Mobile phone/ 3G in Brazil

Hi! I'll go to Brazil in two weeks to follow the World Cup as a journalist. I would like to know if anyone of you guys have advice for me in buying a prepaid sim-card in Brazil.... I read some stories which say it can be a difficult job? What is your advice? Which provider I should take, is it expensive, and how is the 3G in cities like Sao Paulo, Salvador and Rio?

Thanks a lot!

the problem is that you need a cpf (brazilian tax number) for pretty much everything in this country - including activating you pre paid card. ive been studying in brazil for almost a year now and had the same problem when i arrived. i bought a "tim" card (and i still havent got a brazilian tax number). the service is ok, dont expect a fast internet connection (its cheap though). i just asked at the store whether they could activate the card for me and they did. if they dont do that for you you'll probably have to find someone who has a cpf to activate your card.

Actually, that's not true or rather no longer true and has not been for a long while. Foreigners can activate a sim by bringing their passport to the telco outlet, I helped someone do this earlier this year. No need for a CPF for that. Data plans are different. About the only people who will do a prepaid internet plan for non residents are TIM. Internet speeds can be quite good actually but when it rains, the 3G service often goes tits up.

@ the OP. Just remember that you will be hit with roaming charges whenever you use that sim outside of the city/ state that you purchased it. Cel numbers are specific to a location, so if you are making calls interstate or overseas you will burn through credit very quickly.

Whilst, it is possible to use your passport as Corisco states. And it is indeed true. Its the trouble of actually finding one that is the main problem. Last year (and this year) I went to multiple TIM stores to find a iPhone sim card - each store had 'none'. And considering the influx of tourists who 'want to buy a sim card' locating one might be extremely difficult

That said, if you can't, don't fret. Pretty much every restaurant/cafe has wife access (just ask for the password). Or so will your hotel. I just stuck my phone on Airplane mode, switched on wifi when I was in an area with it, and connected that way. Hard for a journo but you won't get slugged with roaming fees.

The TIM outlet in Shopping Rio Sul will sell you a nano chip and will accept a passport to activate the chip. In Salvador try Shopping Salvador or Shopping Iguatemi. I'm sure there are similar options in SP.

• That said, if you can't, don't fret. Pretty much every restaurant/cafe has wife access (just ask for the password).*

Sounds like you had a fun holiday. :-)

I did go to Rio Shopping Sul for one. But they didn't have any microsims for the iphone 4s....

As for the cafe/restaurant wife access...silly typo. I don't have a wife. Not that I know of. I never really used the wifi in cafes etc. But when ever I'd go my amigos brasileiros were certainly connecting to it/asking for the code to check in on 4square or add photos on facebook....