Stay in Touch While in Argentina! Easily keep in touch with family and friends back home, as well as your conversation partner and others you meet while in Argentina. GIC Argentina provides each program participant with a prepaid type cell phone (Nokia, Motorola or Samsung) during their stay. Our cell phone service provider has the best reception in Argentina - even on the subway! You'll be given your cell phone shortly before your program starts (a security deposit is required that is returned when you turn your phone in at the end of your program). There is no subscription service fee - but you will need to purchase talk-time minutes at local stores - we'll show you how when you arrive.

The cellular phone service provider we use is Claro Argentina.

1. Can I make international phone calls with my cell phone?

Yes, you can directly dial international phone calls from your cell. However that's a somewhat expensive way to reach your home country. We recommend purchasing a pre-paid international calling card that you can use from your cell phone (or any other phone) - we'll recommend a few calling cards that we think are good value.

2. Do I have to pay a monthly fee for the phone?

No, there is no monthly fee to be paid, or service contract that you have to sign. The cell phones use pre-paid minutes, so you will have to buy more minutes (which we'll show you how to do) every so often when you use up your current allotment. After you have pre-paid for a certain number of talk minutes, you will use up your balance when you make phone calls to any type of phone (domestic or international) as well as in some cases when receiving a call (see below).

3. Do I pay when I receive a call?

Calls you receive on your cell phone are free if the person who is calling you, is calling from a home phone line (in Argentina or abroad). If you receive a call from another prepaid type cell phone or from a cell phone from abroad, or pay phone in Argentina, minutes are subtracted from your balance for the length of the call.

4. How do I pay for the cell phone deposit?

The US$100 (or AR peso equivalent) cell phone deposit is paid in cash after your arrival when you receive your phone.


The above is a general outline of how the cell phone program works - please consult with a student coordinator to confirm the details of the latest cell phone operational costs that apply to your phone when you arrive for your program.