We would like to use a mobile phone for local calls in France and calls and texts to and from the US. What is the best way of doing this without racking up exorbitent bills.
I have a Verizon iPhone but would be willing to buy an inexpensive cell phone in France.
Best way to use mobile phone in France
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If you are Paris, there should be a phone store on nearly every block. Just walk in and talk to the people who will pretend they don't know much english and ask for an IPhone SIM card. I bought one for 8 eur and it came with some minutes. I have a Sprint IPhone 4S. I am not sure Verizon's is a worldphone. If it is, call them and ask them to unlock it for you.
Your carier will have to unlock your phone to let it work with another company's SIM card.
Verizon phones (at least mine) do not work on European frequencies, and do not have replaceable SIMs. I think you can rent one from Verizon that will work, but have no experience with that option.
We will be going to France in a few weeks, and I bought a couple of quad band unlocked cell phones on eBay for about $25 each, and just ordered a couple of free Lebara SIM cards online. Lots of posts on how to do this on this Forum. Just do a search.
In case of a Verizon phone, the iPhone model matters.
iPhone 4S: If you have had your phone 2 months, they will unlocked it for you to be able to use a French SIM. This model can do both CDMA (US) and GSM (France).
Any other iPhone model: Uses totally incompatible system. It can only do CDMA. You need a GSM 900/1800mhz phone. 1) buy one in France 2) buy one in the US with GSM 900/1800mhz capability either already unlocked or have one unlocked.
Depending on your usage model, there are solutions other than a mobile phone. If your usage is mostly from your hotel room, you can use VOIP, like Skype, if you have a laptop or use your iPhone SKYPE application on Wifi.
I have a Verizon phone that does work in Europe. It all depends on the model of phone. A quick call to your carrier or a look online for the phone specs will let you know if your phone can be used in Europe.
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I have a Droid, not an iPhone, but I just installed Skype and then had a US number assigned. Whenever I had wifi (which was available in all my hotels), I could make and receive calls for next to nothing.
azzure: Good info, but if you are responding to the OP, the trip was back in Sept (the thread was topped by an advertiser.)
Oops.
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