the mansion?

tigo. pickup in airport if you arrive at a decent hour.

4. am i really better off bring my older dumb phones that work well for voice and text that one one would ever be interested in stealing-moto v197.

no. chics love instagram and facebook.

i really love google maps while traveling and getting to know a city or a barrio. meeting new girls i like a photo with the phone number and a space for notes.

i love google tranlationeven though i can more than basic communication in spanish. i love skype to communicate with folks in the usa and over seas and it works very well on the nexus 4.

i have used hideman to mask the colombian ip address so the phone appears to be in the usa to access pandora and the usa version of netflix and watching the news. the nexus 4 brings me pleasure, but i prefer to avoid stress, crime and worries.

if any folks in medellin need a phone or accessories, send me a pm and we can discuss it.

[SlamCity7777]

Thanks guys! I'll be buying some time next month and I'll keep ya'll posted.

[Samu Ray]

I have a Motorola, older version; quad band, unlocked! Takes a sim card. Works well! It sure it has taken lots of abuse but keeps on working!

[Ricardo Torres]

Sprint phones generally do not use sim cards, avoid

There you have it SlamCity, buy a quad band unlocked phone from Verizon or AT&T and you will be fine. Ignore phones from all the other carriers.

[Ricker]

And make sure they have a have a space for a sim card, as I know of two carriers who sell the iphone but the iphone does use sim cards. I would stick to unlocked quad band phones from carriers Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T.

Sprint phones generally do not use sim cards, avoid

[Ricardo Torres]

And make sure they have a have a space for a sim card, as I know of two carriers who sell the iphone but the iphone does use sim cards. I would stick to unlocked quad band phones from carriers Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T.

[SlamCity7777]

I just gave a girlfriend in Brazil an 'unlocked, quad band', used, but excellent condition Samsung Galaxy 3 for about $200 US.

She just loves it!

I got it on Ebay.

Searched for 'used or refurbed, unlocked Samsung Galaxy 3'

They are quad band phones, which makes them good for world wide use.

Personally, I'd get a used or refurbed IPhone 4 or Galaxy 3, look for excellent condition and unlocked.

Ok so Quad Band Phones. USA phones are not quad bands or is it quad bands work on any systems. Do I have to specify or ask the seller if there is a sim card port on the phone? How do I know it will work in Colombia? Because it's listed as "unlocked, quad band," it should work?

I'm being overly cautions because I was told that my old blackberry could be "unlocked, ect" and when I took it to the place in Colombia they said it couldn't be used for their system even after all the digging I did on various BB message boards. Clearrly if I get a phone on ebay it would be well in advance of my trip and by the time I got back any return would be impossible and taht would give me a $200 (or less is cool too! LOL) paper weight.

Thank for the help and cleary I am still shaky on this so. Thanks for the more help guys! Hahahah!

[Ricker]

I am thinking about both getting my girlfriend (Paisa) a cell phone for Christmas and would like an upgrade over the burner that I got chipped in Peru so that I use it in Colombia / South America. I've done some window shopping in Colombia and I am not down to pay the inflated prices due to Colombian Taxes.

My question is what terms to I need to google or ebay to find a "unlocked" or "Duel Band" or "420 hertz" cell phone that takes a Colombian Sim card or that works on the South American Cell Phone System? What are some other important factors I should keep an eye out for? Any advice would be much appreciated and I'm sure very helpful to the next guy down the line.

My girl has Comcel / Claro so a phone that she can just plug in her sim card, buy some internet credits, and be happy with a nice phone. I'm pretty much looking for the same or maybe just the text and make calls, basic internet. I like being a bit disconnected from the office when I'm on vacation! LOL!

I don't need the best of the best. Just new, fun, modern, some apps, games, internet, like a second tier smart phone. Nothing too flashy. So yeah I'd be cool with some phone recommendations as well as the technical stuff.

Sorry I'm not a tech or need the newest & coolest cell phone guy. Excuse my cave man level of cell phone knowledge.

Special thanks to Bbrocs for the tips on cell phones but I just need some specifics and clarifications; that's why I made this post.

I just gave a girlfriend in Brazil an 'unlocked, quad band', used, but excellent condition Samsung Galaxy 3 for about $200 US.

