My mom moved to Mexico recently, and I have had a hard time contacting her via phone. She's staying with relatives of her boyfriend, but it seems like she's not able to use their phone to make international calls. I'd like to get her a mobile phone that she can use to call me and her other kids (or anybody else), but I'm a bit overwhelmed by what I'm finding with google - a lot of which seems targeted to making international calls from the US to other countries or just seems spammy.
What is a good way to buy a phone here and send it to Mexico?
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posted by jeoc
on May 1, 2013 -
5 answers
For the last four months, I've been getting anywhere between 3 and 60 calls per day on my cell phone from (555) 555-5555, at all hours. If I pick up, it's a recorded voice, somewhere between a computer and a british lady saying "one... one... one..." What the hell is going on, and how do I make it stop?
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posted by Jon_Evil
on Jan 23, 2013 -
13 answers
Sprint Android smart phone question: the phone rings for essentially all calls except those from one specific number.
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posted by sciencegeek
on Dec 24, 2012 -
2 answers
I have a Fancy Cousin who uses Virgin Mobile pre-paid, and my Fancy Cousin would like to get a new Android phone during this weekend's sales. A few questions:
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posted by Greg Nog
on Nov 23, 2012 -
12 answers
We are switching from AT&T cell phone to service to Verizon, and I'd like to perform the switch smoothly while also using one of the new phones as a Christmas gift. Your advice on the proper procedure would be welcome.
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posted by Rock Steady
on Nov 20, 2012 -
14 answers
During the past three and a half hours, I've received ten telemarketer calls on my cell phone. They seem to be from the same company using different numbers and area codes (I stopped answering and they don't always leave a message, so I can't be sure). What can I do, and what did I do?
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posted by gladly
on Nov 8, 2012 -
8 answers
How strongly should I feel about hanging on to my grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan?
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posted by escabeche
on Nov 4, 2012 -
17 answers
Hypothetically, what are the practical results of completely cloning a GSM phone-- not just the SIM card, but also the radio fingerprint and any other method used to differentiate two mobile devices?
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posted by shakespeherian
on Oct 24, 2012 -
5 answers
Need some solutions for temporary cell phone re-routing. Thinking Google Voice might be the solution somehow but looking for brainstorms.
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posted by amanda
on Oct 21, 2012 -
6 answers
How do you use your smartphone to actually improve your life/work? How would you persuade someone upgrading is worthwhile with real-life examples?
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posted by likeyoubutme
on Aug 31, 2012 -
35 answers
I need a Verizon phone to carry me over until the new iphone release. What's a decent cheap phone to get without doing the contract renewal or using up my upgrade?
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posted by msbrauer
on Aug 17, 2012 -
15 answers
Recommendations for an inexpensive smartphone/plan combination? My wife pays $40-50 for her dumb phone now. Would love to pay the same or not too much more, but actually be able to take pictures, text without 3 keys per character, and sync her calendar. web surfing would be nice but is optional if the calendar works. Google Calendar would presumably require a data plan; but is there a windows/outlook calendar that would not? She has Outlook at work.)
posted by msalt
on Jun 26, 2012 -
21 answers
My wife wants a new cellphone but her needs are out-of-step with the market. She's looking for something very simple but the hard part is that we're on Verizon so it needs to be CDMA. Are there options?
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posted by camcgee
on May 28, 2012 -
9 answers
Currently, I have a Virgin Mobile PAYG smartphone. I'd like to get a phone on my family's Sprint plan instead (for the same monthly price as Virgin, I can get unlimited whatever). However, Sprint says they can't port my phone number because Virgin is a reseller of theirs. I've heard that you can port your number to Google Voice for a small fee, and then have Sprint port the number to a Sprint phone, but this advice was found on a forum somewhere and no one backed up the claim that it actually worked. Would it work? Have you done this? I'd really like to keep my phone number, and before I risk losing it, I'd like to know. Thanks.
posted by bluefly
on May 7, 2012 -
6 answers
Walking down the street on a cellphone, my reception cuts out and I hear a
different voice through the earpiece, very briefly, say something like "... three months..." It sounds like an advertisement. The person on the other end heard nothing, and the call wasn't dropped. What the heck happened?
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posted by BungaDunga
on Apr 30, 2012 -
6 answers
Staying in Italy for 3 1/2 months from June to October 2012. The Flashdrake and I need SIM cards for our mobile/cell phones while we are there. I must have data access as well, at least 1GB a month.
The TelCo industry changes so rapidly however, that I hoped that MeFites might help with current options.
In the past we have had not problem with SIM cards overseas, particularly finding the
Lebara plans great in Europe as they permitted us to call each other for free.
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posted by Flashduck
on Apr 28, 2012 -
4 answers
What is the best phone for an active, mobile senior?
