Using Cell Phones in Brazil

[Larry David]

Quick question. With WhatsApp, the girls in Brazil would need my regular phone number to my phone in order to message me on the app?

Or you can get a SIM card at Tim and nice you set up whatsapp with your new Brazilian phone number. You can keep it as your whatsapp number even after the SIM card is expired.

[Rodeo9112]

Quick question. With WhatsApp, the girls in Brazil would need my regular phone number to my phone in order to message me on the app?

[Sperto]

I looked around Copa today as I was told there was a TIM shop around siqueira campos but I could not
find it. The VEVO shop near me used to sale them but they stopped due to hassle she said?!

The TIM shop in the corner of NS Cop and Siqueira no longer exist. There is one in Rio Sul, third floor.

[Koolkid]

I looked around Copa today as I was told there was a TIM shop around siqueira campos but I could not
find it. The VEVO shop near me used to sale them but they stopped due to hassle she said?!

I will try Centro on Monday.

[Nordico]

Does anyone know if these can be bought at arrivals at the airport. I know
some countries do it. Thanks.

I tried to buy one on my last trip, I think in TIM stores in shoppings Ibirapuera and Morumbi. Neither of them had those, but one of the supervisors told me that when they get them, which is not too often, they only get few and are sold immediately. I managed to live without one using zap zap and skype.

[Balboa]

If you have T-Mobile, like I do, just use WhatsApp. 99% of the girls I have met are on WhatsApp. Very simple and free on wifi.

Sprint as well.

They did a copy-cat of T-Mobile international service 6 months ago or so.

Just call Sprint and have them activate your international service, free service.

Works great!

[Troyster]

Thanks for posting this is very good. So for 50 reais you get a telephone number? How long does that number last? How does it work? I have t-mobile whose prices for international are free with wifi and. 20 a minute local but difficult to receive local calls because of the US number.

If you have T-Mobile, like I do, just use WhatsApp. 99% of the girls I have met are on WhatsApp. Very simple and free on wifi.

[Koolkid]

Does anyone know if these can be bought at arrivals at the airport. I know
some countries do it. Thanks.

This is available at certain Posto do Jornals or a TIM store.

For $50 R it comes with instructions in English.

Set up is easy:

Call the included number (free) to speak to a rep in English or Portuguese.

All they require is your Passport details.

$25 R is allocated to data of which you get 1. 5 gigs over the course of 7 days.

The other $25 is credit towards making calls.

[Rio Bob]

This is available at certain Posto do Jornals or a TIM store.

For $50 R it comes with instructions in English.

Set up is easy:

Call the included number (free) to speak to a rep in English or Portuguese.

All they require is your Passport details.

$25 R is allocated to data of which you get 1. 5 gigs over the course of 7 days.

The other $25 is credit towards making calls.

Thanks for posting this is very good. So for 50 reais you get a telephone number? How long does that number last? How does it work? I have t-mobile whose prices for international are free with wifi and. 20 a minute local but difficult to receive local calls because of the US number.

[Tonyels]

This is available at certain Posto do Jornals or a TIM store.

For $50 R it comes with instructions in English.

Set up is easy:

Call the included number (free) to speak to a rep in English or Portuguese.

All they require is your Passport details.

$25 R is allocated to data of which you get 1. 5 gigs over the course of 7 days.

The other $25 is credit towards making calls.

[Sperto]

I've been comparing planos pr-pago, Vivo, Claro and TIM.
No big differences. All are cheap as long as you call the same operadora. When you call another operadora it becomes really expensive.

I ended up buying both Claro and TIM. TIM is very good if you travel to other states and wants to call to Rio. No extra roaming charges.

Both were very easy to activate. Just digit the CPF and pronto. Also an option for those without CPF.

[Sperto]

I've been comparing planos pré-pago, Vivo, Claro and TIM.
No big differences. All are cheap as long as you call the same operadora. When you call another operadora it becomes really expensive.

[Kojak1]

I switched from TIM to Claro last year mainly due to the majority of the people I was calling were on Claro and it is much cheaper calling within the same network. I thought the signal and data worked better and less dropped calls too. It also gave me updates whenever a charge was made against my pre-paid account so I was better aware of my balance than with TIM. I did need a CPF to activate the chip.

[Sympalogy]

I'm no longer satisfied with TIM.

I, as well, have stuck with TIM since ever. I think it's because I read somewhere they are the only ones who accept to activate the SIM through my passport rather than requiring a CPF.

Also, I noticed they did suck, and they did suck for many years, but I thought it's because of the old and shitty phone I always bring with me to Rio so that I don't care if someone comes, and threatens my life in exchange of my wallet and phone. Actually, I remember a guy on one of my very first trips who used a watch that looked nice but did not work for the same reason.

So, I will be interested to know from people's experience which one would be a better alternative.

I heard good things about Vivo, and I also remember I saw that many of the girls and other Brazilians had more than one number on more than one operator, and I understand that it is because they can call people cheaper on the same network, but I also noticed all of them had Vivo in addition to either a Tim or a Claro, so that might be saying something good about Vivo.

[Sperto]

I've always used TIM. Now I want to change operadora as I'm no longer satisfied with TIM. I was thinking about Vivo or Claro. Somebody can give some feedback on using Vivo and Claro in Rio?