Hermosillo - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Post gives you a phone with a Mexican number. I have GoogleFi for my US phone because I want to maintain my US number. GoogleFi is okay but randomly drops service. - Sep 2024
We have Google FI and keep our US numbers. - Jun 2023
I use Google Fi and the sim card provided by the consulate. Fi works great here: fast and unlimited if you are with State (they don't recognize USAID right now, but there isn't a presence in Hermosillo anyway). - Sep 2022
Keep US provider or use Google fi. - Sep 2022
We have Google Fi and it works perfectly and is affordable. Employer provides work phones. - Aug 2022
All direct hires receive them. I think you can get a cheap sim card or a cheap pay-as-you-go phone. - Aug 2015
We all use Telcel. It is reasonable. You can also get a pay-as-you-go phone and get refill cards at any convenience store, etc. - Apr 2013
Telcel is the main carrier, although there are other options. Many people use prepaid phones which are abundant and plans are also available. - Dec 2009
Telcel has great coverage around town and around the state. Plans and pay-as-you go phones are pricier than plans in the U.S. though the service seems to be better and drops fewer calls than my U.S. cellular service over the past five years (during which time I've used AT&T/Cingular, Verizon, Sprint, Cricket, and TracFone). Movistar is cheaper than Telcel but the coverage is not as good. Nextel is available and allows you to connect via radio to Nextel users across Mexico and the U.S. for very reasonable rates. But, like in the U.S., Nextel's coverage outside urban areas tends to be spotty, at best. U.S. phones from AT&T (which has an agreement with Telcel to use their network), Verizon, and TMobile have roaming service available but international roaming service is very expensive (cheapest you will find is US$0.59/minute). U.S. phones require activation (by calling customer service) of international roaming in order to work. - Feb 2008