My mom is 75 and is on the phone all the time when she is at home. What would be the best cell phone for her so that she can keep in touch with people when she's on the go?
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posted by any portmanteau in a storm
on Mar 10, 2012 -
18 answers
I am on Tmobile and need a new 4G cell phone. What are the great new 4g T-Mobile phones that have come out recently or are coming out in the next week?
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posted by icy
on Jan 15, 2012 -
6 answers
Prompted by this article about
India's “missed call” mobile ecosystem: Other than the U.S., are there any countries in which the recipient of a call pays/uses minutes to receive calls on a mobile phone? What is the history of this unusual billing structure (assuming it is unusual)?
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posted by caek
on Dec 20, 2011 -
15 answers
Recommendations for an inexpensive unlocked non-smart phone with good voice quality and reception?
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posted by cycleback
on Dec 3, 2011 -
2 answers
Can you help me find a phone to fit these needs? - Verizon network, decent camera, flip/clamshell design (or otherwise butt-dial proof), no data plan required, and good build quality.
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posted by pilibeen
on Nov 10, 2011 -
6 answers
Can I purchase a prepaid T-Mobile phone from, say, Walmart, activate it with a plan, and then put that SIM card into my older off-contract T-Mobile phone and expect it to work?
posted by speedgraphic
on Nov 9, 2011 -
5 answers
I want a simple, dumb cell phone. Calling and texting are essential, number directory is semi-essential, clock + date are okay -
everything else I'd rather not have.
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posted by bubukaba
on Oct 19, 2011 -
24 answers
I dropped my Samsung Focus into water two days ago. It works fine (yay), except the screen keeps lighting up unbidden. Can I fix it?
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posted by oinopaponton
on Sep 25, 2011 -
3 answers
My wife is traveling to India later this month. She'll be in the mountains, where there are few landlines, but from her experience last time there is sufficient (if spotty) cell phone service. Wikitravel
says: "Fully loaded prepaid starter kits are available for around Rs. 500 or less" (plus more details). Does anyone have experience buying a pre-paid mobile phone like this in India? Can she do it at the Delhi airport? Is it a hassle, or is it worth it?
posted by Plutor
on Jun 12, 2011 -
9 answers
I need to buy a cell phone and data plan that will allow me to respond to emails while I am out quickly and easily. It would also be great if I can use MSN messenger on it. And I would like to do this as cheaply as possible. Recommendations?
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posted by wansac
on May 8, 2011 -
7 answers
What's the state of the art in quad-band capable Android smartphones? Essentially I'm looking for alternatives with capabilities similar to the
Motorola Atrix 4G. It needs to be carrier unlocked and support 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM 2G functions and 2100MHz WCDMA.
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posted by thewalrus
on Apr 21, 2011 -
5 answers
AT&T be gone. What are my options to have a land line at home? Can I use the phones I have?
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posted by snowjoe
on Apr 21, 2011 -
11 answers
Help me find a new cheap-o cell phone plan that works in the US and Canada.
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posted by mhum
on Jan 10, 2011 -
7 answers
I'm looking for a cheapish mobile phone that can do basic internet chores (facebook, email, basic web stuff). I can't afford a smartphone or the monthly contract that comes with them. I am in the UK. Do you have a phone in this category that you like/hate? What would you recommend? Extensive information about my personal needs and whims follows:
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posted by nowonmai
on Dec 30, 2010 -
7 answers
What do I need to do, or what do I need to be aware of, to use mobile data on a Nexus One using a Softbank rental SIM card in Japan?
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posted by Vorteks
on Nov 3, 2010 -
2 answers
What is the most consumer-friendly Android phone? How does the relationship between Google, phone developers, and carriers work?
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posted by odinsdream
on Aug 25, 2010 -
11 answers
What kind of phone should we get our son for his 17th birthday? We'd like to get him something reasonably cool, while keeping it reasonably cheap.
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posted by lukemeister
on Aug 23, 2010 -
21 answers
Cell phone insurance under home owner insurance? Has anyone tried this? Is it worth it?
I signed up for cell phone insurance with Verizon and naively thought it would be worth it (even for a smartphone). Like anything, I know you need to pay something to get something, but $8/mo + $90 for a claim every time could get pretty expensive.
If it helps, I have State Farm. We've been with them for 15 years or so.
posted by isoman2kx
on Aug 16, 2010 -
17 answers
What cell phone is the best... phone? Ignoring all the whiz-bang smartphone stuff, what cell phone (GSM, unlocked) is the best at actual phone functions? Sounds the best? Easy to use? Fits well in my pocket? Good reception?
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posted by MesoFilter
on Jul 14, 2010 -
13 answers
Palm Pre problem: people I'm talking to can't hear me but I can hear them.
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posted by item
on Jul 12, 2010 -
5 answers