I do the same with my Voicestick account, unless I'm mainly using my United Mobile (Lichtenstein) SIM then my CallBackWorld toll free number provides a much better rate ($.14/min)
Mostly when people call, I just say "can I can you right back" and then use a cheaper method (call back, phone card, VOIP) to call them back.
United Mobile (formerly Riiiing) is a Swiss company with a Lichtenstein (FL hereafter) based SIM (your phone number will be +423-663-xxx). They have free incoming calls in the EU and most other western European countries plus Oz and some others. Of course, whoever calls you pays and there sometimes are surcharges to FL.
CallBackWorld.com (CBW) is call back service. You are assigned one or more US trigger numbers. When you (or a wrong number ) call the trigger number and hang up, their system will call you back at a predetermined number. (Since the call isn't completed, you generally are not charged at this point).
When you answer your call back, you receive a pleasant voice that says "Dial your number" and after you enter it you are connected to that number.
If you are in a country that has free incoming calls (or at a land-line) you are not charged for the call back and just pay whatever the CBW rates are. They have a fairly low rate to FL ($.14/min) and they bill in 6 second increments. So with a little bit of work you can call fairly cheaply back to the US from your mobile.
They have another service that I find very useful -- a toll free number. There are two versions of this: The "free" one (you pay connect time but no other fees) is a shared toll free number. You are given a PIN which you give to people who will call you. They call the toll free number, enter your PIN and they are connected to whatever number you have setup -- in this case probably your United Mobile number. They also have a "business only" (though what is a business is loosely defined) that has a monthly fee of $1.50 and you get a dedicated toll free number that connects directly. In both cases the rate to FL is $.14/min
The other good thing is all these preset numbers (call back number, forwarding number for toll free) can be set from their website so you can change them as you move around. I spend a lot of time in Germany so I have a German SIM but when I am elsewhere I used the United Mobile. With this, people can reach me fairly seamlessly no matter where I am.
Now the caveats: CBW has been having problems of late with their network provider (I think it DialThru) and there have been periodic outages. Its not something I would depend on if you absolutely, positively have to have a call connected. I always have a backup plan. There can also be some annoying delays when talking. But all in all it has been a cost effective way for me to keep in touch with people and vice versa.
I echo what Dubai Stu says about PrePaidGSM.net -- it is a great resource for not only the variety of "international" SIMs but also it has details on many national offerings. It is the "flyertalk" of the prepaid GSM world
As for your Blackberry, I can't help you there.
Thanks for the breakdown. I have purchased a united mobile sim and callbackword 800#. The problem is the callbackworld 800# is only available in the USA. It can not be reached from Canada. Can anyone suggest a way around this problem? Thanks!
United Mobile (formerly Riiiing) is a Swiss company with a Lichtenstein (FL hereafter) based SIM (your phone number will be +423-663-xxx). They have free incoming calls in the EU and most other western European countries plus Oz and some others. Of course, whoever calls you pays and there sometimes are surcharges to FL.
CallBackWorld.com (CBW) is call back service. You are assigned one or more US trigger numbers. When you (or a wrong number ) call the trigger number and hang up, their system will call you back at a predetermined number. (Since the call isn't completed, you generally are not charged at this point).
When you answer your call back, you receive a pleasant voice that says "Dial your number" and after you enter it you are connected to that number.
If you are in a country that has free incoming calls (or at a land-line) you are not charged for the call back and just pay whatever the CBW rates are. They have a fairly low rate to FL ($.14/min) and they bill in 6 second increments. So with a little bit of work you can call fairly cheaply back to the US from your mobile.
They have another service that I find very useful -- a toll free number. There are two versions of this: The "free" one (you pay connect time but no other fees) is a shared toll free number. You are given a PIN which you give to people who will call you. They call the toll free number, enter your PIN and they are connected to whatever number you have setup -- in this case probably your United Mobile number. They also have a "business only" (though what is a business is loosely defined) that has a monthly fee of $1.50 and you get a dedicated toll free number that connects directly. In both cases the rate to FL is $.14/min
The other good thing is all these preset numbers (call back number, forwarding number for toll free) can be set from their website so you can change them as you move around. I spend a lot of time in Germany so I have a German SIM but when I am elsewhere I used the United Mobile. With this, people can reach me fairly seamlessly no matter where I am.
