I have two SIM cards that I assume are expired but I am heading down next week. Does anyone know if I can just buy a top-up (i really don't care about the phone number) or if I have to go through the whole activation process again? Thank you!

My original Movistar SIM card still works after a few years I no longer live in BsAs, however I visit about once a year and I always top it up and use it.
Officially, they would deactivate any SIM card after 6 months of no use, but this is obviously not set in stone.

I asked a lot of people in BsAs what cellular carrier was best, and virtually everyone said to stay away from Claro (bad signal) and results were split between Movistar and Personal. A few things I learned about them - With Movistar, if you load 20pesos of credit, they add another 25pesos, total 45 pesos.

However, Personal does this too but only on certain days of the month. I ended up choosing Personal, but this is because many of the people I know in BsAs have Personal, and its half-price to speak to them.

I used to use Claro (ex CTI) and was never very impressed - sounds like things haven't improved much. Never had any problems with Movistar - the extra credit varies. Standard bonus for a $20 (pesos) top-up is $5 or $15 bonus with a $30 top up but on certain days of the month (which they let you know about by text message), they will double the credit. Sometimes this only applies to top-ups of $30 or more. You also get half price calls and texts to other Movistars.

Is the activation of a new Movistar number/sim now instant? I remember it taking more than a day and m-f only so friday arrivals meant it was never an option.

This time i'm seriously considering just handling it at the airport at the booth there from personal.

hi all,

so i got a movistar SIM card today in the shopping mall. it seems like it will be activated on monday. do i need to activate it manualy? is it by dialing *611? also, whats the spanish name of the card i need to buy to "recharge"/put money on it?

Activation will be automatic - the system just needs to recognize the number encoded on your SIM. You'll be able to tell when you turn on the phone that it's being recognized ...

The easiest and most reliable way to recharge your phone, is to go into a store that is displaying the bill-paying services Rapipago or Pago Facil - these are everywhere, often pharmacies, and kioskos. Just tell them how much credit you want on your phone (minimum is $5).

There are other less common services listed on the movistar.com.ar web site (navigate via the selection 01planes/movistar Ahorro/Medios de Recarga to see all the ways to recharge). The credit will appear instantly on your phone (sometimes you will get a text message, otherwise you can check by calling *444). Write the cell phone number on a card (it should be something like 15 xxxx xxxx) if your spanish isn't perfecto. There are no English-language options for Movistar online or by voice ...

Some of the recharge places will make you a plastic card with a bar code that is linked to your cell phone number so that they can use a bar code scanner to recharge you phone in the future - and there is space for you to write in the number for those places that don't have a scanner.

I've found the scratch off cards to be unreliable, and sometimes fake ... no need to bother with them.

John

thanks john. got it all figured out! weird that when people call my cell phone from USA, i still have to pay

Do they sell sim cards at EZE?

I have friend coming down in few weeks.. Does anyone know the current price of a sim card and availability in recoleta area... Looking for Moviestar

going to BA this week.. can I load an Argentine SIM card into my old Nokia which is GSM900/1800.. or does it have to be 1900?? anyone know?

Argentina is 850/1900.

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_ar.shtml

Hello,

Personally I wouldn't buy a sim card in Argentina, you hardly get anything for your money and you constantly have to top it up and its a hassle to buy the cards... I use skype or I buy the international calling cards and use them from phone booths, which are EVERYWHERE, known as "locutorios"

Hope that helps!

If you know local people and want them to call you then you absolutely need a local sim card. Nobody will call your foreign number from a cellphone. Buying one is no more of a hassle than anywhere else (I've done it in a number of countries in different continents).

Prepaid minutes cost about 70-80 cents per minute and more importantly incoming calls and text messages are free (the caller pays).

A little OT:

I have Mobile Broadband (USB Modem Stick/Dongle) for some countries. Those USB sticks have a SIM and use the cell (phone) network to access the Internet. The sticks are from O2, which is TELEFONICA

Can I get such an USB stick in Buenos Aires (Santiago Chile)?
http://www.telefonica.com.ar/portale...s_internet.asp ....all in Spanish, which I don't understand

Thanks.