[snaimon]

I don't think there is any clear answer. HOWEVER, either wait until you are in Germany or France for a local card or purchase one on Ebay --- cheap. There is a person selling D1 cards without any balance for total of $30 shipping included. That is much too high. He seems to keep selling them, however. I don't understand it. Stuff from dealers lioke the one you mention is most often too expensive.

If your German friends want to call YOU in Germany, a German card would be better for them.

If you call back to the US you will not want to do this on your German SIM - about $2 per minute I believe. Your best bet is a calling card and to use a land line phone. ATT, MCI, Enjoyprepaid, Onesuite are all OK. They all have toll free access in France AND Germany.

As you may know, calling foreign cell phones is often more expensive than calling land lines. To German land lines 5 cents / minute is a decent rate; you will be hard-pressed to find a rate to a German cell for < 22 cents / minute.

As for international cards I have a UM card and have been happy with that. In conjuction with callbackworld.com, you can call the US for 14 cents per minute and be reached at that rate from the US. That has a Liechtenstein #. Others seem to favor the Isle of Man products, but you want to make sure you have free inbound in FR and DE.

Stan