Now the caveats: CBW has been having problems of late with their network provider (I think it DialThru) and there have been periodic outages. Its not something I would depend on if you absolutely, positively have to have a call connected. I always have a backup plan. There can also be some annoying delays when talking. But all in all it has been a cost effective way for me to keep in touch with people and vice versa.
I echo what Dubai Stu says about PrePaidGSM.net -- it is a great resource for not only the variety of "international" SIMs but also it has details on many national offerings. It is the "flyertalk" of the prepaid GSM world
As for your Blackberry, I can't help you there.
Thanks for the breakdown. I have purchased a united mobile sim and callbackword 800#. The problem is the callbackworld 800# is only available in the USA. It can not be reached from Canada. Can anyone suggest a way around this problem? Thanks!
I have a regular account with Orange France, www.orange.fr because I like having a permanent number for use on business cards.
There are three cell phone operators in France: Orange, SFR and Bouygues. You will get different opinions on which of the first two is the best.
Orange's prepaid service is called Mobicarte. You buy a SIM card ("carte à puce") which gives you an initial amount of talk time. If you understand French, there is more information at http://mobile.orange.fr/0/visiteur/P...eterligne.html
If you are coming into CDG via one of the US carriers like AA, I can give you very precise directions to a shop that will sell you what you need and also is staffed by folks who know a reasonable amount of English. The kiosques at CDG operated by Relay do not usually stock the SIM cards although some of them have the "scratch off" recharge cards.
If you want to buy your SIM card in Paris, a few good places would be the huge FNAC electronics store on the Champs Elysees (the cellphone department is on the left side at the street level), the Virgin Megastore, also on the Champs Elysees and any of Orange's own "boutiques" such as the one on the Place de la Madeleine.
Since I am jumping into this thread, I may have missed something. If you have a problem with Orange, knowing French, or getting someone who knows French is essential in talking to customer service.
Let me know if I can answer any questions and Bon Voyage!
I'd appreciate the directions for the shop at CDG as I'd like to buy a card when I arrive. Thanks.
I need a SIM card and based on this thread was thinking of the Orange prepaid - Mobicarte
yes, unlocked RAZR
Feb 17, arrive Sun. Feb 18
Thanks for your help.
When you arrive at CDG Terminal 2A, you will go through Baggage Claim, Immigration and then Customs. After exiting customs, you might want to change money or use an ATM, both of which are on this floor.
When you are through with your money transactions, you will turn RIGHT toward Terminal C. In case you want to consult a map, you are looking for the Shopping Area (a/k/a the "Zone Publique") which is one floor DOWN. In case you do not speak French and want to ask for directions, say "Pharmacy" or "Post" the way you would in English and anyone will understand you mean "Pharmacie" and "Bureau de Poste." If this proves to be a problem, print out this page and show it to someone: http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/f...cies_CDG2A.htm
Keep walking until you pass McDonald's which will be on your right. You're getting close.
BE VARY WARY OF PICKPOCKETS and other con artists from this point on. I have seen several arrests and had one attempt to scam me.
When you see the escalators, if you have a luggage cart, fear not. There are two small elevators which go downstairs and you can take your cart onboard. (Only two carts can fit at once.)
When you get downstairs, you are now in the Zone Publique. Walk about 150 feet and the first shop on your right will have lots of newspapers and magazines at the entrance. You will see the pharmacy up ahead, the Post Office after it and car rental counters on your left.
Walk into the shop, go straight ahead to the counter and if you do not speak French, speak English slowly and ask for a "Mobicarte SIM Carte" (not "card") or (if the guy doesn't understand), a "Mobicarte Poche").
It is slightly possible, although unlikely, that they may have run out of them, in which case, ask for a SIM carte from SFR, the main competitor to Orange. Unless you are desperate, do not buy a SIM card from Bouygues, which all my French friends and colleagues say has bad service in Paris.
No matter how phone savvy you are, I would ask the guy nicely, if he wouldn't mind activating the card for you. There may be the usual way of doing things but then there is the French way.
Note that this shop is like a mini supermarket. They have a terrific section of books and maps and even novels in English. They sell all sorts of travellers needs including luggage and have a nice food section. I usually buy copies of the WSJ Europe, Le Figaro, the IHT, Paris Capitale and a liter of Vittel to drink in the cab.
I do not want to go on and on about Paris, etc., but PLEASE do not hesitate to ask further questions.
Oh yes, when you get done with all this, exit the store, sit down at the cafe next to it, and have a decent breakfast which they didn't give you on the plane even if you flew C. It's what I always do.
Unless you are desperate, do not buy a SIM card from Bouygues, which all my French friends and colleagues say has bad service in Paris.
FWIW: I've been using Bouygues' prepaid Carte Nomad for six years now (during short vacations and a 14-month stay in Paris with heavy use as well as occasional "roaming" in the US) without a single problem.
Perhaps from a regular subscriber's point of view the service isn't good, but I have no hesitation in recommending their prepaid service.
Last edited by iff; Jan 15, 07 at 9:36 am.
Reason: typo
FWIW: I've been using Bouygues' prepaid Carte Nomad for six years now (during short vacations and a 14-month stay in Paris with heavy use as well as occasional "roaming" in the US) without a single problem.
Perhaps from a regular subscriber's point of view the service isn't good, but I have no hesitation in recommending their prepaid service.
Glad to hear that.
I am a regular subscriber to Orange and I receive a monthly bill.
When you arrive at CDG Terminal 2A, you will go through Baggage Claim, Immigration and then Customs. After exiting customs, you might want to change money or use an ATM, both of which are on this floor.
When you are through with your money transactions, you will turn RIGHT toward Terminal C. In case you want to consult a map, you are looking for the Shopping Area (a/k/a the "Zone Publique") which is one floor DOWN. In case you do not speak French and want to ask for directions, say "Pharmacy" or "Post" the way you would in English and anyone will understand you mean "Pharmacie" and "Bureau de Poste." If this proves to be a problem, print out this page and show it to someone: http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/f...cies_CDG2A.htm
Keep walking until you pass McDonald's which will be on your right. You're getting close.
BE VARY WARY OF PICKPOCKETS and other con artists from this point on. I have seen several arrests and had one attempt to scam me.
When you see the escalators, if you have a luggage cart, fear not. There are two small elevators which go downstairs and you can take your cart onboard. (Only two carts can fit at once.)
When you get downstairs, you are now in the Zone Publique. Walk about 150 feet and the first shop on your right will have lots of newspapers and magazines at the entrance. You will see the pharmacy up ahead, the Post Office after it and car rental counters on your left.
Walk into the shop, go straight ahead to the counter and if you do not speak French, speak English slowly and ask for a "Mobicarte SIM Carte" (not "card") or (if the guy doesn't understand), a "Mobicarte Poche").
It is slightly possible, although unlikely, that they may have run out of them, in which case, ask for a SIM carte from SFR, the main competitor to Orange. Unless you are desperate, do not buy a SIM card from Bouygues, which all my French friends and colleagues say has bad service in Paris.
No matter how phone savvy you are, I would ask the guy nicely, if he wouldn't mind activating the card for you. There may be the usual way of doing things but then there is the French way.
Note that this shop is like a mini supermarket. They have a terrific section of books and maps and even novels in English. They sell all sorts of travellers needs including luggage and have a nice food section. I usually buy copies of the WSJ Europe, Le Figaro, the IHT, Paris Capitale and a liter of Vittel to drink in the cab.
I do not want to go on and on about Paris, etc., but PLEASE do not hesitate to ask further questions.
Oh yes, when you get done with all this, exit the store, sit down at the cafe next to it, and have a decent breakfast which they didn't give you on the plane even if you flew C. It's what I always do.
Thanks for all the info. Will the SIM card come with any minutes or do I need to also buy a recharge at the same time?
Landing Gear: do you remember what was the purchase cost for the Orange SIM card at CDG? The cost of the card from Brightroam is $25, so I'm debating if it's worth getting in advance so I can have my French number before my trip (in addition to it being post-paid). Also, do you know the outgoing SMS cost?
