crepes_a_go_go

This was in today's Frommers newsletter:

"And if you're willing to deal with a little hassle, the cheapest way to get cell phone service abroad is to just buy a cheap local phone and a prepaid calling plan at a phone shop. Those will cost you $100 or so to start, but you'll get calling rates as low as 20? per minute for local calls, under a dollar a minute for calls to the US, and free incoming calls."

Since I am staying 6 weeks, I want to do this. Is anyone familiar with the cellphone companies in France and what a good deal would be. I would like to buy it in Paris next week when I arrive before going on to Tours.

Thanks as usual!

StCirq

Go to any Orange store (they're all over)and buy a cheap triband and a Mobicarte.

I paid about $80 for mine three years ago, and it's still working fine (in facat, it's FAR superior to my little Cingular thingie that costs an arm and a leg). I don't usually make many calls on it, so a 30-euro Mobicarte lasts me for 3-4 trips, or 6-8 weeks.

crepes_a_go_go

Cirq - I knew you would know the answer! I should have done this a few years ago when I started going over every summer. I had looked into renting a global since my cellphone is not one that can be "unlocked", but this rental deal is pretty expensive. At least moreso than Frommers says it is to buy one. Glad to get some first hand knowledge. Thanks!

isabel

St Cirq - can you use your phone in other European countries? My daughter has a phone that sounds like what you have. She's studying in Paris until June but I would like to use it next summer when I go to Italy and Prague. We took the phone with us to Amsterdam last month and were able to receive calls but couldn't make any. Any suggestions as to how I can make that phone work for me in Italy? Thanks

StCirq

isabel: I've used my phone with no problem in Italy and Spain - haven't had the need to use it in other European countries, but I understand that it should work fine pretty much all over (except in the USA).

hanl

Crepes, I have an Orange/Mobicarte pay-as-you go phone and it's really handy. You can even recharge your phone via the Credit Lyonnais ATMs and at post offices.

Isabel, your daughter may need to call her service provider and ask them to activate the international function. That's what I had to do to get my mobile to work properly abroad (although for some reason it still refuses to work in Brussels). With Orange, it's called the "Option sans frontière", and it's supposed to be automatically enabled for Mobicarte phones.

isabel

Thanks hanl and st cirq. My daughter says the phone is activated through next December. So I'm pretty sure I'll be able to receive calls. But as far as outgoing calls - if she loads it up with "French" minutes before she leaves France in June, can I use them from Italy? Will that be like roaming - in other words cost more per minute than if I were dialing out from France? And if we don't have her add minutes, will it be possible for me to do that from Italy - and if so how? She is suppossed to be figuring these things out but so far has not been able to answer my questions. Do these phones have sim cards that I could change to an Italian one? Thanks

hanl

In theory, you should be able to use the phone in Italy, although I don't think you'll be able to recredit your minutes anywhere except France. It will be more expensive to make calls than within France, and remember that it will also cost you to receive calls when abroad. This can be a problem, because your credit can easily be used up without you realising it, even if you are only receiving calls.

isabel

hanl - why would receiving calls use up credit/minutes? My daughter's incoming calls are free in France. I thought that was the beauty of these phones. Anyway that was what I was depending on. Making calls would be nice but I've figured if I have to I can get a phone card and call home and have them call me right back. Are you saying in another country (besides France where the phone is "based&quot that incoming calls would cost?

nrwayne

There's a big article in today's NY times about used cellphones. You can probably pick up a GSM inexpensively and then have it unlocked. I'd bet you can get it all done for under $50. Then buy SIM cards wherever you go and save lots. Any reasonably decent GSM phone will work fine. Frommer's correct about the charges.

hanl

Isabel, unfortunately, yes, if you are using the phone in a country other than France, it will cost you to receive calls. For example, Orange charges 65 euro-cents per minute for calls received anywhere in Europe outside France.
And yes, it is hugely inconvenient, as I discovered to my horror when suggesting my mother call me on my mobile when on holiday. My phone was totally depleted of credit and I couldn't use it till I got back to France!!

BTilke

Ditto to what Hanl says. With these prepaid setups, you can get killed with the received call charges and also roaming charges, especially in Switzerland and Italy. I suggest you save the cell phone for local and emergency calls and use a prepaid phone card bought in France for long distance (international) calls. Will save you a lot of $$ in the long run.

Cobos

If that is true, I would simply decide that the French SIM you bought was for France And when you got to Italy you just quickly jump into a shop and grab a new SIM card. And remember that most prepaid plans has a special number you can call (which is usually free) to top off your card, after all the company lives off selling you those minutes. They want to make it as easy as possible for you to spend more money

Cobos