I started using Skype 25 years ago or so because I like technology. You can use it as a telephony device. Additionally, you get a phone number in your area and use it like a normal cell phone. Early on Skype even sold phones that were Skype enabled. If I remember right i had one. The cost for a Skype number wasn’t a lot and worth the price. If you you were out of wifi range, it used your cell data to connect. It of course had an application that can be used on computers, laptops and cell phone. It just worked, till it didn’t.

Microsoft decided to shut Skype down and changed to Teams in mid 2025. This caused me a little issue because I used that number for communication to the US after my move to Mexico. I had long grown tired of paying tariffs, taxes etc for a US cell plan which was upwards to $100.00 a month.

The cell phone companies know the American consumer. They will gladly finance a $1,200.00 piece of hardware for you if you sign up for the platinum unlimited plans. These plans have by far the biggest profit margin for them. The contract is usually three years long. If not paid off, the phone is locked to the carrier’s service. This prevents you from moving to a cheaper plan.

When I retired, I decided that I didn’t need the best, most expressive cellphone. I certainly didn’t need an expensive phone plan that I would never use. I paid off the Samsung Note S10 Plus. Then, I had it unlocked from the carrier. After that, I bought a Telcel sim card from OXXO for $50.00 pesos, ($2.50). This came with a local number and a few minutes of phone time and data. After that the Amigo plan I set up was for $200.00 pesos a month ($12.00) for unlimited calls and texts with 3.5 gig of data. The calls and texts included to and in Mexico and the US. Social media like Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp was free data. It works Flawlessly.

Hushed is an app former spies like me used to use for throw away phone numbers. For some reason the phone would not ring when a call came through. This issue made it impossible for the VA to set up appointments for me. The cost is really cheap, but if it doesn’t work as intended it’s useless. For what it’s worth I saw online threads complaining of the same issue.After Skype shut down I was left scrambling for a replacement and there’s plenty to choose from. I used Hushed, which is much like Skype but with inconsistent results.

I then went to Textme. Unlimited calls and texts for $10.00 a month and it worked great. I don’t recall the data cost. The only issue with any of the telephony internet based alternatives is banks won’t allow you to use them. Additionally, some streaming platforms won’t allow access through them. Banks are very conscious of fraud and telephony is used a great deal for that.

While researching cell companies that I might switch to I made a call to T-Mobile and got a helpful agent. She explained that having a plan with any cellphone carrier would be problematic. This is especially true if I spent a significant amount of time out of the country. The carriers would incur extra charges by the partner cell company for routing the traffic. Eventually I would be invited to leave T-Mobile if most of my traffic originated in Mexico. Well that was helpful.

So after plenty of research I hit upon Google FI and downloaded the app to my phone. It’s important to note I am no no longer in the mood to pay for premium phone I don’t need. So when my Samsung was aging out I decided, after much research that the Oneplus 11 was my best bet. It’s supposed to be a flagship phone and I suppose it is but I was able to pay $699.00 without financing it and getting stuck in a contract. The specs are in the embedded link. One of the most important things I looked for was a dual sim feature. That means you can have two cell services running on the phone. I’m still using the Telcel sim card I brought at OXXO, Google FI is using an Esim.

On my resent trip to Phoenix I activated Google FI. It has to be done using US cell towers so it can’t be done in Mexico. The startup process was super easy. They assigned a number to me after they asked if I had one I wanted to port over. I had already set up payment and picked out a plan which is called Flex. $20.00 unlimited calls and texts. Data is not cheap at $10.00 a gig which is maxed out at six gigs. So if you’re a power data user this will cost you. I, though, am not. I had the choice to go into the settings and turn off data for the esim. This allowed me to use data only on Telcel.

So for now I’m paying $12.00 a month for Telcel which is connected to my Whatsapp, an app everyone in Mexico uses. I can change to the US number, but, I want to understand if Google FI is going to keep servicing me while I am in Mexico. My research suggested that they pull the plug if the traffic is too high. I think I’m safe because the calls and texts are infrequent. I just got my Google FI bill and it’s $23.00 with taxes. No data charges.

So for now I have two services which is what I wanted for when I travel. The monthly cost is $34.00 unlimited calls and texts with about 5 gig data. Is this a good plan?