How to Make a Phone Call in Mexico
City in Mexico
How to Make a Phone Call in Mexico
If you’re heading south of the border it’s important to know how to make a phone call in Mexico. Check your international dialing and data plans before you leave for your Mexico destination!!!
Unless you’re used to making international phone calls, dialing an out-of-Mexico location (or even dialing numbers within Mexico) can be a little complicated. When visiting Mexico, travelers routinely need to call out of the country in order to check in with relatives, check on family pets, notify their employer, report missing credit cards, or call their Mom. Whatever the reason, you should be able to make that call with ease. Be sure to bookmark this page on your cell phone or print and take it with you so that you can easily make an international phone call during your stay in Mexico.
Dialing from Mexico landline to the United States or Canada
To dial the United States or Canada, the country code is 1.
To place the call, you’ll need to dial 00+Country Code+Prefix+Phone Number.
If you have trouble connecting, you can dial Mexico’s international operator for assistance by dialing 090.
Dialing from U.S. Cell Phone to Mexican Landline
Dial 011 + 52 (Mexico Country Code)+ Area Code + Phone Number
Dialing from U.S. Cell Phone to Mexican Cell Phone
Dial 011 + 52 (Mexico Country Code)+1+ Area Code + Phone Number
(Note that Mexico requires the addition of the 1 when calling mobile phones)
Calling From Mexico to Other Countries
Dial 00 (to exit Mexico), then dial Country Code + Phone Number
Mexican Access Numbers for U.S. and Canadian
Calling Card, Credit Card, and Collect Calls
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- AT&T World Phone: 01-800-288-2872
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- MCI World Access: 01-800-021-8000
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- Teleglobe Canada: 01-800-123-0200
Mexican Calling Cards and Payphones
Telmex features an international calling card titled Telcard that can be used from Mexican landlines and payphones. Users can purchase these cards in various denominations. Call rates start at $2 pesos per minute (about $.20 per minute in U.S. dollars). If you plan to make many calls or to stay in Mexico for a long time, it’s cheaper to purchase your card in larger denominations because you’ll get free additional minutes.
U.S. Cell Phone Plans
Ideally, you should call your cell phone company before you leave to discuss their international calling rates and plans. Mexico is switching to a full GSM network. Because new towers are GSM, Verizon’s coverage has become somewhat spotty in places throughout the country.  AT&T has quickly become one of the top cellular players in Mexico so if you’re in the US and you want exceptional coverage absent satellite offerings AT&T is your best bet.  If you use Verizon, Sprint, Tmobile, you should ask them about their multi-band world phones. AT&T because it is a full GSM cell network and they have built a brand new network in Mexico with new fiber and facilities – it is an excellent 0ption.  We can’t publish rates here because they change too frequently…but check it out.
Remember that many cell phone providers switch off international roaming use by default. You’ll need to contact your service to ensure that you have cellphone service when you visit locations in Mexico.
Phone Calls in Mexico: Obtaining Service
| Carrier | Contract Voice | Contract Text | Prepaid Voice | Prepaid Text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Downloadable App |
| T-Mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Data For Contract Also |
| Verizon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Picture, Video Also |
| Sprint | Yes | Yes | Boost, Virgin | Boost, Virgin | Wi-Fi Also |
| Boost | N/A | N/A | No | No | USA Prepaid Only |
| Virgin | N/A | N/A | No | No | USA Prepaid Only |
| Cricket | N/A | N/A | Yes | No | Mexico Local Number |
Calls to Mexico (From U.S.)
| Carrier | Contract Voice | Contract Text | Prepaid Voice | Prepaid Text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | GSM |
| T-Mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | GSM |
| Verizon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | CDMA |
| Sprint | Yes | Yes | Boost, Virgin | Boost, Virgin | CDMA |
| Boost | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Sprint Owned |
| Virgin | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Sprint Owned |
| Cricket | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Mexico Local Number |
You will need to have an international calling and text message service enabled on your phone before you can make calls to Mexico or use your phone while roaming in Mexico. Depending on your carrier, you may need to be a customer for a specified period with a satisfactory payment record before your phone carrier will enable international long-distance calls, texts, or roaming. Once your phone is enabled for international calling, contact your cell phone provider to inquire about signing up for specific international long-distance and roaming plans for Mexico offered by the cell phone providers listed above.
If you have a Division Multiple Access (CDMA) phone, your available roaming within Mexico with a cell phone serviced by a major American carrier will probably be limited to major cities. Services like caller ID may work sporadically or not at all. Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) coverage is wider, and caller ID service is more likely to work properly. Be forewarned; many operators and telephone service providers in Mexico do not speak English. If you need emergency services while in Mexico, dial 066. If you cannot make yourself understood, try calling your hotel. If all else fails, call the customer service number for your cell phone provider to ask for help.
Mexican Cell Phone Plans
The major cell phone provider is Telcel. Decent plans are also available from Movistar and Nextel and AT&T.
Internet Calling
If you are bringing your laptop or have a computer and internet access, you can make calls free to family and friends that also have a computer. You’ll need to download a telephony product like Skype, which is free and will work on most operating systems.
For Further Reading
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- AT&T
- Affordable World Packages (AT&T)
- AT&T Call International Application
- AT&T GoPhone International Long Distance
- AT&T GoPhone Roaming in Mexico and Canada
- Wireless International Services (AT&T)
- Verizon Wireless
- Calling From Mexico (Verizon Wireless)
- Verizon Wireless Prepaid Service Product and Pricing
- T-Mobile
- Sprint
- General
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