[Idyllchat] Mobile phones in Paris

[Bill Kover]

  Thank you Joe, Jay and Karl for solving my problem.  I have placed a call for the phone you recommended.

  Bill Kover
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Joe Blackburn 
    To: Jay Cloidt ; Bill Kover 
    Cc: Idyllchat 
    Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:15 AM
    Subject: RE: [Idyllchat] Mobile phones in Paris


    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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