Travel Technology - Cell phone in Paris

I've read some threads here, many of which go back to 2002 or beyond, or touch on specifics different than my own.

I will be in Paris for 5 days with my wife. We both have ATT Razr phones that are one week old and one year old. We do not have an international roaming plan with ATT, and from what I've seen that isn't a great option for us because the costs aren't all that reduced.

What we'd like to be able to do is each have our phone to be able to call each other in Paris. (We'll likely use calling cards to phone the U.S. as they are still great values, but I'm sure we'll be inspired at some point to phone home and report to the folks on the Tower's spendor or something). We will be together most of the time, but we will split up...her to shop, me to museums. When we've done this in the past, we find that either we get done early and have to wait at the designated spot or pull away before we're ready to to get to the designated spot.

So what I'm looking for is something that will let us stay in contact during those several hours over a few days when we are apart so we both can enjoy what we're doing without worrying about the other one or worrying about getting to a spot just because it is that time.

I don't know anything about SIM cards (as far as swapping them out) or unlocking phones (whatever that means), but have seen reference to these things in other threads.

From what I've read I am curious if there is a way that I can pay a nominal fee ($10 or so?) to buy two SIM cards, put them in our existing phones and get a prepaid block of minutes for the phones, then either pitch the SIMs when we are done or retain them for a possible return visit...all without messing up my ATT plans that I have for everyday use in the U.S. I don't know the names of any companies in Paris that might offer this either...so I am totally in the dark.

I'm sure what I'm wanting to do might sound silly...and I'll acknowledge that. But is it possible, and can someone get me started on finding a solution?

In a single word, yes, it is poissible. What you need to do is call ATT and tell them you need the unlock codes for both phones. WHat an unlock code does it it allows a non-att sim card to be used in your phones.

Once you have these phones unlocked, when you reach paris you can buy prepaid sim cards in any mobile store, and in fact a lot of newspaper stand/kiosks have them as well. I would avoid the mobile stores in the PAris airports as they inflate the prices quite a bit.

Let me know if I haven't been clear enouh.

-BD

Locking means that your phones will only work on AT&T networks. They lock the phones because they subsidize them and don't want you getting the phone cheap from AT&T and then using it on T-Mobile. If you've had the phones for a while, they'll let you unlock them because you've repaid the subsidy. Call AT&T customer service and get instructions for how to unlock the phones.

After that, you buy SIM cards for Paris and replace your AT&T card with these while you're there.

I'm sure what I'm wanting to do might sound silly...and I'll acknowledge that.

Quite the contrary...what you are wanting to do is completely normal, and not too difficult to accomplish.

The first step is to get your phones unlocked by ATT. The easiest way to do this is in the store. They shouldn't pitch too much of a fit, particularly on your 1 year old phone, though the wife's 1 month phone may be an issue. Simply tell them you want the phone unlocked and they should do it for you.

When you get to Paris, find a mobile phone store. Go inside and ask to buy two pre-paid SIMs. There are generally several options, with some having better domestic rates and some having better rates to call the USA. Check the terms on them, but in general you should expect that it will run you 6-10 euro cents per minute. Buy the cards, put them in the phones and you're all set.

When you leave France, take the SIMs out and put the SIMs from ATT back in the phone. It'll work correctly when you get off the plane on this side of the pond.

It really is that easy.

I've found that the case from a memory card for my digital camera is a good way to store the spare SIM cards so I don't lose them.

I'm planning of getting a sim card when I arrived in Paris. A few questions:

- which sim card should I buy that will work in both Paris and Brussels?

- How much are the sim card and do they come with included minutes?

- How much for incoming calls from the U.S., or are they free?

- Can it send/receive text messages to/from USA? How much is the SMS charge?

Thanks.

This is awesome information folks...thank you 10x over!

So I can buy a SIM in Paris for a pretty nominal fee, and that can be prepaid with something reasonable as well. So perhaps I can get all in for around $20 per phone and have a decent block of minutes to use. (I blew through $80 in roaming charges pretty quick on recent trip to London so this saves me money).

