Cell phones in Colombia

[rpcv]

If folks are considering buying a cell phone in Colombia to use on their visits, keep in mind that any minutes you put on the phone will expire in a month (sometimes 60 days) from when they are loaded onto the phone.

I learned this thru trial and error because I orginally bought 50K pesos on my last trip thinking I would have them ready to go when I arrived this month. Instead, I discovered they had all expired.

[Santanger]

any way to giggle a verizon phone so it works down there?

[cajunito]

You can use your US cell phone as long as it is unlocked by your service,such as Cingular or Verizon. Then,upon arriving in Colombia,go to a provider(such as comcel) and they will insert one of their SIM cards.. Which you purchase from them,of course.

[bundy_138]

My T-Mobile phone worked great in Cali.  When I landed at the airport, I recived a text message from Tigo in Cali saying I would be using their network while in Cali.  I had a great signal, but never used the cell phone becase I know the rates would be crazy!  Emergency use only.

Bundy

[bigstew33]

When I arrived in barranquilla and turned on my phone one day it connected automatically to one of the services.  Comcel I think.  My service in the USA is Cingular.  But wow was it ever expensive to use that phone there.  But yes you can get a sim card and use their service.  Cheaper that way

[mudd]

t-mobile charges about $3.99 a minut for roaming in colombia, Cingular is about a $1 cheaper, buth are way too expensive, thats why i have two cell phones, one for emergencies,USA phone. and an unlocked one from the USA with a comcel sim chip for local calls.  best thing to do, is turn off your USA phone when in colombia, or any other country, turn it on, every once in a while, check to see if you got a voice mail, then turn it off and go call your phone from a Vonage line and listen to the voice mail, and if its an important call, call them back from the Vonage# chepaest way possible.

[Dan Las Vegas]

My Cingular Blackberry worked well in Medellin, didn't make any calls but was able to send and receive emails while there.