DuyVuitton
7/11/2014 12:57 EST
Hi,
I have plans to come down to Uruguay in Mid-November. I will be staying in MVD for the first week and will spend the first week looking for an apartment to rent in the area. I thought I would check here to see if there's anybody in need of a roommate to share expenses with to alleviate costs.
One of my first priorities would be to activate my cellphone also. I have an unlocked iPhone 5, can I assume that it will work upon replacing the sim card w/ something local there? Also, would I have any issues obtaining service from say an Antel even though I haven't started the residency paperwork process yet?
Thanks in advance,
Duy (Dewey) Vu
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carlitos
7/11/2014 15:47 EST
In the past phones needed to be registered when you are at the customs in the airport, I don't know if this is true right now, but I guess it worth to check with them. Other than that, I think your immigration status wont matter.
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Morell
7/11/2014 16:50 EST
Yes, I think you do still need to register the phone or no one will give you a SIM card.
They are used to tourists needing service for a short time so you should not have a problem.
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pjantares
7/11/2014 17:06 EST
Sorry, cannot help you with lodging, but if you have an unlocked iPhone, you need to register it at the airport here. It doesn't cost anything and it comes in handy when applying at Antel. I have an unlocked iPhone and signed a 2 year contract for calls and texting. However, I can receive text but not send texts. They will tell you this is because of a problem with the iPhone. That is totally wrong. I had used a sim card from Moviestar some time ago and texting both in and outbound is fine. I have found one person here with Antel and an iPhone and he can text outbound just fine. His card in mine and I can text. My card in his and he cannot text. Antel knows it is a problem in their central office with their messaging center but refuse to fix it. So if you do go with Antel, see if you can text outbound. If you get a contract beware. I cannot break my contract even though I point out that they said I could and are charging for it. If you are going to be here for a visit, it pays to go with MovieStar.
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DuyVuitton
7/11/2014 18:01 EST
Thank you for the confirmation Morell and pjantares. That's a very strange issue you mentioned with not being able to send outbound texts. Have they issued you a new SIM card being that it works for your friend? Is your friend's iPhone "jailbroken" or hacked? And does Antel offer a non-contract service? How are their plans + LTE data coverage/reliability vs. MovieStar? I hear Antel is much cheaper.
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carlitos
7/11/2014 21:22 EST
I have pre paid antel and an unloocked iphone 3s and I can text with no problem. Antel sucks. Signing a contract with them is no good. use prepaid instead.
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pjantares
7/12/2014 08:01 EST
It's ironic, some iPhone users with Antel can text outbound and others cannot. It's a problem how it was set up with the non technical service rep. in your account. And they won't fix it. Calls drop frequently also with Antel. Some areas are better while others drop just about every call. I would avoid Antel for iPhones.
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DuyVuitton
7/12/2014 13:31 EST
Muchos gracias gentlemen for the insight. I will check out the pre-paid services and avoid Antel (out of curiosity, is the 2-year contract mandatory with them even if you do bring your own phone instead of using theirs?). Also, I hear none of the companies offer unlimited data (edge, 3G, 4G, LTE, etc.). Is this true?
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Morell
7/12/2014 15:10 EST
If you google antel uruguay and look at their website you may find some info.
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pjantares
7/12/2014 15:39 EST
Sorry threw out the brochure that describes the offerings but they definitely want you to buy their Samsung. They will sell you modem sticks from 3GB to 12 GB but this is based on what I learned over a year ago. I don't know what it is now. If you don't want to recharge your minutes you will need a contract. Claro is another vendor. I never used them for my iPhone, but did get a stick for my computer. I call them the Las Vegas of modem sticks. Sometimes they allow you to use the minutes you bought and sometimes not. I avoid them.
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pjantares
7/12/2014 15:46 EST
" not being able to send outbound texts" Just now saw your question about replacement SIM cards. Yes, I have had them replace it several times to no avail. It is a programming error in their central office associated with my cell phone number and contract. It's not the SIM card. There are translations in their main computer that they forgot to make and won't even look at it. You have 10 days from signing to break the contract but they send you on a wild goose chase and before you know it, 10 days have passed and now you stuck paying for promised service they won't honor.
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DuyVuitton
7/15/2014 18:35 EST
Thank you for your wonderful insight pjantares. Sounds kind of similar to what goes on here in the states (people getting ripped off by the big companies). I will probably go the pre-paid route as you guys have suggested.
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pjantares
7/15/2014 20:41 EST
It's more because of poor pay and few have any technical background. They cannot fix what they don't understand nor inclined to find solutions. Get your prepaid, check that it works as promised before you leave the office.
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