Pay phones at CDG airport

There's WiFi. Could you maybe use Skype from a laptop, your U.S. smartphone or iPad? No data roaming charge if you use WiFi.

There were pay phones a couple of years ago. They were actually free for local calls but a couple were out of order. Ask your flight attendants, they'll know.

Last I had a need - kind-of long ago - phones at CDG used to require a phone card and didn't take coins. So you might need to buy a phone card at the airport.

You have to pay 8 euros for the cheapest pay phone card, even if you only want to make one call. If it's a toll-free number (starts with 0800) you can just dial it from the phone without any card. Of course, there aren't many pay phones left, but if you use one, you can reset the directions to English.

I have used a credit card in French pay phones. Expensive, especially with my bank's surcharge, but I don't do much calling.

I had to use a payphone at CDG in summer of 2011 to call my shuttle when it didn't show up. I did not need any coins or card to use it, but it may be their number was tollfree or local calls didn't need anything. Sorry that I don't remember the details ( you would think i would since i had to call the shuttle people 3 times before they showed up), but i do know there was a large bank of phones close to door 7.
Hope this helps some. This time I have a private driver picking me up. It doesn't take me too long to learn my lesson. :)