Fixed phone Line in France

Installing a telephone line in France, this service can be supplied by France Telecom or our preferred option UKTelecom, once a line is installed and active then the internet options are available to you. If you already have an active phone line you may want to consider transferring it to UKTelecom.

Phone Line Connection: We can arrange for the phone line to connected to your preferred option, France Telecom or UKTelecom.

For information on UKTelecom or France Telecom just phone 0553271337 help and advice is free and is in English. See details of the UKTelecom options below.

*France Télécom: can be contacted by phoning 1014

It is possible to have Internet access in france with out a phone line with broadband ADSL Internet; all the calls are made through the Modem.This system only works if you have a stable internet access, just remember to take into account that the internet in France can be unreliable therefore no internet no phone, the same would apply during power cuts. At Aquitaine Computers we have seen many people that have had serious problems on this system and argue that for the sake of peace of mind it is better to have a fixed line which costs 16.00€ per month, this does not stop you having free calls though the internet.

Cheap Phone Calls to the UK

UKTelecom can offer a range of packages for cheap calls to the UK from France. They also have excellent packages that cover any country you wish to call. They have pay-as-you-go packages or fixed price options and you are guaranteed to save costs on your calls by transferring to UKTelecom.

With UKTelecom you have the option to have just your phone calls through them or to have your phone line and also from July 09 Broadband (ADSL) as well.

For information on UKTelecom or France Telecom just phone 0553271337 help and advice is free and is in English. See details of the UKTelecom options below.

Mobile Phones and Tariffs

Mobile phones in France are not cheap, the major service providers such as Orange SFR & Bouygues offer similar service. The main problem is that the any credit you have at the time period is cleared unless you top up before the credit runs out. Many people are caught out by this they purchase for example 15.00€ of credit to find out it only lasts 2 weeks. The best option is to buy 25.00€ which lasts 2 months (this varies between service providers)

TIP: Some of the best offers are from Supermarkets some do a 12 month contract, where the credit is kept on for the full period.

Mobile Phone Service Providers (ISP)

There are 3 main service providers in France 1) Orange 2) SFR 3) Bouygues. Also most of the major SuperMarket chains have their own Brand which is usually tied into SFR also UKTelecom will be having a branded service in the near future which should offer an improved range of services. The main considerations when purchasing a service in France is a) Is there a service at your home and in the areas you frequent most 2) The tariffs.

For information on UKTelecom just phone 0553271337 help and advice is free and is in English

3G Mobile Phone Service

All the major Service Providers offer a 3G service. It is now possible to 3G on a Pay-as-you-go basis.The 3G service is very strong in certain areas of France and very weak in rural areas so you need to be sure that it covers the area you frequently use so that you can get the best from the service.

Sim Cards - Unlock your Phone

Remember to have your UK mobile phone unlocked before moving to France or on your next trip to the UK, it normally costs about £20, this enables you to use a French Sim Card in the phone.

What is Skype? Skype is a program that uses the internet to make calls and videocalls, to chat and to send texts and files and instant messages. It has over 300 million registered users in the world and is growing at a rapid rate. What is MSN? Windows Live Messenger (formerly named MSN Messenger, and usually referred to as simply MSN) is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft it allows you to transfer files send instant messages; in fact, most of the things that Skype does. It’s a matter of personal preference and as both are free you can try both. The deciding factor is which program the person you want to communicate with is using – you both have to use the same one.

Skype can be downloaded from the website www.skype.com (MSN from www.msn.com). With Skype you are able call from one computer to any other Skype user in the world connected to the internet as well as to landlines and mobile phones. Calls between computers are completely free and the same applies to videocalls with the webcam, chats or to sending files.

What equipment/software do I need to use Skype and MSM? Firstly you have to download the software. If you just want to use the instant messaging system then any internet connection will do; if you want to make calls then you need to have broadband as dialup is too slow. To communicate you can use either the computer's microphone and speakers or a headset. It’s worth considering buying a webcam as this enables the person you are talking to see you and vice versa. If you wish to phone landlines or mobiles you need to purchase credit from Skype using a credit card. The advantage of this is you can make very cheap calls to land lines and mobiles. Calling a Mobile phone is, I think, about half the price of phoning from a fixed phone.