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Latest Mexico Business News
We invite you to use the Site Map below to find interesting and timely news articles about Mexico Phone Books. Other articles may focus on broader themes such as business and culture in Mexico. These articles will inform you and your customers on how savvy people use the Mexico yellow pages as a primary business resource as well as a key information source for business travelers going to Mexico. A Mexico phone book can be your key to Mexico. Get the jump on your competition before they get the jump on you.
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Mexico & USA in the 21st Century
Mexico is one of the largest economies in the world surpassing countries such as Australia and Belgium. Mexico had an estimated GDP of $924 billion in 2002. One of the participants in NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), Mexico is the second largest trading partner to the USA and the largest trading partner with California. Mexico is a key country for US businesses looking to expand internationally.
Mexico is the former homeland of millions of US families and millions of immigrants. The 2000 US Census figures estimate that 12% of the US population, 32.8 million, is Hispanic with 66.1% being of Mexican origin. This segment of the population increased roughly 38% from 1990 and is one of the fastest growing populations in the country.
Government and state agencies are responding to the needs of Hispanics whose leaders are moving into top government positions in the USA. Public institutions such as libraries are also seeking ways to reach out and serve the Hispanic population.
Mexico telephone directories can fill a vital need for Hispanics of Mexican origin now residing in the USA. Years ago, the Yellow Pages had a slogan "Let your fingers do the walking". As the Internet grows in popularity in the USA, the general population and, in some fashion, public institutions are moving away from the printed telephone directory.
However, the above slogan is very applicable for Mexico. Only a small percentage of Mexican households have a computer. Significant public internet use comes instead from students at university computer centers, internet rooms at computer stores or cyber cafes.
In Mexico the telephone book is THE source for business advertising and government listings. Businesses know that if they are going to reach their potential customers, they must be in the Mexico telephone directory. Relatively few businesses are willing to invest to be online. And as many businesses in the USA have learned, just being on the internet does not ensure that potential customers can even locate one's business.
We encourage you to send us your comments and questions about Mexico Phone Books.
As of November 17, 2001 Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) implemented new AREA CODE DESIGNATIONS for all cities in Mexico.
All international calls into Mexico must utilize the new area codes. Mexico's three largest cities now have 2 digits:
- Mexico City 55
- Guadalajara 33
- Monterrey 81
- Acapulco, Guerrero 744
- Tijuana, Baja California 664
- San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi 444
The purpose of these changes is to harmonize the number of digits utilized in telephone numbers throughout Mexico. As of November 17 2001 all telephone numbers will be 10 digits: a 3 digit area code, and a 7 digit local telephone number.
Libraries should replace all Mexico Phone Books older than 2001. Customers who use the directories to find telephone numbers to businesses and government agencies in Mexico may find the telephone number is no longer valid. In fact, we receive e-mails every week from around the world from people who have old numbers that now do not work.
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What is the difference between a phone book and a commercial directory?
Mexico publishes telephone white and yellow pages for every city and town. The telephone directory is also known as a commercial directory since it includes virtually all commercial activity in that City. It is the authoritative source for commerce in Mexico.
- What is the availability of Mexico Yellow Pages and White Pages?
Every telephone directory published in Mexico is available through Mexico Phone Books. Over one hundred directories are published new every year without exception and cover virtually each city and town in Mexico.
Our experts are ready to assist in questions of selection and renewals. For libraries, we also assist with questions concerning multi-branch programs.- What are the advantages of using Mexico Phone Books?
Telephone directories are authoritative.- Telephone Directories are researched and compiled in the city or locality they cover. They are published in-country by national experts and are recognized as the most comprehensive national information source.
Telephone directories in Mexico are updated each year.- Each year, every entry is checked and double-checked to assure accuracy, since advertisers are not obligated to pay for an ad if it is not correct. The phone book is over 97% accurate when published.
A telephone directory is the principal vehicle for businesses to advertise.- Most established businesses carry a listing in the yellow pages. Often the size and prosperity of a business can be determined by the size of its yellow page ad. As a business expands, it will typically purchase more advertising space to advertise more products or services.
