[Idyllchat] Mobile phones in Paris

[Jay Cloidt]

I have to agree if you don't know a lot about cell phones, and you are not
going to be talking away on it. You are just going to use it for a quick,
"Hey, where are you, I'll meet you at X", then Mobal is a great option.
Their rates are on the high side, but if you aren't using it a lot, they
provide a simple, easy to use, complete package. The phone will work
anywhere in Europe and the US though you are not going to want to pay their
rates for a US call. They bill your credit card when you use the phone, so
you only pay for your calls. No maintenance fees, no monthly fees. This is
probably why their rates are higher. But the nice thing is that you can
stick it in your closet between trips, and you are not charged for not using
it.

    - Jay

On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:15 AM, Joe Blackburn <blackcarl2 at msn.com> wrote:

>  Bill,
> The best solution that I found was to purchase an international cell phone
> from
> Mobal Communications (mobal.com or 888.888.9162). You can get one that
> actually works in Europe (150 countries) for a little as $49. No monthly
> fees ever...cost for making a call is $1 per minute (high but always
> reliable)...you have a British telephone number. We have used it (as
> have our friends whose phones would not work even with the correct SIM card)
> for 5 years...same phone...never a charge unless used...great service...even
> have a monthly travel newsletter.
> Regards,
> *Joe Blackburn*
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:44:42 -0400
> From: jayclimbs at gmail.com
> To: ShutterbugBill at verizon.net
> Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Mobile phones in Paris
> CC: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
>
>
> Unfortunately, unless you bought one of these "dual" phones that Verizon
> sells (they have both CDMA for the US and GSM for Europe) at very expensive
> prices, your Verizon phone will never work in Europe. It has to do with the
> cellular technology, and, unfortunately, in the US we have 2 competing
> standards. The one Verizon and Sprint use, CDMA, is only used in the US and
> parts of Central and South America. Europe and most of the rest of the world
> use GSM which is used by AT&T and T-Mobile. You need a GSM phone before you
> can buy a SIM card to put in it. A Verizon phone would not understand the
> cellular signal used in Europe.
>
>   - Jay
>
> On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 8:16 AM, Bill Kover <ShutterbugBill at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>  After 27 years of handing problems at work via a phone, I hate phones.
> If our phone rings, Eleanor answers it.  As a result, I am not familiar with
> the current technology regarding the use of mobile phones in Europe, Paris
> in particular.  We have a mobile phone through Verizon which is different
> from that used in Europe.  I understand there is something called a "SIM"
> card that can be put in the mobile phone that converts it to the system used
> in Europe.  The Untours booklet recommends purchasing a "Telecarte" as soon
> as possible after arrival in Paris.  But in the event of our late arrival I
> would need to be able to call the Untours local rep, Joanna.  Since I can'y
> buy a "Telecarte" until I am in Paris, I have a potential communication
> problem.
>
> My questions are : Where do you buy this "SIM" card?  How much does it
> cost?
>                             Will our mobile phone work in Paris with a
> phone card we purchase in the States?
>
> Bill Kover
>
>
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