T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Hello,

I am a N900 owner (since November 2009) on T-Mobile in the USA. I have a shared FamilyTime plan with:

• WorldClass International Service
• T-Mobile Smartphone Unlimited Web + 400 Messages

I am looking for some advice from the community. I will be visiting Mexico for a little over a week and I am wondering if anyone here had any experience of the same. I would like to be able to use the data services on my N900 without paying through the nose. A casual perusal of T-Mobile’s website indicates that the GPRS rate in Mexico could be $15 per MB:

https://my.t-mobile.com/plan/Interna...a1be59b24a0%7C

I will be contacting T-Mobile with this question, but I am looking for advice here - I think chances are I will receive better information from the community. Whilst in Mexico I want to:

2. Check e-mail
3. Browse the Web (light use, news, flights, weather, etc.)
4. Use Ovi maps (or equivalent with GPS)
5. Update the Forecast widget on the N900’s desktop
6. Upload photos to my blog
   

I will try and use WiFi as much as possible, but what is my best option on the road? Can I use T-Mobile’s data service without paying huge fees, is there a decent local option worth considering (insert a new SIM)?

Your suggestions are gratefully received.

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Forgot to add the N900 is unlocked.....

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Of course use Wi-Fi wherever possible, but other then that the best thing to do when going to another country is to buy a cheap pre-paid SIM card at the local airport when you land.

You won't have 3G in most places, but the GPRS service should be fine in a pinch and will be included in the SIM's pre-paid cost, so there are no surprises.

I would recommend (if you haven't already) setting up a Google Voice account. That way you can give out your Google voice number for people to get a hold of you and them simply log into Google Voice to add or delete your pre-paid foreign phone number(s).

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Definitely a prepaid sim card if possible. I will not use roaming data plan, unless there is a cap how much they will charge in a day. (So you know your max damage).

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Thanks - have setup Google Voice and Skype.

Would be interesting to see if one of the data usage monitors (like Personal Dataplan Monitor) could be adapted to:

• Give to a running total of what you have spent.
• Warn you (switch off data) when you have reached a specific limit.

Interestingly enough T-Zones let me roam for free when I visited the U.K. Slow, but free.

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

I think it'd be easier to note what data usage your chosen solution gives you and then reset the dataplan monitor widget every XX days. Charging (as in actual financial amounts) can be slightly tricky as it is sometimes based on the website you go to/protocol you use/time of usage.

There is a widget which will disconnect you after XXX Kb/Mb, but the name escapes me at the moment.

When in the UK you are probably roaming on T-Mobile UK. The package you have probably throttles you to 64Kb for free. A very nice service IYAK. Free access to e-mail and basic web access-or better web access via Opera.


PS: I would agree with the other posters about using a local Mexican prepaid SIM card. It will work out cheaper in the longrun..

Hope that helps.
bernard

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Cheers! Looks like the prepaid SIM it is.

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

The best option when travelling not just to Mexico but any other country is to buy in the country you are visiting a prepaid sim card and add the internet to it. I'm in Mexico right now and can tell you the roaming charges are around USD$1.50 per minute, whereas prepaid are around USD$0.05per minute. You can get daily or weekly internet plans, the best coverage is provided by Telcel, although it is not 3G with the N900, but it's good anyways.

Oh and also Skype wont work, there's a lot of static in the lines, it has been blocked to force you use your mobile minutes. But it does work using WiFi.

Re: T-Mobile (USA) N900 user traveling in Mexico - Looking for advice on data service (cost, recommendations)
 

Thanks,

I will go with Telcel. Data is the primary thing I am interested in. From searching the Web it looks like this may work:

http://forums.internettablettalk.com...ad.php?t=40880

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3...for-only-14-us

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/mexico/telcel.html

And I think these are the APN settings I may have to use:

APN: internet.itelcel.com
Username: webgprs
Password: webgprs2002
APN type: default

I think the Telcel Amigo prepaid card is what I should get for the N900, but if you have a better suggestion I am all ears....