Availability is guaranteed.- Telephone directories are published new every year for each city and town without exception. The reasons are fast growth in most cities, guarantees of accuracy for advertisers, frequent changes in telephone dialing requirements, and new businesses that continually open.
- What is the best way to use Mexico Phone Books?
Use of the White Pages Names- In Mexico and Latin America each individual has two last names. In the white pages an individual's Father's surname is listed first, the Mother's surname is listed next, and the given name is listed last. For example, Cortez Aristegui, Carlos.
Use of the Yellow Pages- Mexico Phone Books provides free of charge a Spanish-to-English Translation Index. For example, hospitals will be found listed under Sanatorios, lawyers will be found listed under Abogados, etc.
At the beginning of each Telephone Directory are found associations, government offices, hospitals, major hotels, theaters, shopping centers, museums, historical sites, help section, and first aid.
What can you find in a Mexico Phone Book?
English Index- An English Index, usually bordered in green, is included
in directories for the largest cities and can be used to locate practically
any information required. For those phone books that only have a Spanish
Index, we offer a Spanish-to-English Translated Index.
Many librarians have commented on how helpful this index is in assisting customers to find information in the yellow pages. Kindly email us for a copy.
Map of the City- The Map is usually of the downtown area only and contains the names of the Colonias, or neighborhoods, and distances. It can be used to locate hotels, restaurants, businesses, and government offices and can be a valuable tool for business and travel.
Emergency Numbers- The Emergency Numbers, clearly listed in the first few p ages of every directory, should be copied by anyone who travels to Mexico. These numbers include large hospitals in the city, Red Cross, ambulances, and municipal police. Of particular interest should be the Federal Government Consumer Protection Office, charged with receiving and acting on complaints from consumers and tourists.
Tourist Description of the City- A complete description of the city usually follows the emergency listings. This information provides an excellent overview of what can be found in the city.
Government Offices- Municipal and State Government Offices are found at the beginning of the yellow pages. A more extensive listing of municipal, state, and federal government offices is found in the yellow pages under Gobierno. The Government office listings can be extremely useful for anyone desiring information from the municipal, state, or federal government.
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Tourism Office - The Tourism Office is listed with municipal government offices at the beginning of the yellow pages. The tourism office located in many cities is an exceptional source of local information that should not be missed. The bilingual personnel who work in these offices are there to help national and international visitors. They know the city well, can save time and money, and give good travel tips to tourists and businessmen.
- Consulates
- The Consulates of several countries may be present in the city. Visas for travel to these countries may be obtained here faster and easier than waiting in Mexico City or Los Angeles.
List of other Municipalities close to the City included in the Directory- Most phone books list the names of surrounding
municipalities that are included in the directory. This list is generally
found after the colored pages of government offices information.
For example, in the Veracruz phone book, the page is titled "Directorio Telefonico Veracruz". The back of the page (Lista de Poblaciones Incluidas En Esta Seccion) then names twenty-seven other cities that are included in the Veracruz phone book.
Please note that many phone books may list even more towns in their White Pages section. These extra villages may be so small that there are no businesses advertising in the yellow page section. However, there are people with telephone accounts living in these very small towns. These towns are included in the telephone directory but only in the White Pages section.
LADA Numbers- LADA is an acronym for LArga Distanci A. The LADA prefixes in Mexico are used to connect callers to national or international numbers and identify specific municipalities. Common LADA prefixes are 01 (national calls), 001 (calls to the USA and Canada), and 00 (other international calls).
Long Distance Prefixes in Mexico- All directories include an Index of municipal prefixes used in Mexico. Each city has a distinctive prefix that must be used when calling that city or town. For example, Mexico City is 55, Tijuana 664, and San Luis Potosi is 444.
Public Telephones and the Tarjeta Ladatel- Mexico's public phone system is excellent in most cities. "Intelligent" public telephones that
use the "Tarjeta Ladatel" are available in more than 150 cities in Mexico.
