Phone connection to the US--Verizon versus ??

Last year, I posted this for our trip to Tuscany, and I got so many helpful answers, but no consensus of the best way for my husband to stay connected to work (just once dialy!) So, we ended up doing whatever we needed to do w/Verizon (our current provider), and he took his Blackberry. Very convenient, but tres cher! Wondering what people think/what they%26#39;ve done in France--we%26#39;ll be in Paris and Provence.

Look forward to any feedback. Thanks.

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We%26#39;ve had good luck with T-Mobile when abroad. We can call and text as well as receive both all over France. Bonne Chance

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The problem with Verizon (or any US providers) is that you pay for incoming calls as well as outgoing calls.

Is the Blackberry a GSM model? Tres cher may have been due to not disabling data services?

If your home service is Verizon and neither of you has a GSM phone, it might be worth your while to purchase a GSM phone, then a SIM card with free incoming calls, depending on the frequency and length of calls he plans to make/receive.

Choosing a SIM involved comparing initial prices, time if any included, and price of calls beyond that.

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thanks to both responders. T-Mobile, I think is a GSM service, like in Europe. I think we%26#39;ll probably rent a phone/buy a SIM card from CellularAbroad--just looking at their website after reading a reviews, and they sound like the best deal.

Thanks. Barbara

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Questions about telecommunications are very complex. There are a large number of options meeting a wide variety of needs.

You will not get a consensus because your question is too vague, you probably have and will again receive many differing solutions. Narrow the scope of your question and receive fewer yet more appropriate answers.

If all you need is 5 calls a week to the US, purchase an international calling card at any tabac and call from a pay phone.

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I%26#39;m not sure if this will help you or not, but the best way I found to keep connected was with Skype on my laptop.

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I recommend not staying in touch with the office!

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Before we went on our 4-week trip to France last month, my husband%26#39;s boss asked him how he could be contacted, and he replied that he couldn%26#39;t be contacted, as he would be hiking in the Himalayas. lol

(But we DID borrow a sister%26#39;s international phone--and only gave the phone number out to family. She bought it several years ago and only pays when she uses it--by giving her credit card number. She lends it out to any family member who needs one but doesn%26#39;t want to buy one. It%26#39;s sort of like a 20 ft. extension ladder--you only need one in each neighborhood/family! Ask around, someone might have one they are willing to lend, ie, not their regular cell)

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%26lt;%26lt;I recommend not staying in touch with the office!%26gt;%26gt;

Second.