I've been researching costs of using a mobile in France and I thought I'd share the info I'd found - as this topic has come up here before (or was it on Bike Radar? - anyway...). My main interest was in working out whether I'd be better off getting a SIM from a French operator for making calls within France.
My starting point was this very helpful article on moneysaving expert.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls
One of the sites referred to in the article is this one:
http://www.onecompare.com/international-roaming/
which is a very handy tool for comparing costs of phone calls in various countries.
The results for France put 3 at the head of the table with calls in France costing 25p/min. They were followed by a number of specialist SIM card providers and then by Tesco Mobile at 35p/min and by the mainstream phone operators at 38p/min. (NB the ranking would be a little different if your interest is in making and receiving calls to/from the UK).
So how do these compare with the cost of buying a SIM card from a French operator? The answer seems to be 'pretty well' - although I only looked at the charges of the three main French operators (Orange, SFR and Bouygues).
The first thing to note is that the French operators charge for the SIM (Orange 15 euros and the others 9 euros). On top of that the SIM lapses if it isn't topped up within 6 months (8 for Bouygues). Credits are also time-limited - generally the more you pay the longer the credit lasts, but 6 months seems to be the maximum.
Call charges:
- Orange have two tariffs. One charges 0.55 euros/min at any time, and the other charges 65 cents during the day and 35 cents after 9pm and at weekend. Either way you could end up paying more than on a UK SIM. Even if you are with a mainstream UK operator the savings from getting an Orange SIM are not likely to be worth the faff.
- SFR also have two tariffs: one charges 55 cents /min and the other 65 cents during the day and 35 cents after 10pm (yes 10pm!) and at weekends. So again pas la peine. If you want to find out more see the attachment FIS-260208 etc.
- The Bouygues tariffs are really complicated. The rate per minute varies with the amount of credit you put on the card, and you can also double your time if you're prepared to listen to a short advert before being put through, or you're prepared to accept a shorter period of validity for the credit. Charges range from 50 cents/min to 5 cents a minute. This last tariff is the one with the adverts and you have to put 60 euros on the card. This is the only one that looks like it might save money. If you want to find out more Isee the pdf file BT7680 etc.
As I've said, there may well be operators I don't know about - I know there are some who live in France and they may be able to fill in the gaps, but it looks to me as if most people would be better of either getting a SIM from 3 or Tesco Mobile - or a Travel SIM from a company like SIM4Travel. Or if you don't use the phone much, sticking with your present operator.
My starting point was this very helpful article on moneysaving expert.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls
One of the sites referred to in the article is this one:
http://www.onecompare.com/international-roaming/
which is a very handy tool for comparing costs of phone calls in various countries.
The results for France put 3 at the head of the table with calls in France costing 25p/min. They were followed by a number of specialist SIM card providers and then by Tesco Mobile at 35p/min and by the mainstream phone operators at 38p/min. (NB the ranking would be a little different if your interest is in making and receiving calls to/from the UK).
So how do these compare with the cost of buying a SIM card from a French operator? The answer seems to be 'pretty well' - although I only looked at the charges of the three main French operators (Orange, SFR and Bouygues).
The first thing to note is that the French operators charge for the SIM (Orange 15 euros and the others 9 euros). On top of that the SIM lapses if it isn't topped up within 6 months (8 for Bouygues). Credits are also time-limited - generally the more you pay the longer the credit lasts, but 6 months seems to be the maximum.
Call charges:
- Orange have two tariffs. One charges 0.55 euros/min at any time, and the other charges 65 cents during the day and 35 cents after 9pm and at weekend. Either way you could end up paying more than on a UK SIM. Even if you are with a mainstream UK operator the savings from getting an Orange SIM are not likely to be worth the faff.
- SFR also have two tariffs: one charges 55 cents /min and the other 65 cents during the day and 35 cents after 10pm (yes 10pm!) and at weekends. So again pas la peine. If you want to find out more see the attachment FIS-260208 etc.
- The Bouygues tariffs are really complicated. The rate per minute varies with the amount of credit you put on the card, and you can also double your time if you're prepared to listen to a short advert before being put through, or you're prepared to accept a shorter period of validity for the credit. Charges range from 50 cents/min to 5 cents a minute. This last tariff is the one with the adverts and you have to put 60 euros on the card. This is the only one that looks like it might save money. If you want to find out more Isee the pdf file BT7680 etc.
As I've said, there may well be operators I don't know about - I know there are some who live in France and they may be able to fill in the gaps, but it looks to me as if most people would be better of either getting a SIM from 3 or Tesco Mobile - or a Travel SIM from a company like SIM4Travel. Or if you don't use the phone much, sticking with your present operator.
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