Prepaid SIM - France
Apr 7, 2013, 5:39 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,604
Used an Orange France Mobicarte SIM sans engagement (no contract) previously on an unlocked AT&T Samsung Infuse 4G. Periodically especially in southern suburbs of Paris I would have no signal. However if I manually selected SFR or some other carrier on my phone, it would connect and roam just fine on the other network. Then I would manually switch back to Orange when in a more central location.
Some of my associates with US SIM cards also had weak or no signal and the manual changing to a different network worked for them too.
Some of my associates with US SIM cards also had weak or no signal and the manual changing to a different network worked for them too.
Apr 30, 2013, 8:33 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Million Miler
Posts: 3
4g Data Only Prepaid Sim card in Paris 2013
I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 and I would like to purchase a prepaid 4g data only sim card in Paris.
I'm gonna be there for about 3 weeks and I would like a 3gb worth of data.
How much would it cost?
What is the company with the best coverage and where should I purchase it?
Thanks for all your help.
I'm gonna be there for about 3 weeks and I would like a 3gb worth of data.
How much would it cost?
What is the company with the best coverage and where should I purchase it?
Thanks for all your help.
May 1, 2013, 3:42 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
However, isn't that SIM slot for 4G data in the US, not for 3G data nor for gsm voice?
See: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gala..._cdma-4799.php
See: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gala..._cdma-4799.php
May 2, 2013, 6:42 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond Million Miler
Posts: 3
However, isn't that SIM slot for 4G data in the US, not for 3G data nor for gsm voice?
See: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gala..._cdma-4799.php
See: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gala..._cdma-4799.php
i'm a geek, but not that big of a geek. I was hoping to put a 4g sim card in and just get data...maybe i'll have to use a 3g card.
May 31, 2013, 11:19 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
I have an unlocked Samsung Mini Galaxy 2 (S6500D) that was bought in Hong Kong (used for my trip over there).
Is this a phone that will work in Europe with prepaid sim cards (it is a mini sim).
Is this a phone that will work in Europe with prepaid sim cards (it is a mini sim).
Jul 16, 2013, 1:54 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,546
My wife is staying in a small French town outside of Nice for 2 weeks. Just got there Sunday... We have an old unlocked Nokia - standard SIM slot - and were hoping to find a cheap/easy SIM card for her local use. It would be for a few local calls per day plus perhaps a call back to the U.S. per day. No data is needed. (She's using Wifi/Skype for some calls so not a lot of airtime is needed.)
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
Jul 16, 2013, 2:06 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
My wife is staying in a small French town outside of Nice for 2 weeks. Just got there Sunday... We have an old unlocked Nokia - standard SIM slot - and were hoping to find a cheap/easy SIM card for her local use. It would be for a few local calls per day plus perhaps a call back to the U.S. per day. No data is needed. (She's using Wifi/Skype for some calls so not a lot of airtime is needed.)
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
Having said that, I'm partial to http://www.lebara.fr/, but that's at least in part because they have English customer service.
Jul 16, 2013, 2:26 pm
#25
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,546
I think these things change frequently and looking at the mobile provider's websites is often the best way to compare.
Having said that, I'm partial to http://www.lebara.fr/, but that's at least in part because they have English customer service.
Having said that, I'm partial to http://www.lebara.fr/, but that's at least in part because they have English customer service.
Jul 16, 2013, 2:33 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
http://help.lebara.fr/#tab:homeTab:crumb:7:artId:1679
They also say that if you order the SIM on the web it will come within 2 working days.
One advantage of Lebara is that their international rates are very reasonable.
Jul 20, 2013, 10:55 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
My wife is staying in a small French town outside of Nice for 2 weeks. Just got there Sunday... We have an old unlocked Nokia - standard SIM slot - and were hoping to find a cheap/easy SIM card for her local use. It would be for a few local calls per day plus perhaps a call back to the U.S. per day. No data is needed. (She's using Wifi/Skype for some calls so not a lot of airtime is needed.)
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
She's noticed a couple newsagent/tobacconist type places nearby. Any recommendations on which type or how to ask for the right card? She does speak and read French fluently, so she doesn't require English-language instructions. This thread seems to favor Orange, is that still a good call?
If she happens to call Customer Service I would be interested in her reaction since my belief has always been that the purpose of Orange Service Clientèle (as opposed to their Tech Support) is to make Verizon Wireless look good.
Jul 23, 2013, 8:59 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4
LeFrenchMobile experience
Hi all,
I went with lefrench on my holidays to France and Spain last month.
Here are my feedbacks:
The pros:
- all calls in the European Union are at the same tariff and cheap international calls
- data packages for all countries too rather cheap
- home delivery (that was the best for me)
- english speaking customer service
- top up online with my UK card
The cons:
- to get a data bundle you have to convert your credit into a data bundle you can't buy it directly
- be careful when you choose your SIM format I mixed up micro and nano SIM cards so I had to exchange since they don't have any store it took a couple of days
I went with lefrench on my holidays to France and Spain last month.
Here are my feedbacks:
The pros:
- all calls in the European Union are at the same tariff and cheap international calls
- data packages for all countries too rather cheap
- home delivery (that was the best for me)
- english speaking customer service
- top up online with my UK card
The cons:
- to get a data bundle you have to convert your credit into a data bundle you can't buy it directly
- be careful when you choose your SIM format I mixed up micro and nano SIM cards so I had to exchange since they don't have any store it took a couple of days
Jul 23, 2013, 12:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 19
Hi all,
I went with lefrench on my holidays to France and Spain last month.
Here are my feedbacks:
The pros:
- all calls in the European Union are at the same tariff and cheap international calls
- data packages for all countries too rather cheap
- home delivery (that was the best for me)
- english speaking customer service
- top up online with my UK card
The cons:
- to get a data bundle you have to convert your credit into a data bundle you can't buy it directly
- be careful when you choose your SIM format I mixed up micro and nano SIM cards so I had to exchange since they don't have any store it took a couple of days
I went with lefrench on my holidays to France and Spain last month.
Here are my feedbacks:
The pros:
- all calls in the European Union are at the same tariff and cheap international calls
- data packages for all countries too rather cheap
- home delivery (that was the best for me)
- english speaking customer service
- top up online with my UK card
The cons:
- to get a data bundle you have to convert your credit into a data bundle you can't buy it directly
- be careful when you choose your SIM format I mixed up micro and nano SIM cards so I had to exchange since they don't have any store it took a couple of days
Jul 23, 2013, 2:47 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,225
Thanks very much for the useful information as I am leaving myself in 2 weeks and still trying to figure the best way to obtain phone/data service. Could you clarify the steps for me. Do you purchase a certain amount of credit and then convert that credit to a data bundle. Also, does the bundle include voice/text messaging? Thanks very much in advance, Rob
