I have seen many opinions on this subject but I agree with those who recommend www.mobal.com

It is a very easy service with excellent telephone service that I have used throughout Europe and South America.

You purchase and own the phone (we have had ours for 7-8 years) and are billed for what you use! No ongoing service fee's, etc.

Great for the "how is everything" connection to US with minimal hassle...IMHO!

My first one was the Mobal. The problem with it is that the number is British. That makes akk the calls from there. My French friends pointed that out to me. The next one was a Range Roamer..same thing the number was some small european country...now I have the Roam Simple and use only the France sim. Others are available, of course. I do have a few phones! I now only use the Roam Simple.

Joan