calling cell phones in Cali

[zaebis]

Folks, as I recall last time in Cali I was whacked to the tune of $2 per minute to call from my hotel (in Cali) to 300, 310, 315 cell phones. Someone suggested to just purchase a cell phone and use it (then through it away). Going to Cali soon and will have to call quite a bit to both cell and land lines (mostly cells). I want to ask some pro's if buying a cell phone is a way to go. Also I know that there are some tricks to call from one cell phone prefix to another (sounds like it may not be possible to call from 300 to 315 or something like that). Any advice on the subject matter?

Thx.
Cali-goer.

[fathertime]

Greetings Zaebis,

I purchased a cell phone and think it is a great idea for most people too. Often time is short in Colombia, and the cell phone cuts down on most of the logisitical hassles.

I do not see any reason to throw the phone away after your trip.  You can use it again on your next one, after you purchase some minutes again.

Overall I think the purchase of a cell phone in Colombia is definately the way to go!  I don't know about not being able to call a different prefaced phone numbers. I do know the cost per minute varied from preface to preface, but I thought you could call all the other Colombian numbers. I could be wrong on that, so maybe somebody will correct me on that matter.

Fathertime!

[bigstew33]

you can call the other prefix's.  it just cost more to call to a number that is in another network.  You will notice that alot of Colombians will use the LLamadas people.  they sell airtime.  it's cheaper to use their phone on a different network than the one your using.  I bought a phone and a sim card for Comcel.  They are pretty large outfit.  For example a phone on the Comcel network calls a cell on Moviestar network would be more expensive than a call from Comcel to Comcel.  I don't know the exact rates but I noticed a big jump in off network calls

[zaebis]

I see. So I just go to Chipi and buy a (cheap) Movistar or Comcel phone + sim card. Then add minutes (right at the purchasing booth I suppose) and I off to the races.

[bigstew33]

right.  there are other companies too.  You can also buy minutes from the same guys selling the minutes.  You can find them everywhere. 

[rpcv]

I use a Comcel service when I am there. I can't recall if Moviestar offers this feature but with the Comcel service, you can program several phone numbers into your favorite section. Then when you dial them, you receive a discount rate.