Report on using Orange Mobicarte in France

[inquisitor]

Why not? When I purchased an Orange mobicarte the last time in 2008 it worked like this.

[inquisitor]

Try "orange.fr" as APN despite just "orange" should work, too. Maybe Orange in the meantime refuse connections from non-handsets by IMEI (serial number) as the "Orange Max" data option is limited to handset use by their terms and conditions.

EDIT: Have you actually placed a phone call with your SIM card? I remember that you had to place a call in order the SIM got get fully activated. Just try calling some toll-free French number.

[V6Matt]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Try "orange.fr" as APN despite just "orange" should work, too. Maybe Orange in the meantime refuse connections from non-handsets by IMEI (serial number) as the "Orange Max" data option is limited to handset use by their terms and conditions.

EDIT: Have you actually placed a phone call with your SIM card? I remember that you had to place a call in order the SIM got get fully activated. Just try calling some toll-free French number.

Worked out what it was, just needed the dial number of *99# added and it connects but obviously pops up with the message saying computers are barred. However at least I know it works and just need to sort my HTC issue out!

[inquisitor]

If you're lucky they still distingusih between handsets and non-handsets only by the "user agent", by which every browser identifies itself upon each http-request, and not by IMEI. In that case the following "hack" should still work:
Use Firefox, install the "User Agent Switcher" addon and change the "user agent" from the menu to one from a mobile device (such as the iPhone which is preconfigured in the "User Agent Switcher").

[flychr]

hi
can you confirm that orange mobilcarte vill work in usb modem?
i got

2. tried sim in usb modem and there was a warning not to use the sim on the PC!

but maybe I am wrong?
chr

[inquisitor]

Officially it won't. The question is how Orange technically prevent users to use the SIM in a non-handset. If they do it only by inspecting the user agent of http requests, then the above described workaround should let you use the SIM in a non-handset (with the side effect of some websites automatically showing their mobile version instead of the desktop one). If they however check the device's IMEI you will either need to manipulate the IMEI or use Wifi-tethering through a handset in addition to the user-agent manipulation.

Btw the last time I used a Mobicarte in France almost two years ago they were billing all traffic not using the standard http-ports (80, 8080) separately. So using an email client, instant messaging clients, ftp clients etc resulted in prohibitively high extra charges.

Let's hope France's latest market entrant Free will soon launch a prepaid product with affordable data rates available to visitors.

[flychr]

hi

So using an email client, instant messaging clients, ftp clients etc resulted in prohibitively high extra charges.

i used the sim in a htc desire and used the hotspot to a laptop and i paid for the email klint and i had no problem ! but i tried sim ind a usb modem and a warning i fr (i think) not to use the sim ind usb modem!
chr

[scirocco]

Yes, like the seller says, just dial a phone that you can get to that shows caller ID. The ebay seller sets the cards up with international access switched on, so it should not be a problem to do so.

It never hurts to put the international codes in, so (since you're in the US) just dial +1 then the area code and phone number. The number of the SIM you've bought will start with 33 (country code for France) then have a 6 then xx xx xx xx.

So within France someone calling you would dial 06 xx xx xx xx
Calling you in France from the US someone would dial +33 6 xx xx xx xx

[jb9]

Thanks scirocco.

I finally got the phone to place a call successfully and subsequently view the SIM's phone number. Good news for sure! It also looks like I have the correct amount of credit (15 Euro) on the Orange system based on my use of the #123# menu. As I mentioned earlier, I just have a basic unlocked quad-band Motorola Razr V3 flip phone because I really only am interested in making/receiving calls or SMS. This particular thread mentions how folks need to turn off the data settings on their smartphones so that credit is not drained from the card. My phone does use what is called GPRS in a very rudimentary web browser (I haven't turned on or initiated a browser session), but I do NOT plan to use it.

Question #1: Do I still need to go to the orange.fr portail and create an account? I have already placed a call to my local phone to identify the number and vice versa, so it appears that the phone + SIM can send and receive calls. I am just wondering if the additional setup with the orange.fr portail is necessary since I am not using a true smartphone and don't plan on adding the mail or Internet Max options.

Question #2: I have looked pretty closely at the user manual, but if there are any experienced Motorola Razr V3 users who know of any other "data" settings I need to turn off, are there other settings that I am missing?

Question #3: What is the basic cost of using voice with the Mobicarte in France? I am under the impression that calls to landlines (04) are less expensive than calls to a cellular (06) and that the Mobicarte is not debited for incoming calls that I receive. Do I have the basic understanding correct?

Thanks so much to all the knowledgeable contributors to this thread!

[scirocco]

Glad you got it working. The Mobicarte tariff sheet is linked below, but basically it's a caller pays system, so you pay nothing for incoming calls, even international. For calls to mobiles or landlines within France it's 0.54 euros per minute according to the tariff sheet. SMS are 0.135 euros each. International calls are much higher of course.

Orange also do deals such as 0.9 euros for 10 minutes in any one day, 10 euros unlimited calls over the weekend and 3 euros unlimited 9pm to midnight. You can see some of these in my picture in post 50 back on page 5 of this thread. You can access these on the #123 menu or on the Orange Portail.

There's absolutely no need to sign up for an Orange account if you don't want to. But it is a bit easier to sit back in the comfort of your home and get up to speed with their deals online than it is in the clunky old #123 phone menu. Depends on your level of reading French too.

I think with your basic RAZR phone as long as you don't open the browser or use any add-on apps like Google Maps you will not use any data. I used to have a RAZRV6 and that was how it worked.

http://boutique.orange.fr/doc/contrat3552.pdf