vB Easy Archive - going to France next year, what provider to get now?

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going to France next year, what provider to get now?
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Posted by: JGlover

I'm going to study abroad in Paris next fall and spring semesters. Is it possible for people to call me on my old number while I'm in France? If not, what should I do to make sure I don't lose my old number while I'm gone? I don't really want to pay $40 a month for a phone I'm not even using!

Right now I have Verizon, but my contract expires in the spring.

Posted by: TriBand81

You can consider a solution such as a GSM/CDMA handset (i.e. Samsung A790) and then keep your US number that way. Using a GSM/CDMA handset will allow you to use a SIM card in France but is very unpractical since you'd pay hefty roaming prices while using your Verizon number outside of the US.

Why don't you have someone take your US contract over for you? The most cost-effective solution for using GSM in France (CDMA isn't available in most of Europe) would be to get a GSM phone and SIM card. You can find a listing of all prepaid SIM offers here:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/france.html

All networks in France offer free incoming calls across the country. If you roam outside of France with a French GSM SIM card, then you'll be charged for roaming.

Hope this helps,

Posted by: Rafale

Perfect timing because I have a similar question along the same lines.

I'm going to France for a good 2 1/2 weeks next month and so far the only option I've come accross is the VZ rental phone program which cost $1.49/min per call and $3.99 a day for the rental phone. On top of this they don't give you the choice of choosing the phone.

Is there a cheaper alternative?

Thanks

Posted by: mrcamp

Yes. A cheaper alternative is to get an unlocked GSM phone on ebay (a basic one should cost around $50) or so and get a prepaid sim when you get to France. You definitely do not want to rent in this day and age. Check the link posted above for the prepaid providers in France. My provider is Sprint, but I own a couple of GSM phones for international travel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

Perfect timing because I have a similar question along the same lines.

I'm going to France for a good 2 1/2 weeks next month and so far the only option I've come accross is the VZ rental phone program which cost $1.49/min per call and $3.99 a day for the rental phone. On top of this they don't give you the choice of choosing the phone.

Is there a cheaper alternative?

Thanks

Posted by: JGlover

I am going to transfer my number to T-Mobile-To-Go when I leave in August and just pay the cheap rate to keep my number activated.

Posted by: mharris127

One point: If you are going abroad, get a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900). That way, you can use it here and abroad. Most phones sold here are not compatible with Europe's cell networks.

Posted by: Bugwart

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharris127

One point: If you are going abroad, get a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900). That way, you can use it here and abroad. Most phones sold here are not compatible with Europe's cell networks.

If you do not get a quad band phone, then at the very minimum buy one that includes both 900 and 1800 MHz GSM frequencies. Many tri-band handsets include one or the other but not both.