Keeping a US phone number

[WaterRat]

Originally Posted by Elote el Rey

T-Mobile, ATT, Verizon all offer a "Mexico" plan. They all have restrictions for use in Mexico. I know this because T-Mobile kicked me off their system.

TelCel has the same kind of restrictions on it use in the USA.

There very well may be plans from T-Mobile that have restrictions, and that would cause you to be "kicked off", although I'm sure you know why you were "kicked off".

Our plan, as well as most, if not all, inclusive plans from T-Mobile, offer what I posted. Verify what I've said by going to their website.

Full disclosure: We are limited to 10GB data per line per month. Newer plans offer unlimited data for all lines, for just a bit more, but if 10GB doesn't do it, the Rat family needs some professional intervention.

[beam-eye]

I use what's app to call watz appers in the US, no charge. Now has video calls, but I haven't yet tried that.

[crmoores]

Originally Posted by beam-eye

I use what's app to call watz appers in the US, no charge. Now has video calls, but I haven't yet tried that.

Never been able to rely on WhatsApp for voice due to echoing, etc, but use it for texting.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by crmoores

Never been able to rely on WhatsApp for voice due to echoing, etc, but use it for texting.

Yes, I agree. I find that not unless both parties have great internet connections, whatsapp calls can be less than desirable. Dropped words and dropped calls happen frequently.
On my cell phone I have Viber, Skype, magicJack, whatsapp but will usually just use AT&T (Mexico) to make local and long distance calls.

[Elote el Rey]

Originally Posted by WaterRat

There very well may be plans from T-Mobile that have restrictions, and that would cause you to be "kicked off", although I'm sure you know why you were "kicked off".

Our plan, as well as most, if not all, inclusive plans from T-Mobile, offer what I posted. Verify what I've said by going to their website.

Full disclosure: We are limited to 10GB data per line per month. Newer plans offer unlimited data for all lines, for just a bit more, but if 10GB doesn't do it, the Rat family needs some professional intervention.

I had the same plan as you have. I was kicked off for "extreme roaming". It is in the "fine print" of all their contracts, including yours. All the cell phone companies, including TelCel, have this type of clause in their contracts.

It took getting "kicked off" to learn that lesson.

[Audrey and Jim]

If anyone needs/wants a US based phone number that rings to their non-US number then look at this site.

Local Virtual Number Forwarding to Anywhere

It is a virtual number you pay to keep and then only as it's used. You cannot call out on it (we use Skpe or WhatsAp to call out) but others can call you. When someone calls (or texts) we simply get a number and call them back.

It's not expensive and gives a US number to be attached to US accounts when needed.

[AndyW]

T-Mobile's new DIGITS feature might be of interest to some.

What is T-Mobile's Digits: Everything You Need to Know

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Elote el Rey

T-Mobile, ATT, Verizon all offer a "Mexico" plan. They all have restrictions for use in Mexico. I know this because T-Mobile kicked me off their system.

TelCel has the same kind of restrictions on it use in the USA.

Hmmmm, we've been using US T-Mobile numbers for years in Playa and haven't had any issue with any restrictions and certainly not with being kicked off... They have been treating Canada, the US and Mexico as a single region for quite some time now, so voice/text/data are all unlimited just like in the US (though the data isn't the highest speed when we're in Mexico), and there's no need for any special Mexico plan.

Originally Posted by WaterRat

Full disclosure: We are limited to 10GB data per line per month. Newer plans offer unlimited data for all lines, for just a bit more...

We have a similar plan in the US but they informed us that there was no limit in Mexico (again as the data was not the highest speed). That is to say, no data use in Mexico counts against our regular US plan total.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Hmmmm, we've been using US T-Mobile numbers for years in Playa and haven't had any issue with any restrictions and certainly not with being kicked off... They have been treating Canada, the US and Mexico as a single region for quite some time now, so voice/text/data are all unlimited just like in the US (though the data isn't the highest speed when we're in Mexico), and there's no need for any special Mexico plan.

I am wondering if you were grandfathered in to a certain plan whereas I think Elote el Rey had a newer plan that, I believe, specified that more than 50% of your out calls have to originate in the U.S.

[WaterRat]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

I am wondering if you were grandfathered in to a certain plan whereas I think Elote el Rey had a newer plan that, I believe, specified that more than 50% of your out calls have to originate in the U.S.

T-Mobile has not informed me of any such restrictions, nor have I seen any restrictions posted on their website.

There would, in general, be little reason to be grandfathered in to any plan of T-Mobile's. Again, in general, newer plans are more generous, and offer more benefits than older plans.

I do believe Elote el Rey was "kicked off", but until I learn ALL of the facts concerning his removal, I'll keep that skeptical look on my face.

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by WaterRat

T-Mobile has not informed me of any such restrictions, nor have I seen any restrictions posted on their website.

There would, in general, be little reason to be grandfathered in to any plan of T-Mobile's. Again, in general, newer plans are more generous, and offer more benefits than older plans.

I do believe Elote el Rey was "kicked off", but until I learn ALL of the facts concerning his removal, I'll keep that skeptical look on my face.

I just got off of the phone with T-Mobile. With any/all of their plans, a majority (more than 50%) of your outgoing calls/data MUST originate in the United States and, therefore, less than 50% of your outgoing calls/data can originate in Mexico. I believe than Elote de Rey reversed those numbers and was given the unceremonious boot

EDIT: Now you can wipe that skeptical look off of your face...........I just got off of the phone with Elote de Rey and that was (as I stated above) the exact reason he was booted off of T-Mobile. That is, MORE than 50% of his outgoing calls/data originated in Mexico!

[WaterRat]

I stand corrected and educated.

[ryberg]

Well that's interesting. And just to be clear, I was never thinking of how much (%) in voice/data was used in one place v the other, nor have we been in that position much.

I wonder over what period of time that is, however, because we were in Mexico for 5+ weeks the summer before last and using our T-Mobile devices all that time, so it would have been 100-0 in terms of comparative use then. No one said boo to us about it, but maybe it's over 90 days or something...

[Elote el Rey]

When I got booted by Tmobile, I did a lot of research on the subject. Here is what I found out.

International treaties and agreements between the USA, MX, and CA forbid their telecom companies from selling their services in counties other than their own. Roaming agreements allow use of other companies systems around the world. Can you imagine if TelCel was allowed to sell their Amigo Sin Limite plan in the USA. That plan is less than $10USD a month for unlimited calling, text, and 600mb internet. No USA company could compete with those plans and prices.

T-mobile and ATT North America plans look at usage over a 90 day period to decide if you are an extreme roamer. Over 50% usage off the HOME network during that time period can make you an extreme roamer. ATT shows the restriction on their web site. T-mobile hides this restriction from their customers and their employees (or their employees just lie to make a sale).

I do know of people that slip thru the cracks and haven't gotten booted.

[ryberg]

Thanks for the info.

When I have time, I think I'll contact T-Mobile or go into a store or something to ask about it, as if I don't know anything, and see what they tell me. Will report back, if/when I do.