Are there some names of cell phone stores that I should look for in Paris? We're staying right on Rue du Rivoli (sp?) so I would think there should be something close by. I'm just wanting to do some research before I get there so I know what I am asking for specifically...unless that isn't practical.

Thank you again.

Locking means that your phones will only work on AT&T networks. They lock the phones because they subsidize them and don't want you getting the phone cheap from AT&T and then using it on T-Mobile. If you've had the phones for a while, they'll let you unlock them because you've repaid the subsidy. Call AT&T customer service and get instructions for how to unlock the phones.

After that, you buy SIM cards for Paris and replace your AT&T card with these while you're there.

wHEN YOU REPLACE THE LOCAL SIM CARDS, DO YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE IN COMING CALLS FROM THE USA??

wHEN YOU REPLACE THE LOCAL SIM CARDS, DO YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE IN COMING CALLS FROM THE USA??You will not received incoming calls to your US number while your foreign SIM card is in your phone. Instead, you give your foreign number to your friends/family and they can reach you on that number. Another benefit is the "calling party pays" setup -- you don't pay for incoming calls. That assumes, of course, that you're in the country you bought the card in. If you use a French card in Belgium it's almost certainly going to cost more per minute and you will pay for the France->Belgium part of incoming calls to the French number.

Sorry folks...more questions.

I have done some more research online and it sounds like I need to obtain the unlock code from ATT but I won't actually use it until I put the new SIM in it while in Paris. Is that legit or do I unlock it before I leave on my trip?

So I can buy a SIM in Paris for a pretty nominal fee, and that can be prepaid with something reasonable as well. So perhaps I can get all in for around $20 per phone and have a decent block of minutes to use. (I blew through $80 in roaming charges pretty quick on recent trip to London so this saves me money).

It'll cost you a little bit more than that...

A SIM card should cost you 15 euros (about $24) and includes 4-5 euros of credit. See
this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8291554&highlight=#post8291554) for an idea of rates (I don't think they've really changed since I wrote it), and you'll see that the included credit won't go far. How many minutes you need to buy depends on how much you think you'll talk (and you can always recharge as needed, though it's cheaper to buy a larger recharge if you think you're going to use it).

Text messaging is cheaper than voice, and incoming calls and text messages are free.

You can use Pages Jaunes (http://www.pagesjaunes.fr) to find a phone store near you. Just fill in:
Quoi, Qui: telephonie mobile
Où: your address in the format xxx rue de Rivoli Paris (where xxx = the number)
Put a check mark in the "à côté de" box and click on Trouver.

Enjoy your trip!

Sorry folks...more questions.

I have done some more research online and it sounds like I need to obtain the unlock code from ATT but I won't actually use it until I put the new SIM in it while in Paris. Is that legit or do I unlock it before I leave on my trip?

You can unlock it at any time. The ATT SIM will still work just fine after it is unlocked. I'd suggest doing it with them on the phone and/or in the store so you can make sure it is successful rather than getting to Paris and then realizing that it didn't work.

As for the cost of a SIM card, check the sticky in this forum. Last time I bought one in Europe was in the UK in 2005 and then it was ~10GBP for the SIM, plus usage. I have no idea how things have changed since then.

--deleted post--

If you aren't going to make many calls, it's cheaper to just use your existing AT&T SIMs and pay the $1 per minute (or whatever it is, maybe $1.29). Buying two SIMs might cost you $50. Just make sure that your AT&T accounts are set up to permit calling from foreign locations.

Sorry folks...more questions.

I have done some more research online and it sounds like I need to obtain the unlock code from ATT but I won't actually use it until I put the new SIM in it while in Paris. Is that legit or do I unlock it before I leave on my trip?

Correct,

You need to UNLOCK your phone before you can actually stick the new French SIM Card in your phone..

To get the unlock code, get it from this site: http://www.remoteunlocking.ca

Once you get your unlock code, all you need to do is Key It In... Simple as that.

To get the unlock code, get it from this site: http://www.remoteunlocking.bad


DO NOT USE THAT SITE!!!

There is absolutely no need to pay anyone to get the phone unlocked. ATT will do it for you if you call/visit.

