I am writing about the new mobile network I changed recently.
In France, there hasn't been any competitions in mobile network prices.
In January 10th, Free, Internet provider launched the mobile services.
The new service by the Free is 19.99euro for the full package (unlimited calls, sms, mms and internet via mobilephone) This can be reduced to 15.99 euro if you're already a Free customer(only 1 user per house hold) .
There's also another offer for 2 euro for 1 hour calls and 60 texts. This can be reduced to free for the Free customer (1 user per house hold).
My previous network is done by the Orange and I've paid 17 euro per month for 1 hour communication (or equivalent texts) That goes very quickly when my husband is away and ended up buying some credit. My tariff is a two year contract and normal price is 20euro for 12 months but 17 when 24 months. Which means you are tied up until your contract is up. In France, they'd also give you points depending on the price of your contract and you'd collect them until you have enough points to exchange with a new mobile phone for a small fee. With my petty contract, I waited for three years to get a LG Android phone last February. However, once you exchange to a new phone, this means you got renewed your contract for whatever the duration.
It's a naughty business...
I didn't want to continue paying for 17euro for only 1 hour communication, I would rather want to have the unlimited services by FREE. So I changed!
- called 3179 from my mobile to get the RIO number. (together they'd send you the expiry date of your existing contract)
- unlock your SIM - so that my phone accepts any SIM card.
And I signed up over the online registration. We are already using Free internet so I am applying for the reduced subscription of 15.99 euro. A few days later, I got a Text message from orange saying that my contract terminates on 17th Jan. I was hoping that my new SIM would arrive prior to the orange disconnects the phone but a day later than it's predicted, it's arrived and some simple configuration I am on Free network.
I now use internet and call anyone anywhere I go, even cheaper than what I used to pay which is just what I was looking for. I even use GPS navigation system while driving. The phone battery gets used up very quickly but I think all in all the usability is very smooth and I don't have any problem so far.
The bouygues has now a subsidiary for a cheaper mobile network called be-and you.
They have launched very similar offer 19.99 euro for complete package same as the Free,also they have 9.99 euro for two hour mobile communication and unlimited texts and 20 mb internet communication(unlimited if it's Bouygue wifi hotspots).
It's not the same offer as the Free but it's attractive enough. This company, if you're bouygue customers, you can change it without any restriction on your contract.
The other competitor would be the Orange, however they don't have any changes in terms of their pricing. Last year they launched the cheaper subsidiary called Sosh and the service was quite attractive until the Free started their services.
Their offer is currently 9.99 euro, 14.90 euro, 24.90 euro. My husband is using this and so far he does not have any problem. Even on the TGV train, he set his mobile as tethering hub so I used internet on my mobile phone via his mobile.
The negative point to mention about the Sosh is that even if you're orange mobile customers, you cannnot switch to Sosh during your contract. Which is a shame.....
