Communications over a mobile phone from France to the international can be expensive. As soon as you call outside the Old Continent, however, the bill can quickly be salty.
The price charged for an outbound international call varies between 0.10 € / min and 2 € / min, depending on the operator, the country and sometimes the type of line called: fixed or mobile. No difference in price, however, between calls to fixed or mobile for a given country at Orange, Bouygues and SFR, the latter being however more expensive than the other two.
Adapted for one-time use, this so-called “meter” pricing can quickly increase the bill in case of intensive use. Better then choose for a package cut to call out of metropolitan France, or a special foreign option: these solutions will come back much cheaper.
The cheaper and more adjusted foreigner at Free, Syma and Prixtel
But we can find even more interesting prices by renouncing the unlimited. For example with the 2 € / month flat rate of free , in return for a very limited call duration (2 hours maximum on the metropolis and the international). Same thing for Syma Mobile packages, this time 2 hours to the metropolis and abroad. Another good deal for more international calls at Syma: the higher rates – from € 9.90 / month – all include 1 hour per day calls to a hundred destinations.
The Prixtel Complete Upgrade package can also be a good plan for cheaper calls abroad, especially for irregular uses. Two advantages: an unbeatable price of 19.99 € / month for calls to landlines and mobiles in Europe and North America, and an evolutionary pricing. Thus, if you do not call abroad for one month, you stay on the lower levels (€ 9.99 / month or € 14.99 depending on the mobile Internet consumed).
Call options for operators to call cheaper internationally
On the mobile side, operators also offer options for unlimited one-to-many phone calls to a particular country, region or even the world. These solutions to subscribe to the operator are without commitment from one month to another. They can be interesting for both occasional and regular calls. Note in particular:
The world option of Bouygues Telecom at € 15 / month: unlimited to fixed and mobile in Europe, the United States, Canada and China.
The options RED by SFR “unlimited calls to landlines in Europe” or “unlimited SMS to mobiles in Europe”, both invoiced 1 € / month.
Europe and USA / Canada Orange option at 8 € / month: 2h to unlimited and fixed + 50 SMS
Syma Mobile international passes at € 10 or € 20 / month for 1 to 2 hours of calls to several African countries.
Prepaid cards: which operator for specific needs?
Finally, to call destinations not included in mobile plans or not subject to an option cheaply at your operator, it remains prepaid cards. This is a SIM card to insert into your phone, which will give you a given time of communication to the whole world, Europe, the Maghreb or Africa for 5, 10, 15 or 20 €. Interest: the minute is charged less expensive than off-package “on the counter” on a classic offer.