cell phones
 

Several weeks ago I posted some questions & received helpful comments, for my upcoming trip to Paris.

Now it's only a few days til I start that trip, and I just realized I don't know what to do about having a cell phone while in Paris. Is it possible to use a US Verizon cellular out of the country? or should I consider renting a phone while I'm there? Or is it just not really essential?

I understand there is at least one Apple store in Paris and that I can go there to check my e-mail, so I would be able to keep in touch with people while away.

Any advice on this will be much appreciated - - - Thank you!

MusicalB

Verizon only has a very select few type of phones that can be used internationally. World Blackberry edition for instance. Verizon will rent you an international phone. May want to check into that; however, you will be roaming while you are there. That can get expensive. I bought 2 unlocked quad band phones off ebay and will be buying SIM cards upon arrival in Italy. Unless you are traveling with a group/spouse/family and need to keep in touch, cell phones are not a necessity IMO.

so is it that any unlocked quad band phones will work in europe?

Catherine, thank you for your coments; I think I was already there, just looking for confirmation! And i think my hotel even has a computer available if I really need to check in on antybody. Thanks again!

Xsandiax, I'm not very advanced in tech-speak, so don't know anything about quad band phones, but I think I'll be ok w/o cellphone in Paris. Thanks again!

unlocked quad band phones will work in europe.

You are welcome.

xsandiax, yes, any unlocked GSM quad band phone will work in Europe. But in fact the fourth band is mostly used elsewhere. Any GSM Tri-band (900/1800/1900) phone will also work. And in France and Italy, my wife and I use a couple of simple, old, and cheap Motorola C123 GSM <b>Dual-band</b> (900/1800) phones.

But any "GSM" phone can only work with a "SIM card" installed in it, a small postage-stamp sized chip ("SIM" = Subscriber Identification Module). This is what gives the phone its telephone number, and attaches it to a service provider).

As Catherinehaas has pointed out, most Verizon phones won't work in Europe. In the US, Verizon uses a CDMA system, not GSM.

Unlocked quad band gsm phones will work in Europe, but they aren't generally available in US cell phone stores and it takes several days (at least) to buy one on the internet and have it shipped to you. If you want to use a cell phone in France you'll have to buy one when you get there, and you'll also have to buy a French sim card. This url has info on buying and using cell phones in France:

http://tinyurl.com/kpm2dy

For more info, look for posts by xyz123 in this forum.

Renting a GSM phone is problematic, unexpected costs are the primary complaint.

If you have an unlocked, GSM tri or quad band phone, purchase a Breizh SIM from PhoneHouse. Cost is 6.90€. Minutes are sold prepaid in increments of 5€. 52 minutes for 10€ or .19€/min

www.phonehouse.fr

If you do not have an available GSM phone, purchase one for 29€ ($41) from Virgin (stores all over France). There is no setup fee and it comes with a SIM and 12 free call-out minutes. Additional minutes are available in increments of 5€ with some plans starting at .27€/minute. There is no charge for inbound calls.

There are popular and actually good options to include Callineurope and mobal but these options, for one reason or another, will be more expensive than purchasing a phone from Virgin.

www.virginmobile.fr/

Get an unlocked GSM phone and a SIM card from http://globalroaming.mobi/ I have used mine in many countries and had no problems with coverage. Even worked in really remote areas. They issue a U.S. based phone number (for family to call cheap) as well as the Belgian number that stays with the SIM. I believe that they have express shipping and will also ship internationally.