Where can I get a PAYG SIM for UK and FR?
 

US, unlocked 8310.

Heading to France and then to the UK; wondering if it works out thusly:

a) ideally, one inexpensive BIS card that works in both countries
b) two Orange cards, and is PAYG BIS for France even available?
c) a 'native' BIS email push is not critical; using regular data is fine
d) two separate cards for both countries, voice only.

The first two options seem trouble free (insert card in country, use). But where can I get them in the US; or should I just wait to arrived pick them up (tabac, Orange stores)? Should I just get the UK card (where do I order one?) and live without data in France (that's fine)?

Thanks.

There is no possibility of getting a PAYG card with BIS on it in the US. I am fairly certain that the French carriers do not offer PAYG BIS, so you will only have voice and SMS. In the UK, O2 has PAYG BIS, so you are good there.

Wirelessly posted

Orange UK has payG BIS. O2's pay per use blackberry tariff has to be added to a pay monthly sim card not a pay and go one so that is not what you would require.

Not sure if Orange France have payG BIS.

You can usually purchase PayG sim cards at airports in the UK and they are often free providd you purchase £10 of credit, to add the BIS you would need to phone Orange UK it is £5 for 50mb I think.

Hope that helps :)

Ah. Thanks for clarifying.

Very much. Since I'm heading to France first, would it be wise to try and get the UK-items first? And 'roam' in France with a UK card?

Thanks.

And to clarify, there is no way to PAYG + PAYG BIS, correct?

No. That will be just about as expensive as roaming with your at&t card, if not more.

Wirelessly posted

Possibly but first it would be best to check out Orange's roaming rates, it may be expensive in the long run.

What you could try and do in France is download opera mini, enter Orange france's APN details onto the device, add on a generic plan to the payg sim and you will have internet access so you can browse to your email client online but you won't get BBM etc.

Wirelessly posted

On Orange UK you can add a payG BIS plan to a payG sim card if that's what you mean by no payG + payG BIS.

Yes, ideally; I understood from a previous post, that you can't do this? That you need a monthly Orange card? Or is there a monthly PAYG, or am I totally confusing everything? Thanks.

So, it looks like I should just pick up the different SIMs in their respective countries, yes? That is, France: voice, possibly data. Then, UK: Orange PAYG and possibly a BIS PAYG plan? Thanks!

Wirelessly posted

No, its o2 UK who requires you to have a pay monthly sim not Orange UK :)



So yes, france for voice and text Possibly data too and UK for all 3 (voice, text and data)

Ohhh! OK.

Wirelessly posted

:) Have a great trip.

Thanks; you recommend getting them there?

Soxxx8230; sorry to nag you all :) should I try to get ahold of them here (cellularabroad and the like seem ridiculously expensive), one eBay, or just purchase them in their respective countries?

Thanks!

Check here: CelTrek™ - The One for Global Roaming

Just purchase in country. It is much easier.

That still doesn't have BIS.

Well, Paris was a mess (won't sell a SIM card without a passport, and didn't have it with me just FYI); needed a phone there, but got around it. London now. Will look into O2; possibly try to use it in a piggy-back unlock with the iPhone, or not.

Cheers.

How did you get to France from the US without a passport?