Prepaid data/voice SIM for France

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by rickgans

UPDATE-
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My guess is in 3 weeks I will spend about $300-$400 for airtime for both. T-Mobile suggested I check in my airport of departure to France (Boston) for European cell carriers selling prepaid SIM cards and buy one of those for local ....

I think you can do better than $300 - $400 with a French SIM. Bouygues Telecom offers Wap GPRS, EDGE: € 2.00/MB (1 KB increments) i-mode® GPRS, EDGE: € 5.00/MB (1 KB increments) all e-mails received (less than 300KB) are free of charge.

If you use 12 MB that is max (12 * 5) = 60 euros or ~ $95 for data.

See http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/francia/bt.html

Use that for data and your T-MO card for calls. Don't forget a calling card and use that if and when you can.

Know any German? Try this:

http://www.teltarif.de/arch/2008/kw2...87.html?page=3

Stan

[rickgans]

Originally Posted by snaimon

Bouygues Telecom offers Wap GPRS, EDGE: € 2.00/MB (1 KB increments) i-mode® GPRS, EDGE: € 5.00/MB (1 KB increments) all e-mails received (less than 300KB) are free of charge.

What is the difference between the two types of email/data services? What is Wap versus i-mode? Also would I expect to be able to buy a SIM card for this company in a US airport in the international departures area or in the Paris airport when I land there? Thanks for all of your help.

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by rickgans

What is the difference between the two types of email/data services? What is Wap versus i-mode? Also would I expect to be able to buy a SIM card for this company in a US airport in the international departures area or in the Paris airport when I land there? Thanks for all of your help.

Imode ONLY works with supported phones and is limited to the providers content.
WAP means there is a proxy but it will eventually pass trough more or less services besides mobile websites (very much provider depentant).

In a US airport i am very much sure you will not find it. Also on the airport in paris chances are odd. Usually you can buy the cards in shops of the mobile operators or electronic stores. Sometimes also in supermarkets (mostly only their own brands). The refills though are widely available in many shops.