IPhone SIM data only card

Clif,

This is only option you could have a look at. I've never used the "data only" service but this product looks like it will fit the bill.

https://personal.iroam.com/data-roaming-mobile-hotspot.aspx

Using iroam is not the only option and is not data only. And, you don't really need to limit yourself to data only access, as the cost of various other SIMs that include calls, texts, may be far less costly.

With any data SIM, consider the length of your stay (data often expires after a week, two weeks) and the cost. The $.39/MB iroam charge is positively exorbitant.

For example, you can use Lebara SIM which costs 9,50€ and comes with 7,50€ credit, top it up and add 1 GB data for 9,99€ valid for 30 days. Or, check out Orange Holiday.

Beware of any data service that charges by one MB, versus 500 or 1 GB or more. Do the math.

When I've been in France, 1 MB is adequate for 2 weeks with significant Google Maps, web browsing, checking e-mail, etc., generally not worrying about it.

You may want to consider the international plan, if available, with your home service.

All in all, there's no point in a data only SIM as SIMs with phone and text capability are surely handy (and cheap) while out and about. With France SIMs, nearly always, if there are two of you, if you use the same providers, calls and texts between you are free (and faster than checking e-mail or using other "free" apps) for communicating via calls or texts..

"Using iroam is not the only option and is not data only."

Yes, the product I linked IS data only. iRoam has a range of plans available. It would be very easy for the OP to give them a call to find out if these products will be suitable for the intended use.

Thanks for the all the responses so far.

Amazing how things change from country to country. When we went to Italy in 2015 I purchase SIM cards for both my wife's and my iPhones. We got 300 minutes of talk, which we never used, and 4GB of data on each of our phones. It was the data that got us through because we used Skype for text messaging and Google Maps to keep us from getting lost. We bought WIND SIM cards in Venice and they were great. We were able to upload all of our daily photos to Google Drive every night and neither of us used all of our 4GB of data.

Having had this experience in Italy with a data SIM card, I was hoping that someone knew of a company that could provide the same product in France.

Along these lines, where would I purchase a SIM card in France? We'll be spending a week there, flying into Paris and immediately hopping a train for Colmar, if that helps.

Thanks

John

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Again, there's no point in obsessing over a data only SIM because you didn't use your included talk minutes. Shop data prices. May be less costly (including talk you won't use) than data only.

And, The $.39/MB iroam charge is beyond positively exorbitant.

Maybe not a reply, but what about the SIM cards offered in airports? Are they worth the money?

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It depends on carrier availability and the SIM. You would need to know in advance if "they are worth the money". And, all instructions are in French. Some are difficult/impossible to register, which, if unsuccessful, prevents being able to use included credit and be able to top up and, as opposed to purchasing a SIM in any carrier's outpost once in the city, you will receive no assistance whatsoever from a sales clerk at CDG for setting up or activating/registering the SIM,

Best in my experience, every which way - cost, ease of setting up/registering, topping up, by far, has been Lebara, if you can find one at CDG. As noted, hit or miss on arrival. I've seen them at Relay in T1, but not always. Sometimes they're just out of stock.