Clair Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 OK... So I've made up my mind: I'm going to join the masses and get a mobile phone... I am not a great fan of them but they do have their use when you live in my back of beyond (if you can get any reception!)I am a near-virgin in this world as my only previous purchase was back in 2000 and technology has moved on!I know which package I want (SFR Accès).The lady at the shop I went to today was very keen to sell me a phone which could do all sorts (MMS, all-singing all-dancing rings, Video, Photo...) but I know I just want it for emergencies, so...What are WAP, GPRS, GSM, Tribande, MMS? and do I actually need them?Is it best to buy a cheap phone and then a SIM card (available with SFR Accès) or should I pay SFR €69 for their basic "phone+Accès service"?Do the phones usually come with a charger? It's just that SFR sell them for €15 (car charger) and €18 (travel charger)Is a certain brand of phone known to be more or less reliable than others? (Sagem, Nokia, Siemens...?!?)Any advice gratefully received!Thank youClair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 [quote]OK... So I've made up my mind: I'm going to join the masses and get a mobile phone... I am not a great fan of them but they do have their use when you live in my back of beyond (if you can get any rec...[/quote]I hate mobile 'phones. Once upon a time, if I was in the pub with me mates, the person who started a conversation about mobiles bought the drinks..That aside, if you are in hte back of beyond, buy a good quality 'phone. There are alot of areas in this large country where coverage is poor. My Sony Erricson has a cr*p receiver and will not work at home, where my Nokia will - buy a Nokia!Unless you want to take pictures, send emails, surf the web, talk to your mobile 'phone errr.. mobile (as in Bluetooth) etc etc, then don't buy the features, they shorten the battery life of the 'phone (all of which come with mains chargers) and detract from the overall performance of the 'phone. Buy the best Nokia you can afford.BTW, 'phones are cheaper in the UK. If you get the chance, buy an "unlocked" 'phone from any UK outlet amd the SIM card here (assuming that you are going for "pay as you go") (sans forfait). If you want a contract 'phone, they should give you one, or sell you one for a few €. You will have to decide for yourself which is the best operator in your area (there are only 3 "real" operators in France; Orange Fr, SFR (who have the best coverage around here, of course I am with Orange) and boingy boingy or whatever they call themselves). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I would get the most basic phone you can find. All these other things phones can do nowadays they don't do very well, and you tend to pay through the nose for them. Consequently it may be hard to find a really 'bad' phone.There was a Guardian front page (!) humorous article about this recently:http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1573892,00.htmlPaolo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecossais Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Clair, You say you already know that you want SFR – have you checked that SFR offers the best coverage in your area or have you been given the ‘hard sell’ in a SFR phone shop? Mobile phone reception in some parts of France is much more “patchy” than in the UK. Some networks work better than others in certain areas. I‘d recommend you ask your friends locally what network they have and how they find the coverage (if you’re in a built-up area, all the networks may be OK). Try and check that the network will work in your house (if that’s important). [UPDATE: I see you've commented in another thread that SFR is the best network where you are so disregard the above.] New models are coming out every other week with more and more features that most people don’t need! All but the cheapest will have a camera (low quality, but possibly useful?). Some have colour screens, some have “Bluetooth” which allows you to send sound or picture files to other “Bluetooth” phones or connect to wireless headsets for in the car. There’s a lot of mobile jargon around – the ones you mention: WAP – allows you read news / weather / sports info etc on your mobile GPRS – the technology WAP works on GSM – just means a digital mobile phone Tribande – the phone will work in America (some of their networks work on a different frequency (sorry, another bit of jargon!) to the rest of the world MMS – the jargon term for sending picture messages from one camera phone to another SMS – you didn’t mention it, but this is another expression for ‘text messaging’ – you can send a message to another mobile (can be cheaper than calling) All phones come with the mains charger, you can buy in-car chargers for around £5 - £10. There’s is no need to spend a fortune on a phone unless you want one with a high quality camera, MP3 player or radio etc. Nick mentions Nokia – the menu system on Nokia phones is possibly the easiest to use, most people can pick up and use a Nokia phone without reading the instructions! Have a look at the Nokia 2600, 3120, 2100, 6030, 6101, 6610i (depending on how much you want to spend). Sony Ericsson phones are good too, particularly at the top end of the market. You can have a look at some of them and get an idea of the prices on Carphone Warehouses’ French website http://www.phonehouse.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jc Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Nokia 1100 is the simplest and usually the cheapest,dual band too.Bouygtel seems to have better coverage in France than SFR;it's usually the one my phone finds first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 30, 2005 Author Share Posted September 30, 2005 I hate being expected to be "on call" and to jump on the phone when it rings in a "I am important" kind of way... but that's just me!Ecossais, thanks for your detailed explanation re jargon. Now I know I just need a phone!I went to feel a few phones at my nearest Géant yesterday, got to speak to a few "specialists" and it's been amusing to see the slightly puzzled looks I asked them for a phone "just to make calls on"! The Nokia feels solid and I am told I should have absolutely no problem buying a spare battery in 2-3 years, the Sagem is too plasticky-lightweight and I have been told to stay away from Philips...Anyway, I had checked the coverage here through Orange's and SFR's website and Orange is definitely showing me in a "zone blanche" on their map, whilst SFR's map is not so white!A local phone shop (selling all 3) has told me they knew my area is best covered by SFR and recommended a Nokia too as been more "atuned" in less well served areas. Our "commune" is expecting a mast to be erected any year now!I'll check what's available with the tips I've been given and thanks to all for the recommendations.Clair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 30, 2005 Author Share Posted September 30, 2005 [quote]Nokia 1100 is the simplest and usually the cheapest,dual band too.Bouygtel seems to have better coverage in France than SFR;it's usually the one my phone finds first.[/quote]But I don't think Bouygues do the kind of deal I am after...Clair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 "Our "commune" is expecting a mast to be erected any year now!"It might be worth finding out which service provider is erecting the mast.Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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