Free Mobile (Iliad)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
Free Mobile (Iliad)
[I'm leaving this here instead of the Travel and Technology Forum hoping for a better chance of a response.]
I read an interesting article from Reuters France's Iliad aims for faster mobile profit. From the article:
This looked interesting so after some Googling, I found the Free website at http://mobile.free.fr/index.html which inspired some questions:
1. Does anyone here on FT use this company or know anyone who does?
2. Where can you buy one of their SIM cards?
3. In looking at their Tariffs, specifically on page 4, it appears to indicate that if you are paying by any method other than automatic electronic payment from a French bank account (the usual RIB scheme), they want a whopping 200 € deposit. Did I read this correctly? Are they enforcing this? Would they allow an exception for a credit card?
4. If Free allows you to leave whenever you want, can you simply pay up front for a month of service?
5. Not that this is a deal breaker (there seems to be one already ) but on one of their FAQ pages, the question is posed, "I have an iPhone 4(s). Am I going to receive a SIM card in the adapted format [the micro-SIM]?" The response given is: "Yes, the SIM card sent permits at the same time a standard use and a micro-SIM use (iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s)." Is this some new kind of SIM card I haven't yet heard about? Are they sending two SIM cards?
The question of cell phone and smartphone use for travellers comes up frequently on FT, so I am hoping for a response here for those concerned. Moi, je suis déja client chez Orange.
I read an interesting article from Reuters France's Iliad aims for faster mobile profit. From the article:
The company signed up 2.6 million customers to its 'Free Mobile" offers in the first quarter to take 3.7 percent of the market, a pace unprecedented among new mobile entrants in European markets.
It sells only two offers - unlimited at 19.99 euros a month and a 2 euros package of one hour of calls and 60 texts - and has a more limited range of mobiles than its competitors.
Free Mobile also established a different business model, soon copied by its competitors: its customers pay for their own mobiles and can leave whenever they want, forgoing the traditional generous mobile subsidies that operators give on smartphones with contracts for one or two years.
It sells only two offers - unlimited at 19.99 euros a month and a 2 euros package of one hour of calls and 60 texts - and has a more limited range of mobiles than its competitors.
Free Mobile also established a different business model, soon copied by its competitors: its customers pay for their own mobiles and can leave whenever they want, forgoing the traditional generous mobile subsidies that operators give on smartphones with contracts for one or two years.
1. Does anyone here on FT use this company or know anyone who does?
2. Where can you buy one of their SIM cards?
3. In looking at their Tariffs, specifically on page 4, it appears to indicate that if you are paying by any method other than automatic electronic payment from a French bank account (the usual RIB scheme), they want a whopping 200 € deposit. Did I read this correctly? Are they enforcing this? Would they allow an exception for a credit card?
4. If Free allows you to leave whenever you want, can you simply pay up front for a month of service?
5. Not that this is a deal breaker (there seems to be one already ) but on one of their FAQ pages, the question is posed, "I have an iPhone 4(s). Am I going to receive a SIM card in the adapted format [the micro-SIM]?" The response given is: "Yes, the SIM card sent permits at the same time a standard use and a micro-SIM use (iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s)." Is this some new kind of SIM card I haven't yet heard about? Are they sending two SIM cards?
The question of cell phone and smartphone use for travellers comes up frequently on FT, so I am hoping for a response here for those concerned. Moi, je suis déja client chez Orange.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,335
1. Does anyone here on FT use this company or know anyone who does?
2. Where can you buy one of their SIM cards?
if you are paying by any method other than automatic electronic payment from a French bank account (the usual RIB scheme), they want a whopping 200 € deposit.
4. If Free allows you to leave whenever you want, can you simply pay up front for a month of service?
"Yes, the SIM card sent permits at the same time a standard use and a micro-SIM use (iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s)." Is this some new kind of SIM card I haven't yet heard about? Are they sending two SIM cards?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
Thanks iff!
It seems like this is not a service for the occasional traveler.
Have you heard anything about Sosh from Orange? I was sent a link by someone I know but it's not clear to me if this has gone into effect.
It might be a replacement for Mobicarte as a no contract plan.
It seems like this is not a service for the occasional traveler.
Have you heard anything about Sosh from Orange? I was sent a link by someone I know but it's not clear to me if this has gone into effect.
It might be a replacement for Mobicarte as a no contract plan.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,335
Sosh is Orange's "low-cost" line, in the same category as Bouygues' B&You and SFR's Red. They are similar to the Free model: not pay-as-you-go services but with a contract of undefined duration. I believe they are all internet-based and thus not suitable for anyone who needs in-person customer service.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
Sosh is Orange's "low-cost" line, in the same category as Bouygues' B&You and SFR's Red. They are similar to the Free model: not pay-as-you-go services but with a contract of undefined duration. I believe they are all internet-based and thus not suitable for anyone who needs in-person customer service.
Internet-based I perhaps could live with as a traveler especially if my hardware is supported by Apple. But at the moment, I can't even figure out how they expect to get paid.
Just to be sure I understand you, are you saying you can't find Sosh in any stores like FNAC?
#6
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,335
From their site:
You won't find it in stores--part of the reason it's low-cost is that they've cut out the middleman.
According to their conditions, clients must live in metropolitan France.
SOSH, ça se passe sur Internet, pas dans les magasins.
According to their conditions, clients must live in metropolitan France.