I'm also assuming that if I'm flying in on Air France, I shouldn't have any problem finding a place to purchase a Sim at CDG; but do you know of any in that terminal?
Thanks for all the info. Will the SIM card come with any minutes or do I need to also buy a recharge at the same time?
According to the Orange website Mobicarte brochure, http://mobile.orange.fr/0/visiteur/P...eterligne.html, "On the activation of your line, you will benefit from a credit of €4.5 for calling +10 SMS + 100 Kb/10 min of access to Orange World" (some sort of web access).
I would definitely add to this amount with a recharge card.
I suggest you read this brochure in advance. See page 6 for the nine different kinds of recharges.
If you would like to call Orange in advance and ASK for some information, the number from the United States is 011 33 6 07 62 64 64.
Please keep in mind that in the past U.S. carriers have surcharged calls to European cellphone numbers and any number in France beginning with area code (06) is a cellular number. I DO NOT KNOW if these surcharges are still in effect.
Also, I always point out to my French friends that the true purpose of Orange Customer Service is that THEY MAKE VERIZON LOOK GOOD.
Bonne chance!
Last edited by Landing Gear; Jan 16, 07 at 12:39 am.
Landing Gear: do you remember what was the purchase cost for the Orange SIM card at CDG? The cost of the card from Brightroam is $25, so I'm debating if it's worth getting in advance so I can have my French number before my trip (in addition to it being post-paid). Also, do you know the outgoing SMS cost?
I'm also assuming that if I'm flying in on Air France, I shouldn't have any problem finding a place to purchase a Sim at CDG; but do you know of any in that terminal?
Finally, thanks for all of the great information.
Shane
Shane,
Welcome to Flyertalk.
I am terribly sorry, but as I have had a regular Orange subscription for several years now (i.e. I get a monthly bill), it is difficult for me to know what the current charges are. Nevertheless, I did a little looking around for you and it seems there is a special, valid until TODAY, http://animation.orange.fr/frameset/...73&IDTF=612054 where the SIM card is reduced from 30€ to half that if you buy online. (Don't expect to be able to do that from outside France, but you never know.)
Please fill out a little bit of the FT profile, at the minimum, your location. It makes it easier for others to help you. Since I don't know where you are, it makes it difficult to answer your question, but I'll give it a shot.
I have never heard of Brightroam. I took a quick look at www.brightroam.com and, assuming this is the same company, I am not very keen on buying a SIM card that is claimed to be for a French number on an UNSPECIFIED NETWORK. Sorry, no sale.
When I am in France, I don't have time for hassles. I had a headache with my phone last September but since I am an Orange customer, I went to one of their stores and got a new phone.
It seems that with Brightroam, you may not even know which network carries your number. Moreover, YOU are apparently not their customer; Brightroam is. No thanks--not the way I like to do business.
By the way, how do you know that the SIM card Brightroam sends you is working and what if it doesn't work when you get to France? Note that I previously suggested to BogeyMan that he have the shop clerk install the SIM card in his phone. If the card is defective, the onus is on the clerk to get it right. What would you do?
If you can find out in which terminal you arrive, I will take a look at the airport guides and try and come up with a suggestion. I am sorry, but CDG is a big place and when I go there I am either coming from or going to the U.S. (when I have lots of extra time) or coming from or going to somewhere else in Europe when I am in a rush.
Everyone should note that French post offices carry recharges for all three phone networks. I am not sure about the SIM cards as I never saw anyone buy one in the post office.
Glad to be of help, or as Air France used to say many years ago,
Thank you for the additional information. I added some profile info. I'm in Washington DC, but will be flying in June (I know its a bit off, but I'm coordinating efforts for a family vacation for 10 people) via Houston (Delta Award tix) on Air france. Currently, the flight ends up at Terminal 2E.
I looked at the Orange link you gave. As you suspected, they will only ship within France.
It seems that the best option will be for everybody to buy Orange cards in the airport, and just exchange phone numbers once we get to the hotel. I was hoping to find a way to get cards and numbers in advance, but you made some good points about having the vendor set up the phone and using Orange directly instead of through a third party.
) call the trigger number and hang up, their system will call you back at a predetermined number. (Since the call isn't completed, you generally are not charged at this point).
