pam
Full Travel Member
Posts: 35
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Post by pam on Aug 31, 2002 9:07:04 GMT -5
Since I will be living in a timeshare type thing while studying in France during the week, I know that we are not allowed to make outgoing long distance calls and the prices for local calls are really expensive. I am aware I can buy prepaid phone cards and such...but..
If I were to bring my cell phone to France and wanted to purchase a prepaid cell phone chip (a local france one) - would anybody have any idea how much this would cost or if it is available?
Im sure it is available, just haven't been able to find much information on it...any advise or ideas? I'm a bit spoiled that way, i'd rather just have the comfort of traveling with a cell phone granted I can purchase a prepaid cell phone chip that was rechargable with funds!
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 31, 2002 14:06:18 GMT -5
Well I had a multiband cell that I bought for my trip. Worked everywhere, but was not cheap. BTW.....got one specifically with a Swiss phone number.....that way if my daughter or best friend just 'had' to chat with me, it would 'hurt' them to do so as they would have to dial Switzerland to do it!  And since my phone charged the same outgoing or incoming I didn't want non-essential calls coming in. Phones are everywhere in Europe....they are MUCH MORE cell phone crazy than here in US. I would suggest you just get one there.....Orange is a big name that I saw everywhere. To buy one here that will work there, or even to get a SIMS chip once you arrive I believe will be more than just getting a prepaid one once you arrive. And I could be wrong, but even with a French chip your American phone will not work there. You will need to buy a new multiband one anyway......cheapest on that I found (and bought) was $380. And that was JUST the phone. Do some checking on this before you decide. The prepaid cards really do work well.....and not just from pay phones. There is a 'dial into' number on them that you can use from any phone. And dollar for dollar it's about the best rate. However, BEST rate you can find is the prepaid cards to be had at Sam's or Costco. If you really want to save money and watch your dollars, I suggest you buy a few of those before you go. ging |
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pam
Full Travel Member
Posts: 35
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Post by pam on Sept 2, 2002 3:23:52 GMT -5
hi there, i was under the assumption that as long as i had a cell phone that wasn't locked with any "dealer" or company here, i would be able to take it to europe and just purchase a chip/sim card there. i will double check though...otherwise I can just get international roaming put on my phone and use it there in france with GSM. Argh, traveling sometimes brings along too many annoying things to figure out  Now I'm stressed because everything is getting confused!! |
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Post by LHR02 on Sept 2, 2002 7:03:34 GMT -5
>>>>i was under the assumption that as long as i had a cell phone that wasn't locked with any "dealer" or company here, i would be able to take it to europe and just purchase a chip/sim card there<<<<< Pam, I am surely no cell expert here ;D but was told repeatedly that the phones there work on a different 'frequency' for want of a better word and American phones are not compatable....unless they are a triband phone. Sort of like trying to get FM on an AM radio? I checked with every magor phone company here in US and got the same response from them all.....their phones won't work. Let me know what you find out....this was almost a year ago now that I was investigating this and things could well have changed, several times, by now.  ging |
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And since my phone charged the same outgoing or incoming I didn't want non-essential calls coming in.
Now I'm stressed because everything is getting confused!! 