She just loves it!

I got it on Ebay.

Searched for 'used or refurbed, unlocked Samsung Galaxy 3'

They are quad band phones, which makes them good for world wide use.

Personally, I'd get a used or refurbed IPhone 4 or Galaxy 3, look for excellent condition and unlocked.

[SlamCity7777]

I am thinking about both getting my girlfriend (Paisa) a cell phone for Christmas and would like an upgrade over the burner that I got chipped in Peru so that I use it in Colombia / South America. I've done some window shopping in Colombia and I am not down to pay the inflated prices due to Colombian Taxes.

My question is what terms to I need to google or ebay to find a "unlocked" or "Duel Band" or "420 hertz" cell phone that takes a Colombian Sim card or that works on the South American Cell Phone System? What are some other important factors I should keep an eye out for? Any advice would be much appreciated and I'm sure very helpful to the next guy down the line.

My girl has Comcel / Claro so a phone that she can just plug in her sim card, buy some internet credits, and be happy with a nice phone. I'm pretty much looking for the same or maybe just the text and make calls, basic internet. I like being a bit disconnected from the office when I'm on vacation! LOL!

I don't need the best of the best. Just new, fun, modern, some apps, games, internet, like a second tier smart phone. Nothing too flashy. So yeah I'd be cool with some phone recommendations as well as the technical stuff.

Sorry I'm not a tech or need the newest & coolest cell phone guy. Excuse my cave man level of cell phone knowledge.

Special thanks to Bbrocs for the tips on cell phones but I just need some specifics and clarifications; that's why I made this post.

[Miami Bob]

1. safety of using modern fancy cell in medellin-on the street in poblado vs mayorista or down town. do people get assaulted for their phone?

2. will the phone be a target everywhere it is seen. i have used it elsewhere and it works very well. the system is fast and maps load well if i can get 1mg to 2 mg speed.

3. for colombia and medellin especially:

a. which carrier has most consistent decent data 3g service? can i count on about 1mg most of the time?

b. for service for one week with data, voice locally and texting locally best carrier that is easy to get to a company store by foot from the mansion?

4. am i really better off bring my older dumb phones that work well for voice and text that one one would ever be interested in stealing-moto v197.

i really love google maps while traveling and getting to know a city or a barrio. meeting new girls i like a photo with the phone number and a space for notes.

i love google tranlationeven though i can more than basic communication in spanish. i love skype to communicate with folks in the usa and over seas and it works very well on the nexus 4.

i have used hideman to mask the colombian ip address so the phone appears to be in the usa to access pandora and the usa version of netflix and watching the news. the nexus 4 brings me pleasure, but i prefer to avoid stress, crime and worries.

if any folks in medellin need a phone or accessories, send me a pm and we can discuss it.

[Bbrocs]

Thanks bro but I was talking about getting a newer phone (Droid or IPhone) and was wondering what requirements were needed? System? Unlocked? Ect. Like if it's unlocked I could put in my existing Colombian Sim card for Movistar and use it when I'm down there.

You guys know what I mean?

That's same, your going to have to register your droid or iPhone with your passport. Your going to buy a pre-paid chip specifically for your type of phone. Your going to either use a code to get data. With claro that's the way. My buddy has umff which is a Tigo platform. I'm sure I spelled it wrong. He says he likes it. I don't know anyone with pre-paid moviestar. Funny not all unlocked phones work in Colombia. Some quad band still needed to be unlocked. I seen issues with Samsung galaxy. IPhone seems easy enough. There is a place that close to calle 8 and avenida poblado that's a brown building that cuts down the SIM card to make it fit inside the iPhone. It's on the park poblado side and its all just phone stuff. Hope that helps more

[Kukulkan]

Thanks bro but I was talking about getting a newer phone (Droid or IPhone) and was wondering what requirements were needed? System? Unlocked? Ect. Like if it's unlocked I could put in my existing Colombian Sim card for Movistar and use it when I'm down there.

You guys know what I mean?

The Iphone 5, will only work whit TIGO, Exito and virgin Colombia, If you buy your Iphone 5 in USA.

My two centavos Colombianos.

Just hi From Cancun.

Kukulkan

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