Communications

You can keep in touch with family and friends either by traditional methods or by using the latest technology. Making a phone call is as easy as pie: you’ll find telephone booths in most places. Remember to send postcards, they are always much appreciated by those you’ve left behind… and you can also send a cyber card from our web site! For speed: an e-mail, cyber cafés even offer keyboards compatible with the Japanese system.

> How to call from France

> How to call from abroad

> How to call from France to another country

> Telephone cards ("télécartes")

> Mobiles

> Post

> Internet

How to call from France

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All French numbers have 10 digits and begin with 0.

The prefix for Paris and Ile-de-France numbers is 01.

Mobile numbers start with 06.

Telephone calls are generally cheaper between 9pm and 9am.

Freephone and other specially-priced numbers begin with 08.

0 800 and 0 804, 0 805, 30 00, 31 44, 36 55 all denote a free service (N° Vert®).

Other special telephone numbers have specific tariffs from land lines. _ The price per minute must be indicated (€0.12/min; €0.15 /min or €0.30/min including taxes (TTC)).

There are also certain 4-digit numbers for emergencies or the speaking clock (3699) but, in general, these are trade numbers with surcharges.

How to call from abroad

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Dial the international code 00 followed by 33 for France, then the number without the first 0.

Example for a Paris number: 00 33 1 40 00 00 00.

How to call from France to another country

Dial the international code 00, the code of the country, then the number without the first 0.

With the France Télécom Pays Direct service, you can obtain an operator in your own country free of charge. If you wish, he can establish reverse-charge calls for you (where the person called pays for the communication).

For this service, dial 0 800 99 00 \ country code.

Examples:

49 for Germany

44 for UK

39 for Italy

34 for Spain

11 (AT&T) or 19 (MCII) for US

16 for Canada (0 800 99 30 16 AT&T Canada)

To find a number abroad International directories

Telephone cards ("télécartes")

You will find plenty of telephone booths in the street, in metro stations, railway stations and other public places. To use them, you will need a telephone card, obtainable from France Télécom agencies, the Post Office, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, tobacconists and newspaper kiosks. The price varies from €8 to €15 depending on the number of units.

Public phone booths no longer take coins, but you can also use your credit card to make phone calls. You will be given credit for calls up to €15. You will only be charged for the amount of your call indicated on the screen. When the amount reaches €15, the communication will come to an end.

Two kinds of telephone cards are available: smart cards, which simply need to be inserted, and code cards which do not need to be inserted in the telephone, just follow the instructions on the back of the card.

If you wish to call abroad, international code cards offer competitive prices. These cards can also be used for calls within France.

Mobiles

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Contact your mobile phone operator who will confirm whether or not your mobile is compatible with the French network and also explain how you will be charged for calls received from your own country or that you make while abroad (local and international calls).

Connection with the French network

Some mobiles from other countries don’t automatically connect with the French networks. All you need to do is choose the option “network selection” on your mobile to manually make the connection.

In order to use your mobile in France, it should be compatible with GSM 900 or GSM 1800 norms. If this is not the case, or if it is not working, you have the possibility of hiring a mobile phone in one of the many specialist boutiques.

Adapter

Don’t forget that you’ll probably need a plug adapter in order to be able to charge up your mobile phone.

More info “Electrical/video norms”

Post

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A postcard or a letter to send? You can post them in one of the yellow letter boxes found on most street corners. Stamps can be bought in post offices or tobacconists. A letter weighing up to 20g costs €0.58 for France and EU countries, €1 for the US, Asia and Australia.

If you don’t have a set postal address you can always receive your mail by “poste restante”, at the Louvre central post office. The post office is recognizable by its yellow and blue chevron sign. Most post offices are open from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to midday on Saturday. Closed on public holidays.

Good to know :

You don’t have to queue at the counters; automatic machines are available in post offices to weigh and frank your mail.

The concierge services of the larger hotels can also post stamped mail for you.

Internet

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Rendezvous in a cyber café or a cyber-space to check and send your e-mails. Often open late, they are usually reasonably-priced. Some offer student tariffs.

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Metro : Saint-François-Xavier

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Communications

How to call from France

How to call from abroad

How to call from France to another country

Telephone cards ("télécartes")

Mobiles

Post

Internet

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

Jeu et détente

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