The phone and service I had was purchased from Amena in Spain. The phone was manufactured by Sony Ericsson. I contacted Sony Ericsson and they gave me the directions for unlocking the phone. It's a set of directions you follow (example - press left arrow, press star twice, etc.)until the display screen shows ME lock (picture of lock will be closed)and you press yes to get the display to enter your SIM unlock code which is a series of numbers that you need to get from Sagem (you will end of with pic of lock showing open lock). I contacted Sony E through their online support and did a screen capture of the information/directions.

In another thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m-in-paris.cfm

<font color="#0066CC"><b>Sarastro</b></font> wrote:

<i>In accordance with French law, these phone may be unlocked after 6 months of ownership.</i>

Although I'll be using a couple of Motorola C123 phones on my upcoming trip to France, I'll bring along the phone I've got that's locked to Orange, and paperwork showing when it was purchased (about two years ago). It should be easy to walk into an Orange store, and ask them about unlocking it.

- Larry

A pretty good operator is 3 - www.tre.it

They currently have a rechargeable sim card called 3 Power 10 which has a Euro 5 set up fee, Euro 0.10 per minute calls to ALL Italian numbers including other mobile numbers, NO standing charge made when a call is connected, ALL messages at Euro 0.10 each. 3 also offers special rates when using the 3 network in Austria, Australia, Denmark, UK, Ireland, Hong Kong and Sweden. Euro 5 monthly fee waived for ever if contract entered into before March 31 - but usually such offers are prolonged but I cannot guarantee this.

As far as using it in France the cost is Euro 0.50 per minute calls to French and most other European countries and 0.95 Euro to USA. There is a minimum Euro 0.25 call charge and subsequently after the first 30 seconds the cost is per second. Calls received cost Euro 0.22 from most European countries including calls received from France when in that country and Euro 0.95 from the US - again the minimum charge applies.

Finally to use the 3 network you need one of the more modern phones.

Hope the above helps.

Just retired: I was researching phones to use in Spain and France, and noticed your post about "Call in Europe." My US cell phone is not going to work in Europe, and I'd like a number to hand out before we leave. Does the CIE phone service work well? We're going to be in major Spanish cities, but also driving around in south west France. I wonder what the coverage is like in the rural areas of Languedoc and the Dordogne.

Hi, I have a a solution that works well and the price is quite fair: 33 countries in Europe for 2 € per day (with 100 MB included) and in Italy 2 € per day with 500 MB. The calling rate is also good, but I use Skype (free is better). Another advantage is the long expiring date (12 months from the last recharge) because my French SIM Card expired after 3 months!

Source: www.europasim.com