We are in the process of renting or purchasing a phone to use in France for a short period...not planning to make a lot of calls...need for emergency and convenience..has anyone has experience with the purchase of phone from Rail Europe using a sims card? They seem reasonable...any other suggestions.
Thanks J
Posted by
Reseda, CA, USA
196 posts
Hi Joanne I used call in europe. The Reception was fine and they seemed to be the least expensive solution. www.callineurope.com
Posted by
Fallbrook, CA, USA
48 posts
If your USA phone operates on GSM (ATT for example) you need only change out the SIM card for one you buy in France.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
"If your USA phone operates on GSM (ATT for example) you need only change out the SIM card for one you buy in France"
Only if your phone has been "unlocked." Otherwise, it will not accept any other company's SIM card.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA, USA
33 posts
If you have AT&T as your carrier, you can call their tech support and request for the unlock code for your phone. (I've done this everal times with them, but not on an IPhone.) When you get to France, go to a wireless store and purchase a SIM card for your phone. I believe the SIM card with a limited number of minutes of use but you can add purchase additional minutes for it. Also check google for cheap phone calls to Europe. (It is quite expensive also to place calls to a mobile phone from here in US.)
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
Hi Joanne,
Before leaving for france last spring, I simply called my provider (at&t) and asked them to activate the "global package" so that I could use the phone is Europe. It's a Blackberry, but nothing special. They asked if I wanted data or voice or both activated, and then I was off. It worked in both England and France while there.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
I should clarify, my phone is a GSM, so yours will have to be also. We didn't change SIM or any other hardware, the the increased cost for the plan was pretty minimal.