If you are concerned about receiving incoming calls or having your number prior to departure, try United Mobile. They have decent rates and free incoming calls as well (and use a UK mobile number). Since I travel to different countries in Europe this service is a bit more useful to me and saves me trying to find a SIM card when I arrive.

For infrequent or emergency calls only:

We use T-Mo's 35 cent text messages. No charge for incoming. No limits of any kind. Okay, their voice rates are 99 cents, but who needs to yak across the ocean just to see if the poodle-sitter is on the job? Or where to meet for dinner in Paris? Send a text.

Correct,

You need to UNLOCK your phone before you can actually stick the new French SIM Card in your phone..

To get the unlock code, get it from this site: http://www.remoteunlocking.ca

Once you get your unlock code, all you need to do is Key It In... Simple as that.

You didn't read his question very carefully. Yes, you need to ullock before you can use a different carrier's SIM, but that's not what he asked.

You do NOT need to wait to unlock (which is what he DID ask) -- you can unlock at any time. "Unlocked" just means it will use any carrier's SIM, including of course the original carrier's.

sounds like your needs are similar to mine when my wife and I travel in Europe.

I get an ATT phone card for long distance calls home, etc. NEVER refill the card over the phone...it's way more expensive than buying a new one due to service charges for refilling or buying one with a good amount of minutes on it. BTW, on a trip last month to Germany, I had a 500 minute card which gave me about 27-28 minutes of calls from a phone booth back to the US (may be better from hotel room).

RE: cell phone, call ATT and ask them to activate international roaming on your phones (free of charge...done on the spt...just enables oversees calls). and, since I don't make many calls from my cell while there, I pay the $1.29/ minute rate and keep those calls brief.

I don't find going through all the locking and unlocking, getting new sim cards, having to worry about giving out new numbers, not being available for family calls to my cell, etc. worth the hassel. I'll gladly pay a few $ to keep my existing setup and keep it simple. that's just my opinion...

I keep a couple of unlocked phones at home for travel overseas.. I keep my US phone with the SIM in, and use the unlocked phone for local calls (getting or topping off a local SIM).

I keep a couple of unlocked phones at home for travel overseas.. I keep my US phone with the SIM in, and use the unlocked phone for local calls (getting or topping off a local SIM).

Same here. Plus I use a super cheap unlocked phone in event it gets lost or stolen.

This is awesome information folks...thank you 10x over!

So I can buy a SIM in Paris for a pretty nominal fee, and that can be prepaid with something reasonable as well. So perhaps I can get all in for around $20 per phone and have a decent block of minutes to use. (I blew through $80 in roaming charges pretty quick on recent trip to London so this saves me money).

Are there some names of cell phone stores that I should look for in Paris? We're staying right on Rue du Rivoli (sp?) so I would think there should be something close by. I'm just wanting to do some research before I get there so I know what I am asking for specifically...unless that isn't practical.

Thank you again.

If you post a question in the France forum, you should get some expert advice on where to buy SIM cards. Also on some alternatives to doing the whole unlocking bit.

What I have found to be the best option for my needs is to purchase single country SIM cards from sellers on Ebay. These are generally previously used SIMs with fewer than five Euros remaining credit on them. The benefit is that the sellers of these cards generally sell them for an amount equal to the remaining credit. Whereas, when you purchase a new SIM card at a store in Europe, my experience has been that there is a fairly steep cost for the card itself. i.e., while the card may cost 25 euros, there will only be five to ten euros of time on the card. So I favor getting the used SIMs on Ebay and avoid paying the one-time fixed cost of the SIM card.

What I have found to be the best option for my needs is to purchase single country SIM cards from sellers on Ebay. These are generally previously used SIMs with fewer than five Euros remaining credit on them. The benefit is that the sellers of these cards generally sell them for an amount equal to the remaining credit. Whereas, when you purchase a new SIM card at a store in Europe, my experience has been that there is a fairly steep cost for the card itself. i.e., while the card may cost 25 euros, there will only be five to ten euros of time on the card. So I favor getting the used SIMs on Ebay and avoid paying the one-time fixed cost of the SIM card.