Cards may be purchased in stores such as Sanborn's, hotels, pharmacies and restaurants. Knowledge in the use of public phones will enable visitors to the city to communicate whenever they choose.
Current Information
On Mexico's Four Largest Cities
On Mexico's Four Largest Cities
There has been important population and economic growth in the major Mexico cities. This growth has resulted in changes in the telephone directories covering these areas. Cities with the greatest changes are Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana.
Mexico City
Mexico City is considered to be the most populous metropolitan area on earth, with 21.7 million inhabitants. The dramatic increase in population in the last several years is due to a heavy influx of people from southern states to areas surrounding Mexico City and expansion of the commercial sector.
Many years ago, there were four phone books, two volumes of Yellow Pages and two volumes of White Pages published for Mexico City. Titled Ciudad de Mexico, these directories covered most of Mexico City. These phone books are still available today but only cover about half of the city. As Mexico City has increased in population, the number of phone books has also increased.
Eleven telephone directories are now published to cover this high density urban area. The original four directories have remained nearly the same size for several years. Instead several new phone books have been published. These directories cover key areas of Mexico City such as the upscale area of Polanco. These new directories have been expanding in size over the last several years.
The areas of Mexico City covered by their own telephone directory are not small or poorly populated. Each phone book lists thousands of businesses. People live, shop and buy within their own area of Mexico City. For example, residents of Del Valle will not generally load up the family to drive across Mexico City to Linda Vista when many of the same shops and stores are already in Del Valle.
Mexico City is comprised of several, sometimes confusing, jurisdictional areas. The largest jurisdiction is the Distrito Federal with a population of 10 million. The Distrito Federal (known to Mexicans simply as "DF") is the Federal Capital of Mexico and in turn is comprised of 16 Delegaciones, or Districts, each with its own police, schools, fire department, etc. For example, Delegación Coyoacan, in the southern part of DF, has its own mayor and police department.
Surrounding the Distrito Federal on three sides are over 15 distinct Municipalities coming under the jurisdiction of the State of Mexico, whose capital is Toluca. For example, the densely populated and important Ciudad Satelite lies just inside the State of Mexico but is actually considered part of Mexico City.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara, capital of the State of Jalisco, is now the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico with 4.5 millions. Known as the Silicon Valley of Mexico, high tech industrial growth is adding thousands of jobs to the local economy, which in turn helps fuel migration to the state.
Guadalajara has three main telephone directories. However, as with many other large cities in Mexico, these three phone books are not expanding to include residents and businesses in the suburban and outlying areas. More and more, new directories are being created to cover the fast growing cities surrounding Mexico's largest cities.
There are now three additional directories that cover the expanding cities around Guadalajara. These new areas are the sites of dynamic economic growth and of opportunity for companies that want to capture new business.
Monterrey
Monterrey is Mexico's second most important industrial center after Mexico City, and the gateway for commerce from the USA. This capital of the state of Nuevo Leon is in the far North of Mexico and is across from the US state of Texas.
Six telephone directories are now required to adequately cover this fast expanding city. Automotive, steel, cement, and glass have long been the mainstays of the Monterrey economy, which has experienced strong growth over the past several years due to NAFTA trade and expansion.
Tijuana
Tijuana, in the northwestern state of Baja California, is the national center of the maquiladora industry. There are four directories that cover Tijuana, Mexico's fourth largest city with over 2 million people, and the surrounding region. Currently, there are more than 1,000 foreign companies from Korea, Japan, and the USA with manufacturing plants in Tijuana.
Although employment at the maquiladoras has subsided considerably due in part to the recent economic slump worldwide, Tijuana is still a magnet for migration from the poorer southern states with little job creation.
The population of Tijuana is expanding rapidly east. Manufacturing plants are opening in Tecate and El Florido, formerly a vacant valley between Tijuana and Tecate, is now a prominent industrial area.
The tourist industry has expanded beyond Tijuana to Rosarito, now a municipality, and further south to Ensenada, a key port for cruise ships such as Carnival. Meanwhile, most state government business, permits, and licenses are issued in Mexicali, the state capital located east of Tecate.
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