ranjana
New member
share my experience
nice information
nice information
mobile phone(s) abroad?
- Thread starter mdrifter
- Start date
ramanarose
New member
Buy a mobile in UK and a simcard in France for pay as you go is the best way to go with your mobile. Get a GSM mobile and unlock it with a service of an online vendor like Unlocking4U.com then use the GSM UK sim card to avoid huge roaming charge.
macd
Active member
If mdrifter hasn't sorted out his phone needs by now, he's probably a lost cause. He asked his question 12 years ago. Although, according to his profile, he wasn't born until last month. Weird 
charles_reed
Active member
For the last 14 years I've used a PAYG SIM card in France, Portugal, Spain , Italy Croatia and Greece.
Generally I've found you can do deals for data as well on these same cards, using the mobile as a modem for my computer.
Though using a mobile within the EC has been brought down to normal prices (it's cheaper to make calls outside the UK than within), I've found the cheapest way is to use Skype to make voice-only calls. By far the most effective way, though is to use e-mail.
Currently I've got a 5Gb/month deal with Vodafone Greece and a dedicated data SIM, either in a Huawei USB modem or a smartphone.
To summarise, most expensive to cheapest:-
1. Mobile with UK PAYG SIM.
2. Mobile with local PAYG SIM
3. Laptop and local data SIM, either Skype for voice only or normal e-mail.
4. Smartphone using Skype on a local WLAN
BlueChip
Active member
I used to use a PAYG Spanish Vodaphone SIM when in Spain but I found that regardless of how often I topped it with €10 credit, I used it I always seemed to be out of credit when I returned to Spain. It seems Vodaphone in Spain were somehow reducing my minutes when the phone was not used. Of course it costs to check the balance so with wifi so freely available now, it makes sense to use Skype to Skype or buy some Skype credit for Skype to landline calling from our smartphones.
We mainly use Skype now or our UK mobiles occasionally if we need to. International calls are so much more reasonably priced now so its not a major expense.
We mainly use Skype now or our UK mobiles occasionally if we need to. International calls are so much more reasonably priced now so its not a major expense.
DownWest
Well-known member
I bought a PAYG phone from LeClerc. The phone was €20 and the SIM another €15 with some time. Key point was that the credit is not limited, unlike most other providers, who cut you off on a short time limit. i.e. €10 for one month. There is a small monthly charge for the LeClerc system, but small. France has been dominated by the big CO,s, who operate an 'apparent' cartel. The new kid, Free, had huge probs from the established outfits, but seems to be getting over them. Biggist one was the huge numbers who wanted j to move over because of the much better terms and the lack of credit limits.
To add: the problems for Free, were mostly legal blocks from the existing co.s who didn't fancy competition.
To add: the problems for Free, were mostly legal blocks from the existing co.s who didn't fancy competition.
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daviddb
New member
We also have had a LeClerc PAYG for three years now - works a treat, monthly subscription is something like €1.5 or €2 and any credit you still have on the card is held for ever but you have to be sure to use it & top it up ( minimum €5 I think) every six months. Still works out on the 'not cheap side of pricey' for extended nitter-natters but great for textos.
Buck Turgidson
Well-known member
Smartphone and any one of a dozen apps along with the local coffee shops wifi will give you free coms. I use FaceTime these days but Skype or whatsapp were the staple for years.