zunigan

I have an old cinuglar cell phone that works and has a sim card. I was told in Mexico that if I took the phone there they could put a sim card from movistar and it would then work down there. I have sprint now, but would like to be able to use a phone that really works there. My sprint phone has international calling but it is expensive to use.

Nao

IF AND ONLY IF your Cingular phone is unlocked is there even a chance of getting your phone to work on a sim card from Mexico.

But even if you can make that happen, you will face other problems.
Ever since 9-11, cell phones must be registered to receive calls.
Registration in Mexico takes place in Spanish.
If you don't know Spanish, it's not likely you'll be getting any calls.
And making calls to the US using your standard Mexico cell costs about $1 per min, which is no better than roaming with your Sprint phone.

A better solution is to go to someone like Mexitel Cellular.
- They send the phone to you in the US before you leave.
- The phone is fully registered and speaks English (as do the Mexitel reps) and works to make and get calls the moment you hit the ground.
- Calls to the US cost $1 per call (rather than per minute)
- They work everywhere in Mexico (which Movistar does not do)
- They have customer service reps on the ground (at least in Cancun)