Cheap cell phone in France?

Question

Hello!

I am leaving for Paris in a few days to tour a little bit before I start a semester of school in Angers. I was wondering if any locals out there could point me in the right direction. I am in the need of purchasing a cell phone and with a pre-paid sim card. I had someone tell me that Orange is good.

Still, I would like to know what network you reccomend, and where I can do this in Paris. I am kind of worried some guy is going to talk over my head and I will get overcharged, end up with a bad phone/network, or something else I haven't even thought of yet. But if you can atleast point me in the right direction that would make it a little easier.

I am looking for the most detailed answer possible here. I am talking about what store, on what metro line, etc. Thanks in advance! And sorry about the long-winded question!

Answer 1

Yes, a prepaid cell phone is a good idea. I have one with Orange/France Telecom and I have never had a problem, they have good nationwide coverage. As said above the other major network is SFR, so go with either one.

Here are the prices of cell phones (look only at the price in the middle that says "avec prépayés"): http://www.meilleurmobile.com/mobiles/se...

And here are the prices for calls:

http://www.meilleurmobile.com/forfaits/l...

As you can see, text messaging is much cheaper than calling, so text message as much as you can, you'll get more for your money.

As for where to buy them, you can do it online or in any Orange/France Telecom or SFR store as well as chain stores like:

- the Phone House

- BHV (department store)

- la Fnac (music and book store)

- Darty (electrical appliance store)

- hypermarkets like Carrefour (located outside cities, from Paris you can go to the one in Créteil with the métro: line 8 to Créteil Préfecture. That mall also has a BHV, a Darty, a France Telecom and an SFR agency)

and probably many more...

I gather from your name that you speak French so google these names to get to their websites and find their store locator. I cannot give you a specific address since they are everywhere in Paris (hard to miss) so I don't know which part of Paris is more convenient for you but here is the list of the 30 Orange/France Telecom agencies in Paris:

http://www.agence.francetelecom.com/mx/?...

Otherwise, in central Paris, just go to the Forum des Halles mall at RER station Châtelet-les-Halles and you will have a choice of different stores that sell prepaid phones so you can compare the offers within a short walking distance. After comparing several stores in a mall I bought mine from Darty. They never tried to sell me anything I didn't need. With a prepaid phone it's hard to sell any extras anyway (except maybe for an insurance on the phone if it gets lost or stolen) since it is not linked to a bank account.

Additional tips: You can recharge your account in a phone box with a visa card, without having to buy new phone cards. Do not use your cell to call America and don't ask your family to call you on your cell, it would cost them a fortune. Just so you know, from a home phone, it is generally more expensive to call a cell than a home number unless the caller has signed for a particular calling plan. Enjoy your stay in France!

Answer 2

virgin mobile

Answer 3

Hey,

Concerning rates, Orange-France telecom and SFR (two biggest networks) are about the same and they have many stores in main french cities. You could probably get a Orange prepaid account + a basic cell phone for around 30 EUR.

Afterwards you can charge your account either through Credit card or through prepaid cards you can buy anywhere. The rates per minute must be around 0.50 EUR and 0.10 EUR /SMS (cheaper for the evening & weekend).

The only orange store I know is at 16, place madeleine 75008 METRO madeleine but you can find many others, just type "France telecom Orange, Paris" on google map.

For SFR it's also about 30 EUR for a Prepaid account+basic cell. you can find SFR stores on google map, type "Espace SFR, Paris".

You can look at their offers online www.orange.fr & www.sfr.fr

If you're looking for special deals like unlimited sms, cheaper rates...you can look at virtual mobile operators www.virginmobile.fr & www.debitel.fr but you usually have to pay per month and at least for a year + no real person to complain to if you have a problem :-(

PS: You will find many stores in Paris named "phone house" this english company sells all networks (orange,SFR...) but they also try to make you buy extras you don't really need. I wouldn't recommend going there.  

GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

Well, it depends on your usage patterns.

I use prepaid Virgin, because the top up credit used to be valid for three months. But they changed the rules last year, and it only lasts a month. Orange only lasts two weeks.

OK, that's for my usage pattern, which is very light. Other people with heavy usage patterns will find a different plan suits them better. Heavyier users than me won't care that Virgin have cut the time their prepaid is valid.

A new operator started in December. Leclerc Mobile. I'm changing to them next month.

Here is the deal:  You buy a pack for 50 euros which includes a simcard and 50 euros of credit (or an additional 16 euros if you want a phone too, not simlocked). You can use this credit any time you like over the following year. The price you pay per minute depends on how much you use, and it varies from one month to the next. So it's as if you change your package each month, always on the one that gives you the best rate. You can buy top up credit. Every time you top up, even 10 euros,  extends the validity for a year from the date of the top-up. Oh, you pay 1.5 euros a month.

Available from all the Leclerc stores.