Mobile Phones
Argentina has been using the GSM mobile system since 2004. Virtually every GSM mobile phone in the world can be used here considering the following conditions:
1900MHz: Your mobile phone must be able to use this frequency as it is used in all of the cities and many other parts of the country areas. You will find that all mobile phones that are tri-band will support this frequency.
800MHz: If you have a quad-band (or 4-band or world) mobile phone then it will use this frequency. Some tri-band phones also use 800MHz, depending on the country in which they were purchased. Although not essential, this band allows you to receive signal in many of the more distant and remote areas of Argentina and the highways. All mobile phones purchased in Argentina will obviously use both of these frequencies.
The SIM Card
A mobile phone from your country, if it can use the 1900MHz band, can be used in Argentina by roaming (contact your phone company) or by changing the SIM Card. A Chip purchased here will allow you to receive make and receive calls at local costs, including international calls which are free to receive. Your phone needs to be “unlocked” for the Chip to work. Many phones come like that already or for a low fee it can be unlocked for you.
Insert the SIM Card
Argentine Phone Numbers
Not all of the phone numbers are the same in Argentina. Three levels of distance from the destination of the call require three different prefixes for mobile phones. To call a mobile phone, you need to dial according to the following patterns:
Local (within the same city or region): 15-xxx-xxx
Regional (from other provinces): 02965-15-xxx-xxx
International (from other countries): +54-9-2965-xxx-xxx
Calling a mobile phone in Argentina from another country can seem frustrating at times. There are moments when you can connect without problems, and other times when you end up with all types of answers but without any connection (calls but not answered – even though the phone called does not ring, number does not exist, busy line, person not available, or just nothingness).
Note: Some people have had to call up to eight (8) times before finally getting through to the person they were calling. As this can occur often at times, it requires a lot of patience and attempts to make your connection.
The Mobile Phone Companies
In Argentina there are three principle mobile phone companies that provide a service throughout the country. 
, 
, and 
. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. CTi is probably the cheapest in calls, but has problems in international connections. Personal has one of the most advanced systems, but charges to receive calls outside your home region. Movistar is the oldest company, a combination of Unifon and Telecom and has an extensive coverage of the entire country. YWAM had been mainly using Personal mobile phones, but recently we have changed over to Movistar. The staff on each base that use private mobile phones use them from any of the different companies.
The configuration settings that follow are those needed to use a phone with multimedia messages (MMS), and internet and emails (WAP/GPRS). They are not necessary if you are only using the phone for text messages and making calls.
Configuration Settings
WAP
Homepage: http://wap.personal.com.ar
Session Mode: Permanent
Connection Security: Off
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: gprs.personal.com
IP Address: 172.16.0.20
Authentication: Normal
Login: Automatic
User name: gprs
Password:
MMS
Homepage: http://mms.personal.com.ar
Session Mode: Permanent
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: mms
IP Address: 172.25.7.31
Authentication: Normal
User name: mms
Password:
WAP
Homepage: http://portalwap.ctimovil.com.ar:8582/ctiwap.jsp
Session Mode: Permanent
Connection Security: Off
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: internet.ctimovil.com.ar
IP Address: 170.51.255.240
Authentication: Normal
Login: Automatic
User name: ctigprs
Password:
MMS
Homepage: http://mms.ctimovil.com.ar
Session Mode: Permanent
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: mms.ctimovil.com.ar
IP Address: 170.51.255.240
Authentication: Normal
User name: ctimms
Password:
WAP
Homepage: http://home.wap.unifon.com.ar
Session Mode: Temporary
Connection Security: Off
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: wap.gprs.unifon.com.ar
IP Address: 200.5.68.10
Authentication: Normal
Login: Automatic
User name: wap
Password:
MMS
Homepage: http://mms.tmovil.cl
Session Mode: Permanent
Data Provider: GPRS
Access Point: mms.gprs.unifon.com.ar
IP Address: 200.68.32.239
Authentication: Secure
User name: mms
Password:
Note that your particular mobile phone may not use all of these settings or they may be named differently.
If you have any other questions about mobile phones in Argentina then contact Rob for help.
