Brazil

The telecom scenario in Brazil, is a bit chaotic. So, keep in mind the following points before travelling to Brazil:


 * The tariffs for voice calls shown below may vary from state to state, due to tax differences in various states.
 * For a foreigner to subscribe to a cellular service in Brazil, a CPF (cadastro de pessoa fisica) is required, that corresponds to a TAX ID (for some countries). The procedure for issuing a CPF, can be found at: http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br, or you can make a search on Google. You cannot use a Passaport ID, or another international doccument. The subscriber system on Brazil is very restrictive at this point in time. You can subscribe by using the CPF of a Brazilian natioinal. However, it's not highly recommended. If possible, register the line using your own CPF.
 * The majority of telecom operators have operatives that don't speak fluent English in their callcentres. So, if you need support for something you need to talk in Portuguese (or be lucky enough to talk with a bilingual opoerative).
 * The data network quality can vary in some states. For example: in the Northeast and North regions, the infrastructure can be poor in certain states.. In cities that are densely populated, you may experience some slowdowns but, it should not affect satalite navigation.
 * In areas of of high population you may have some problems with a low signal when usage is at a peak. For example, your telephone shows a "Network busy" message when attempting tp make a call. But, this problem is very rare today so, don't worry!
 * When using a carrier, ask about promotions with the operators callcentre. In some cases, the default basic plans can be expensive Also, it's recommended to buy packages (as indicated bellow) as they can work out cheaper.


 * Brazil, works with GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA. HSPA and some states have a CDMA1x (in phase one, but functional) and also iDEN radio coverage.

Data feature packs
GPRS EDGE UMTS HSDPA


 * 10mb for 24 hours: 0,50R$ NB 300kbps speed: after surpassing 10mb the speed maybe capped to 50kbps without any excess tariff. This package blocks tethering. No subscription needed, just an Infinity Pré simcard).
 * 40mb for 24 hours: 2,90R$


 * 150mb for 1 week: 9,90R$


 * 300mb for 30 days: 34,90R$

Excess tax and odd pack info: After the end of packages above 10mb, your dataplan returns to the 10mb plan -there is no excess tariff- but, after reaching the 10mb limit there is a speedcap from 50kbps to 300kbps. Remember that you are tarifed at R$ 0,50 for the 10mb package, for a 24 hour period.

Max speed: 300kbps up to 7mbps, depending on the region or the dataplan contract.

Other information
Voice Plans:

TIM Infinity Pré:


 * 0,25R$ per call in on-net calls valid for local and long distance on-net calls, using the operator code 41.


 * 1,29R$ per minute in off-net mobile calls and landline fixed phones.

Avaliability:


 * Newsagent's, supermarkets, shoppings centres etc.

Tethering:


 * Allowed for the majority of dataplans but, exclude some post-paid dataplans.

iPhone/iPad specific information:


 * Operators offer support to iPhone only if they are an iPhone official reseller


 * Using tethering on TIM's network requires carrier configuration from iTunes

SIM information:


 * Regular Simcards Avaliable


 * MicroSIMs avaliable

Data feature packs
CDMA1x/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA


 * Vivo internet diário, for 24 hours: 9,90R$ (after 150mb, the speed should be capped to 128kbps, without excess tariff).


 * Vivo internet semanal, for 7 days: 35,00R$ (after 250mb, the speed should be capped to 128kbps without excess tariff).


 * Vivo internet mensal, for 30 days: 130,00R$ (after 1GB, the speed should be capped to 128kbps without excess tariff).
 * Vivo ON Promo: From 18R$ with top-up credits, you have unlimited acces to some social networks; Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, Gmail, and some bonuses to on-net calls.
 * BlackBerry Prepaid pack: Costing 9,00R$, you have unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Google Talk, BBM Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.
 * BlackBerry prepaid pack + Vivo ON promo with mail: Costing from 25,00R$, in addition to the initial 9R$ recharge, you have unlimited BlackBerry mail server access plus some bonuses for on-net calls.

Max speed: 1mbps.

Odd Pack: 

4,90R$/MB

Other information
Voice Plans (valid only for local calls):

*Vivo Você toda hora:

1,35R$ per minute in on-net calls

1,49R$ per minute in landline fixed calls, and off-net mobile calls.

*Vivo Você dia:

From 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM:

1,68R$ per minute in on-net calls

1,85R$ per minute in landline fixed calls, and off-net mobile calls.

From 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM:

0,99R$ per minute in on-net calls

1,10R$ per minute in landline fixed calls, and off-net mobile calls.

(On Vivo você noite plan, it's the same as above, but inverts the tariff hour.)

Avaliability:

Newsagent's, supermarkets, shoppings centres etc.

Tethering:

Allowed

iPhone/iPad specific information:


 * The operator offers support to iPhone, and it's is a iPhone official resseler.


 * Using teethering on Vivo's network, needs some carrier configuration from iTunes

SIM information:


 * Regular Simcards Avaliable


 * MicroSIMs avaliable

Data feature packs
GPRS EDGE UMTS HSDPA


 * Pacote 1 dia - 24 hours package: 20,00R$ with 100mb (blocks the service when the limit is reached).


 * Pacote 7 dias - 1 week: 51,00R$ with 200mb (blocks the service when the limit is reached).

Max speed: 500kbps (250kbps in Northern region).

Odd pack:

4,00R$/MB

Other information
Voice plans:

Claro toda hora:

1,43R$ per minute on-net, off-net, and landline fixed calls

Claro plano toda noite:

From: 8:59 AM to 9:00 PM

1,61R$ per minute on-net, off-net, and landline fixed calls

From: 9:00 PM to 8:59 AM

0,82R$ per minute on-net, off-net and landline fixed calls

Avaliability:

Newsagent's, supermarkets, shoppings centers etc.

Tethering: Allowed

iPhone/iPad specific information:
 * Operators offer support to iPhone only if they are an iPhone official reseller
 * Using tethering on Claro's network requires carrier configuration from iTunes

SIM information:
 * Regular Simcards available
 * MicroSIMs available

CTBC Celular (Algar Telecom)


Data feature packs:

GPRS EDGE UMTS HSDPA
 * 10mb (30 days): 4,91R$
 * 100mb (30 days): 29,89R$
 * 250mb (30 days): 39,90R$

The above prepaid data packages can only be contracted with the "Você pre-pago" plan.

Excess tax and odd pack info:


 * 10mb plan: 8,00R$/mb


 * 100 and 250mb plan: 0,75R$/mb.

Other information:
(Refers to the "Você pre-pago" basic plan)
 * Voice plans:

R$ 1,31/min
 * On-net and fixed landline tariff:

R$ 1,53/min
 * Off-net tariff:

Avaliability:

Newsagent's, supermarkets, shoppings centers etc

Tethering:

Unknown

iPhone/iPad specific information:

Unknown (it is not a reseller).

SIM information:
 * Regular Simcards available