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What does a celphone with prepaid minutes cost?

Upon arriving in Bogota I will need a celular ASAP.
I could just get a prepaid card and put it in my existing phone but I would consider getting a phone for Col.
What does a simple phone with prepaid minutes (1000 min) go for, who are the best carriers in Colombia??
Gracias!!

By morlecoco on Apr 23, 2009, 11:45 in Friendly Talkzone.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Apr 23, 2009, 11:47:

You should be able to get a basic one for under $50.000. They usually include at least $20.000 worth of minute. The rates for minutes vary a lot based on who you call.

The best carrier is a subjective matter. Comcel has the best nationwide coverage, especially in areas outside of cities. However, they tend to be the most expensive. Tigo is cheap and has good coverage in cities.

In order to use a US phone in Colombia, it must be a GSM phone. That means that only phones from AT&T and T-Mobile will work. In addition, you would have to call your cell provider and have them unlock the phone. Then you would buy a SIM card in Colombia and put it in your phone.

Also, whenever I have bought a phone or SIM card in Colombia, I have been asked for my cedula. If you don't have one, I am not sure what, if anything, you can present instead.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis. - Zaphod Beeblebrox, Former President of the Galaxy and inventor of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

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morlecoco says on Apr 23, 2009, 11:53:

Thanks! I have an unlocked GSM phone, maybe will go that route...

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Apr 23, 2009, 11:57:

In that case, there are a few places in El Dorado airport where you can buy a SIM card. Otherwise, you can find them just about everywhere in the city.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis. - Zaphod Beeblebrox, Former President of the Galaxy and inventor of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

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dwmte7 says on Apr 23, 2009, 12:18:

have one i bought in 2004 for under $20.00 u.s. still works fine. bought it in rionegro.

d

patriarch

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capt_j says on Apr 23, 2009, 13:57:

I bought a prepaid phone in Bogota for a pretty low price, maybe $30 or so, but I had to buy some minutes. They will want you to fill out a form with an address and they will want an identification number, I just used the address of my hotel and my passport number and they accepted that.

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