How To Get a Phone in the Lake Chapala Area
Communications is one of the areas that has experienced rapid advancement in the past several years in the more populated areas of Mexico. For the most part, phones are readily available.
In this "How To" we are going to address
Getting a land line or putting an existing phone in your name
You need to go to the Telmex Offices accross El Torito Super Market. At the entrance
on your left side you need to take a ticket for your turn and wait in the chairs
until your number appears in the screen. They speak English.
There are different plans for New Installations:
The ones that includes internet service are free but you need to keep the line
at least 3 months, otherwise you will be charge $1,988.00 pesos.
There are 3 different plans:
- 100 local phone calls, 100 minutes long distance phone calls within Mexico,
Internet 1Mb.
- 200 local phone calls, unlimited long dinstance phone calls within Mexico,
Internet 2 Mb.
- Unlimited local phone calls, unlimited long distance phone calls within
Mexico, Internet 5 Mb.
*All plans offer $1.19 pesos per minute to International phone calls.
Getting a cell phone
T
here are many many plans for cell phones. You can go to any cell phone store
and buy the ones that require cards for $100.00, $200.00, $500.00 $1,000.00
pesos or go to any OXXO, 7/11, Walmart, Farmacia Guadalajara, etc. etc. and
ask for a 'RECARGA' for such amount of money, starting from $30.00 pesos.
There are cheap cell phone starting from $300.00 pesos with $100.00 pesos credit
included .
Or you can get a PLAN. This means that you will have to pay for at least 18
months certain amount of money every month. The cell phone equipment is included
in the monthly rent.
As I said, there are many plans starting from $196.00 pesos per month. It depends
on how many minutes you will get for that price. Also you can get a Black Berry
or a U-phone with internet included. These plans are much more expensive and
the contract last for more than 2 years.
To get a plan you will need to provide the following information:
- Address
- 2 Reference letters
- Official ID (voting card) Passport, FM2, FM3,
- Employment information.
Options for International Calls (long distance)
Alternatives for long distance include “call back” services, Vonage and Skype, all of which reduce the costs significantly. Normally international calls here at lakeside are done using VOIP. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a term for the transmission of voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband phone. Currently there are several types of this VOIP used here at lakeside as we get additional information we will be updating the section of this "How To".
Getting Vonage
Vonage is most likely the easiest way of getting international calling at lakeside. Vonage allows you to make international calls through VOIP.
Currently, to set up a Vonage account you will need a US or Canadian address. This address will allow you have a NOB (north of the border) phone number. If you have not set up a Vonage account, the you may do so by going to Vonage and click on the "Calling Plans" tab to see the latest plans and promotions available. If you do not like ordering on the internet, then you can call 1-800-968-8720 ans set up your account with a Sales Agent.
To use Vonage, you will need
- High speed internet access
- A Vonage phone adaptor
- Your Vonage account set up in either the US or Canada
We recommend you establish your Vonage account before coming to lakeside. Normally when you establish your Vonage account, Vonage will mail you the phone adaptor. We do recommend that you have the phone adaptor and not the modem replacement (router). That adaptor should look something like the picture below;
If you did not establish your account before coming to lakeside, you can purchase an adaptor locally or have someone bring you one from the US or Canada. If you do this, then you will
need to set up your account by going to Vonage and click on the "Calling Plans" tab to see the latest plans and promotions available. If you do not like ordering on the internet, then you can call 1-800-968-8720 ans set up your account with a Sales Agent.
If you plan on connecting to the internet using DSL and you do not have a local telephone, then please see the section on getting a land line above... If you plan on using an internet connection from a cable company and have not establish cable TV, then see "Getting TV in Lake Chapala...". If you are unsure which to use, then we suggest you see "Getting high speed internet..." .
Once you have your internet, your Vonage account and the adaptor, connecting it to you internet is easy. We have included instructions for installing your Vonage phone adaptor here...
Getting Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and, in some countries, to free-of-charge numbers, are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.
You need broadband Internet access, and the computer has to be on for you to make or receive a call. If it's off, messages go to voice mail.
For more information, go to: http://www.skype.com
Getting MagicJack
Magic Jack plugs into a computer's USB port, plug the line cord of your own phone into the other end of the USB adapter, and Magic Jack uses the Internet to make and receive calls.
You need broadband Internet access, and the computer has to be on for you to make or receive a call. If it's off, messages go to voice mail.
Currently the charge: $39.95 for the device and one year of local and long-distance calling; then $19.95 per year. Details can be found at: www.magicjack.com.