Buying/using a dongle in France

oxters

Hi - I'm pretty non-tech in these matters but a search on this forum didn't help very much. I am thinking I need a french sim for my phone and a dongle bought there to use my laptop - is that correct?
How do they link and is this an expensive way to do things?
In the past I have bought a french sim to use my phone over there, but these days it's cheaper to use my orange network on roaming for texts and the occasional call.
I have an i-touch (as well as the laptop)which I have used abroad whenever I get a wireless connection but it would be convenient to use the laptop when I want to rather than when I can.
Can someone with french experience help please?

macman

Using a local SIM or dongle will be much cheaper than using a UK SIM on a roaming basis. Do that and you'll come back to a huge bill.
A dongle just plugs into the USB port.

oxters

macman wrote: »

Using a local SIM or dongle will be much cheaper than using a UK SIM on a roaming basis. Do that and you'll come back to a huge bill.
A dongle just plugs into the USB port.

OK thanks - I was aware of the expense involved in using a UK dongle. I have an Orange PAYG mobile phone and in the past I've used a French sim for calls/texts but that is more expensive than using the UK sim these days.

So if I buy a French dongle I don't need to be connected to the mobile phone or have a French sim - is that correct?

macman

A French dongle will come with it's own SIM. Otherwise use an unlocked dongle and use a French SIM.
You don't need a mobile phone for mobile broadband, that's what the dongle is for.

oxters

Thank you Macman, I think I've got that? - so you plug the dongle into the USB port and you put the french sim into the SD card type reader or into the dongle?

Do you know if it is expensive to use this - probably just e-mail to send and receive, check out some websites and no big downloads.

macman

The SIM goes into the slot on the dongle. Think of it as a mobile on a USB stick....
If you buy a dongle from a local telecoms provider it will come with the SIM installed.
The prices will be shown on the relevant provider's websites, presumably simlar to UK PAYG data prices.

oxters

Looks like it's this http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://abonnez-vous.orange.fr/residentiel/forfaits-internet-everywhere.aspx&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dorange%2Bfrance%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en%26prmd%3Dnm&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&usg=ALkJrhisZy_TAgvN-x8Xjn0ycyNIds-QIw
but it's a cash back offer so I guess you need an address and bank a/c in France. I'm thinking it's all too complicated and we'll stick with the wifi access we can find.
Thanks for your helpful replies Macman

bromie21

Hi . In a similar situation myself. Going to France for the winter, and want a cost effective way to regularly have access to internet.
In the end did you come a firm conclusion for the best course of action?
Thanks

benjus

Have a look at the "Internet Max" option here, for €12 per month. It's designed for use in a mobile (i.e. not a dongle) but if it's just for light use you'll probably be OK:

http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=http%3A//mobile.orange.fr/content/ge/high/v2_offre_boutique/options/internet_mob.html

Alternatively, these plans (from about €30/month) seem more intended for use with a computer:

http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=http%3A//mobile.orange.fr/content/ge/high/v2_offre_boutique/options/internet_pc.html

Note that you'll probably need some proof of a French address to buy a SIM card, even a PAYG SIM. It doesn't necessarily have to be an official document - a private rental contract will probably be acceptable.

Alternatively, try buying one from ebay: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370389433269

oxters

bromie21 wrote: »

Hi . In a similar situation myself. Going to France for the winter, and want a cost effective way to regularly have access to internet.
In the end did you come a firm conclusion for the best course of action?
Thanks

Yes - I decided to stick with the access on wi-fi sites/McDonalds etc and at locations in towns/villages where wi-fi was unprotected (loads of them using the wi-fi finder on my i-pod touch)

Not as convenient as a dongle but much cheaper!

Good luck.

stagter

I have an unlocked Orange dongle from the UK & an empty French Sim data card, but no phone. I plan to travel to France and I am not sure what to expect when I plug in my laptop w/ dongle. How do I top off my Sim card w/ the Orange Internet Max? Will I see a screen pop up on my computer allowing me to buy credits? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.