Mobile phones

Most foreign cell-phones are able to work in São Paulo, but you should check yours with your service provider.

Brazil uses GSM (700-1800Mhz) and CDMA network, what means that most cell-phones from Europe and United States are able to work here. Despite that, it´s recommended to get in touch with your service provider to check if they really have any roaming contract with Brazillian companies.

You should also check if your mobile can accept chips from different service providers. With an unlocked phone you could buy a new pay-as-you-go chip from a Brazillian company (for about $5) and make your calls cheaper. But then you will not be able to keep the same number

There are three cell phone operators in São Paulo: Vivo, owned by Portugal Telecom and Telefónica Móviles; Claro, owned by Telmex, and Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM).