Mobile Phone
Sep 14, 2007 | 5:48 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,291
Quad band is a good start - but we're not there yet. 
Virtually all phones sold in France are "locked" with one single provider, and unlocking costs between 15-50 euros depending on the phone. If your model of phone is also sold here, I guess you can have it unlocked here in Paris as well. If you can read French, apparently these guys http://www.deblocage.net/ do the unlocking online; or I'll help you with the translation. I have never tried them, though.
Virtually all phones sold in France are "locked" with one single provider, and unlocking costs between 15-50 euros depending on the phone. If your model of phone is also sold here, I guess you can have it unlocked here in Paris as well. If you can read French, apparently these guys http://www.deblocage.net/ do the unlocking online; or I'll help you with the translation. I have never tried them, though.
I watched my quad-band Motorola as it was unlocked by Orange at their Place de la Madeleine shop using a cable connected to a computer.
Caveat emptor.
This is discussed in one or more threads in Travel Technology -- try the sticky How much is a European SIM, exactly?
Sep 15, 2007 | 11:23 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM1K,AA EXP
Posts: 1,192
Unlocking phones
I had serious problems with unlocking an AT&T phone(Nokia) several years ago;the codes just wouldn't work. I just kept going in to the AT&T store(they existed then) at 8:30 AM and causing problems until one of the employees somehow found an unlocked model of the same phone to exchange for mine.
End of August this year I got a Motorola Razr unlocked for $25.00 in SF, since I just didn't want to go through the code hassle or looking for the unlock booth at the Braderie Lille. My French sim card works just fine. Reading French isn't the problem. The codes just don't always work.
End of August this year I got a Motorola Razr unlocked for $25.00 in SF, since I just didn't want to go through the code hassle or looking for the unlock booth at the Braderie Lille. My French sim card works just fine. Reading French isn't the problem. The codes just don't always work.
Sep 15, 2007 | 1:51 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
A note for T-Mobile US customers: T-Mobile will give you the unlock code for free after you've had your phone for 6 months. Just tell them you'd like to unlock the phone to use a foreign SIM. I've done this with a Sony Ericson, a Motorola, and I'll soon be doing it with my Blackberry.
Sep 24, 2007 | 2:41 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1
France cell phone deal
the best deal for cell phone in France is call-in-europe.com
they have calling plans with french rollover minutes and rates that start at $0.19/min. they give you a SFR sim card to use with your own phone but is postpaid and not prepaid! And you pay in $ vs euros so no exchange rate pain here.
they have calling plans with french rollover minutes and rates that start at $0.19/min. they give you a SFR sim card to use with your own phone but is postpaid and not prepaid! And you pay in $ vs euros so no exchange rate pain here.
Oct 1, 2007 | 11:43 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,291
the best deal for cell phone in France is call-in-europe.com
they have calling plans with french rollover minutes and rates that start at $0.19/min. they give you a SFR sim card to use with your own phone but is postpaid and not prepaid! And you pay in $ vs euros so no exchange rate pain here.
they have calling plans with french rollover minutes and rates that start at $0.19/min. they give you a SFR sim card to use with your own phone but is postpaid and not prepaid! And you pay in $ vs euros so no exchange rate pain here.
As noted before by Fornebufox, this topic is exhaustively covered in the Travel Technology Forum. Indeed, I mentioned Call In Europe three months ago in this message: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...&postcount=248
Since you mention it here, however, when using a superlative, it's a good idea to qualify it. What is best for you may not be best for other members of the forum. Some of us are regular and frequent visitors to France and maintain permanent accounts with French carriers.
I have had an Orange number for several years.