GPRS in France
 

In April I will be sailing from the south of France to Corsica and then Italy. I need access to the internet by GPRS for weather forecasts. Once I get to Italy I can use a Wind offer but I'm looking for the cheapest GPRS deal in France - which has to beat the 5GBP (€8.5) / Mb which Virgin UK gives.

I see that Orange FR offers 'option internet' which gives 10Mb for €6 per month. I think that can be used with a prepaid 'mobicarte'
http://animation.orange.fr/frameset/....php?SA=MOBOIM

(It says on that page that the 'option plus internet' is not available with mobicarte.)

Can someone confirm that 'option internet' is in fact available with a prepaid SIM?

Any cheaper options for France? Ideally I'd want >30Mb a month.

Réponses en français bienvenues.

Dave

Follow up: I now have an Orange FR mobicarte and I've been trying to see how to subscribe to this (though I'm still in the UK with no credit so I can't actually subscribe).

Result: I don't think this 'option internet' actually exists - or if it exists it's unavailable to mobicarte. When I log in I can't subscribe to the option. Although the web page above obviously exists I think it's an orphan; if you follow the crumbtrail back you can't return to it.

So, with a combination of high GPRS cost and ludicrous credit expiry rules, I don't think I'll be using this card.

I'll have to stick to my UK virgin card at 5GBP/Mb.

Dave

I asked on French forum and was told that 'option internet' is available with mobicarte: #123# or 220 to subscribe. 6€ for 10mo
I'll try it when I'm there in April.

Looks like the details are on this page:
http://mobile.orange.fr/0/visiteur/P..._internet.html

Seems that mobicarte can get 10MB for 6 euro, or 5MB for 3 euro, but not the middle option, and no free initial month. No wi-fi. Has to be used within 31 days of activating.

Yes, absolutely correct. The mobicarte users get charged once for the money and have 31 days to use up the volume that they purchase. As far as i understand the option does not renew itself on the prepaid cards.

Chris

Yes, that's what it says, but have you actually used it? If so can you tell me the APN, username, password, and SMTP server? (I've found various suggestions for these on the web but I'm looking for confirmation from someone who's actually used it.)

I tried 'configuration' on the orange website and it offered to send me a WAP config. I've also downloaded the 'kit connexion' - which is for a PC card. It contains an APN - but it's not one that I've found elsewhere. TIA

If it helps you:
These are all configurations i have for Orange France:

[Orange F]
; France
IconIndex=-111
CountryProvider=33
HomeNetworkNumber=20801
SMTP=smtp.orange.fr
Network=UMTS,GPRS,CSD,WAPCSD,WAPGPRS
UMTS=Orange 3G
GPRS=Orange GPRS
CSD=Orange GSM
Username=orange
Password=orange
APN=orange.fr
DNS1=194.51.3.56
DNS2=194.51.3.76
UMTS Username=orange
UMTS Password=orange
UMTS APN=orange.fr
UMTS DNS1=194.51.3.56
UMTS DNS2=194.51.3.76
CSD Username=orange
CSD Password=orange
CSD PhoneNumber=+33674501200
CSD ExtraDialString=+CBST=71,0,1
WAPGPRS APN=orange
WAPGPRS Username=orange
WAPGPRS Password=orange
WAPGPRS IP=192.168.10.100:9201
WAPCSD Phonenumber=+33674501100
WAPCSD Username=orange
WAPCSD Password=orange
WAPCSD IP=192.168.10.100:9201

So as it seems there is only the one APN for all traffic. Usually you dont need to use the Orange SMTP-Server. Just use the one of your email provider - but the one from Orange is also in the settings...

Chris

It does help. Thanks a lot, Chris. I will try it when I get to France.
The 'kit connexion' from the Orange World page includes a reference to APN 'internet-entreprise' which is obviously for business subscribers.
Dave

any luck with the orange mobicarte gprs yet? i tried to buy one online but it only works when you're french. the question is, can you simply walk into a store in france and buy one? or will they require french passports etc?

also... can you have several of this 10mb/6e options after another (in the same month) or are you sort of fucked when the 10mb are gone?

greetings,
joe

I'm not in France until mid-April so I haven't tried it yet.

I bought the SIM on French ebay. It was already registered (I assume by the seller - though the SIM was still in its carrier). I looked online and the number's in somebody else's name. I have no credit and because of the stupid credit expiry rules I'm not going to recharge it until I get there.

I expect to have to ring their helpline and have an argument!

I don't know how easy they are to buy in France.

Dave