Mobile Phones in France

Wolfgang Schwanke wrote in message ...
(ABC) wrote in
om:

I get the impression
that I can
buy a "chip" (prepaid card) for my Nokia 6610 which I purchased in
Italy in 2002. I use the Wind service and have an Italy number.

This is correct as a general rule, _unless_ the Nokia was SIM-locked to
Wind. If it is should be evident from the paperwork that came with your
Wind contract.

My Italian cousin gave me his "chip" in 2001 and said that I can just
buy a phone and use it. That's what I did.

Am I correct in assuming that the French "chip" will give me a French
number?

Yes. Incidentally the chip is called a SIM, and it's the "heart" of the GSM
mobile phone system. The SIM knows your phone number, the carrier company,
its home country, and the pricing model you're subscribed to. It instructs
the phone accordingly when inserted. The phone itself is just a disposable
piece of hardware, without a SIM it can do nothing. Especially it has no
phone number hardwired into it.

Regards

This trip I will be in Paris just a week, therefore, I won't use all
the funds that I put into the service. Can I just use it when I come
back again (that's how it works in Italy) or will it expire? I see
myself having envelopes marked
"France", "Italy", "Germany" etc. with these SIMs for each country
:)....
Thanks, ABC

In article , ABC
wrote:

Wolfgang Schwanke wrote in message
...
(ABC) wrote in
om:

I get the impression
that I can
buy a "chip" (prepaid card) for my Nokia 6610 which I purchased in
Italy in 2002. I use the Wind service and have an Italy number.

This is correct as a general rule, _unless_ the Nokia was SIM-locked to
Wind. If it is should be evident from the paperwork that came with your
Wind contract.

My Italian cousin gave me his "chip" in 2001 and said that I can just
buy a phone and use it. That's what I did.

Am I correct in assuming that the French "chip" will give me a French
number?

Yes. Incidentally the chip is called a SIM, and it's the "heart" of the GSM
mobile phone system. The SIM knows your phone number, the carrier company,
its home country, and the pricing model you're subscribed to. It instructs
the phone accordingly when inserted. The phone itself is just a disposable
piece of hardware, without a SIM it can do nothing. Especially it has no
phone number hardwired into it.

Regards

This trip I will be in Paris just a week, therefore, I won't use all
the funds that I put into the service. Can I just use it when I come
back again (that's how it works in Italy) or will it expire? I see
myself having envelopes marked
"France", "Italy", "Germany" etc. with these SIMs for each country
:)....
Thanks, ABC

My Italian SIM card is good for a year: just before expiration date I
will add a minimal amount to the card so that its life will be extended
til I return to Italy next time. In contrast, my US card is good only
for a month and the recharging is more expensive .. and rates are
higher and incoming calls are not free as in Italy. grrrr
billfrogg

A couple of years I purchased a Kit D'Acces from SFR in France. Got a
French phone number plus about $30 worth of airtime for the kit cost of $30.
Recharges were readily available in Tabac shops. Number was good for six
months, if recharged at least once.


"ABC" wrote in message
om...
Will be in Paris for a week in April.
I checked http://www.sfr.com/en/index.jsp and I get the impression
that I can
buy a "chip" (prepaid card) for my Nokia 6610 which I purchased in
Italy in 2002. I use the Wind service and have an Italy number.
Am I correct in assuming that the French "chip" will give me a French
number?
ABC


"Syrah" wrote in message
...
SFR do that, click :
http://www.sfr.com/en/index.jsp

Eric



"PB&JM" a écrit dans le message de
...
Hello all,
I will be travelling to France at the end of the week and have a
question
regarding "pre-paid" cards for mobile phones.
In Australia I can purchase a "Red" Vodafone card which is pre paid
and
can
be toped up allowing me to either make or receive national or
international
calls.

Is this the case in France? I have tried their website, but alas it's
in
French LOL, funny that.

Anyway I have a "unlocked phone" and will be using the phone very
little.
I am not keen on using Global roaming with my own carrier as a friend
recently returned from France having done the same thing and had many
problems.

Thanks In advance

Paul

(ABC) wrote in
om:

My Italian cousin gave me his "chip" in 2001 and said that I can just
buy a phone and use it. That's what I did.

So we can't tell if your phone is SIM-locked or not. Only you can find out,
because you know where you bought it.

This trip I will be in Paris just a week, therefore, I won't use all
the funds that I put into the service. Can I just use it when I come
back again (that's how it works in Italy) or will it expire?

Most prepay SIMs expire a year after the last credit top-up. You can make
it survive for another year by putting more money in. (Details vary from
carrier to carrier, with some a smaller sum will only extend it for 6
months). I'm sure this is true with French carriers, and chances are it's
also true with your Italian card.


I see
myself having envelopes marked
"France", "Italy", "Germany" etc. with these SIMs for each country
:)....

That's uneconomical and shouldn't be necessary anyway. You can use a SIM
outside of its country of origin. This is called "roaming". The charges are
higher than inside the country, and you pay for incoming calls too while
abroad. But for moderate use it's still cheaper than buying a new SIM for
each country you visit, and you have the added advantage that your phone
number stays the same. Maybe you should look into that option. Read the
paperwork of your existing Wind SIM, maybe it offers roaming already!

Regards

--
It's The Economy, Stupid

http://www.wschwanke.de/ usenet_20031215 (AT) wschwanke (DOT) de

I live part time in France on a barge. I have a Nokia unlocked SIM
card phone. I use Orange (France Telecom) and must "recharge" my
account with a new "Mobicarte" at least every 6 mos to retain the
number and I assume the card. I think that for you to use your phone
in France, it must be fitted with a French SIM card and you must open
an account with a phone company. Incidentally, I use call backs to
get great rates from the cell in France to the US and even to other
locales in France. Hope this helps, Jim

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 22:56:46 +1100, "PB&JM"
wrote:

Hello all,
I will be travelling to France at the end of the week and have a question
regarding "pre-paid" cards for mobile phones.
In Australia I can purchase a "Red" Vodafone card which is pre paid and can
be toped up allowing me to either make or receive national or international
calls.

Is this the case in France? I have tried their website, but alas it's in
French LOL, funny that.

Anyway I have a "unlocked phone" and will be using the phone very little.
I am not keen on using Global roaming with my own carrier as a friend
recently returned from France having done the same thing and had many
problems.

Thanks In advance

Paul