Personal Data Package Good Enough To Skype On Samsung Phone?

[lucha54]

I'm considering joining the modern world and getting a smart phone - prompted by a new job where I'll have to take calls from Skype (abroad).

The Samsung Galaxy Pocket with Android is the cheapest option for a phone where I can get a data package and Skype, but I'm wondering if the data plans here are good enough to meet this need... my biggest concern is not having a good enough 3G/EDGE/GSRP/whatever it's called connection to talk on Skype without a wifi connection.

Before going down that road I thought I'd ask if anyone has experience with this kind of thing using Android and data packets here.
Anyone?

 

[Jaredberryman]

I have an iphone which I have used with skype, with 3g. The 3g here with skype works, but please be aware that with Skype on the 3g connection, you are not going to have 100% top quality call. It does work somewhat decently, but there will probably be some lag, distortion, and breaks in your call. And I don't know about others here, but often if I am in a building or in a certain area, I will lose 3g connectivity and then find myself on the edge network (2G basically). Edge barely works with Skype, if it does at all.

 

[IABhutto]

I have Samsung Galaxy SIII and have Movistar connection believe me it doesn't work well for surfing let alone skype call, having said that, my friend has Iphone 5 and his 3G workds like a charm, so I guess it's Samsung phone. Think about buying Iphone because I have seen connection on 3G and 4G are much better on Apple phones.

 

[lucha54]

I heard that Movistar has terrible service for the 3G, that's why I'm trying to find an opinion of someone who has Samsung/Android with Personal... or even Claro??

 

[ARbound]

I have an iPhone 5 I use on Movistar and I have to say it's the worst service I've ever had on a cell phone in my life. I honestly wonder why people here bother having smart phones when you basically can't use them. It doesn't matter where I am too. I was in Recoleta and I had EDGE, yes EDGE Downtown Bs As. I wanted to throw my phone on to Mercado Libre that second and just get a cheap BB. It's not that it's slow, it just doesn't work. I can't even load a Google Mobile search page, let alone Como Llegar, Salon, or Facebook.

I have to go outside of Buenos Aires in a week for a bit to the countryside so I'm going to keep my Movistar SIM until then, but I'm going to go with Claro when I get back. It's driving me loopy...

 

[lucha54]

ARbound- please let me know if you have any better luck with Claro! Send me a PM

 

[PhilipDT]

I have personal, 3G is often good enough for a Skype call but not all the time. Remember what most argentina carriers seem to struggle with is handling transfers as you change towers. That means if you have decent signal and stay in one place you'll probably be fine but if you're hoping to use Skype in your car or on the train, probably not.

 

[PhilipDT]

Btw if any of you have the unlimited Internet for 1 peso a day that all the carriers seem to offer, that's probably the number 1 reason your Internet seems slow as hell.

 

[lucha54]

Thanks PhilipDT, good point. I was considering going for the unlimited data plan that Personal offers, I thought I saw it was 240pesos. Do you have an iPhone or Android?

 

[PhilipDT]

I have an iPhone although that shouldn't make any difference. I have the 250 peso plan as well, pretty happy with it considering the other options.