Sao Paulo Prepaid SIM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4
Sao Paulo Prepaid SIM
I will be going to Sao Paulo, Brazil mid-July this summer and am looking for a prepaid SIM to use while there. I've seen a few on the net but those seem to be geared towards users in Rio de Janeiro. Ideally I'd like one that would get me a local number in Sao Paulo and the ability to call back to the US at a reasonable rate. My hunch is that there are some to be had once I arrive in Brazil but it would be nice to get one in advance.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Programs: AA ExP (former HP/US), Marriott (former SPG) Lifetime Platinum, and most other major hotel programs
Posts: 455
Originally Posted by celloville
I will be going to Sao Paulo, Brazil mid-July this summer and am looking for a prepaid SIM to use while there. I've seen a few on the net but those seem to be geared towards users in Rio de Janeiro. Ideally I'd like one that would get me a local number in Sao Paulo and the ability to call back to the US at a reasonable rate. My hunch is that there are some to be had once I arrive in Brazil but it would be nice to get one in advance.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by PhoenixCMC
I've bought UK and all-country SIMs from Telestial in the past and the service has been good. I would buy from them again (haven't checked on their availability for Brazil though).
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: GRU
Programs: *A Gold, OW Sapphire, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 3,367
As far as I know you can get a SIM card at any mall. All Shopping Centres will have Telecom Reps that will gladly sell you a SIM card for your phone... Look for TIM and CLARO - these are the Telecom Operators for Sao Paulo you might be interested...
#5
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
Originally Posted by pb9997
As far as I know you can get a SIM card at any mall. All Shopping Centres will have Telecom Reps that will gladly sell you a SIM card for your phone... Look for TIM and CLARO - these are the Telecom Operators for Sao Paulo you might be interested...
The only reason I mention this is that if you plan to get a prepaid SIM in Brazil, I recommend doing it at the airport, where they are certainly accustomed to dealing with arriving foreigners, versus at the local mall, where they might not know how to handle that.
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CNF/LAX/HKG/PVG
Programs: AA EXP, Lifetime PLT, Silver EK Skywards
Posts: 748
It's true that they will ask you to provide some documentation. This was implemented a while back as a means to prevent fraud and crime. Many criminals were using these disposable SIM chips that were 100% untraceable.
I don't know what a foreign national could provide in terms of identity. I'll find out and try to post back.
I don't know what a foreign national could provide in terms of identity. I'll find out and try to post back.