I just searched ebay for 'france sim card' and a few other derivatives and came up with one result...brand new for $55.00 plus shipping.

What would one search for if I wanted to go this route?

I just searched ebay for 'france sim card' and a few other derivatives and came up with one result...brand new for $55.00 plus shipping.

What would one search for if I wanted to go this route?

http://telephone.listings.ebay.fr/Recharges-cartes-prepayees_W0QQfromZR4QQsacatZ93332QQsocmdZListingI temList

What I have found to be the best option for my needs is to purchase single country SIM cards from sellers on Ebay. These are generally previously used SIMs with fewer than five Euros remaining credit on them. The benefit is that the sellers of these cards generally sell them for an amount equal to the remaining credit. Whereas, when you purchase a new SIM card at a store in Europe, my experience has been that there is a fairly steep cost for the card itself. i.e., while the card may cost 25 euros, there will only be five to ten euros of time on the card. So I favor getting the used SIMs on Ebay and avoid paying the one-time fixed cost of the SIM card.

I would strongly advise against this method.

Unlike in the United States where you can buy a pre-paid cell phone for cash at a 7-11, in Europe many countries and companies require your name to be registered with the SIM.

Without knowing who the previous SIM owner was and what he or she might have done with the phone, I would not use the number.

I've read some threads here, many of which go back to 2002 or beyond, or touch on specifics different than my own.



Indeed. And your question would have fit nicely into the sticky at the top of this forum, "How much is a European SIM card, exactly?" (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=569462)

By the way, I have posted detailed instructions there on how and where to buy a SIM card at CDG.

I contacted Roam Simple and learned that a French SIM card costs $19 to buy. The per call and per minute charges are below, and are paid AFTER you perform the action...it is not pre-paid.

Costs:
Incoming: $0 while in France
Local calls made within France: $0.59 / minute
Calls to North America: $0.79 / minute
International Calls to Other Countries: $1.49 per minute


This doesn't sound too bad for what I want.

We'd likely still use a calling card that we buy in Paris for calling home...seems like a better rate.

I just wonder if I would be better off buying the card in France as it seems like $19.00 is a bit high. It is an Orange/France Telecom card.

I speak zero French; that makes me nervous to walk into an Orange store and try to communicate what I want to do.

Guess I'm just posting this to see if there are any thoughts on the rates and costs, and my situation.

I contacted Roam Simple and learned that a French SIM card costs $19 to buy. The per call and per minute charges are below, and are paid AFTER you perform the action...it is not pre-paid.

Costs:
Incoming: $0 while in France
Local calls made within France: $0.59 / minute
Calls to North America: $0.79 / minute
International Calls to Other Countries: $1.49 per minute


This doesn't sound too bad for what I want.

We'd likely still use a calling card that we buy in Paris for calling home...seems like a better rate.

I just wonder if I would be better off buying the card in France as it seems like $19.00 is a bit high. It is an Orange/France Telecom card.

I speak zero French; that makes me nervous to walk into an Orange store and try to communicate what I want to do.

Guess I'm just posting this to see if there are any thoughts on the rates and costs, and my situation.

Have you read the thread I previously referred you to?

Have you read the thread I previously referred you to?

You mean the one with 1,000 posts between like 4 people arguing over T-Mobile and Verizon coverage maps? Yes, I started, stopped and then started again after your second prompting.

It doesn't really seem to answer my question, but does tell me where to buy it if I arrive on American. I'll be arriving on US so I don't know if that part is all that helpful but I've saved it off.

How much is a Orange card? The price I saw was 30 euro. at $45 or so, that's quite a bit more than the $19.00 that I can buy it for here.

The thread also does not tell me how much calls cost for incoming, outgoing, incoming international and outgoing to the US per minute.

It is also confusing to me to have to go buy a SIM, then buy minutes at a tabac shop? How does a magazine stand get money on my phone chip/SIM? Again, that part confuses me.

It really sounds like for what I want, the Roam Simple is at least the most simple to acquire (no french required) and understand, and possibly the cheapest to get.

landing, all of your links that I clicked on in that thread sounded interesting, but were all dead when I clicked them btw.