What is the cheapest way to make and receive calls from France to India?

(1) Also, what kind of mobile phone handsets work in France? Do only 3G phones work there?
I've Sony Erisson T290i model.Will it work?

(2) Can a foreign national buy a local SIM card in France?

(3) What are the charges for receiving incoming calls in France with a local SIM Card?

I had been in France for 10months. Dont take any service from you home country as the charges will be more than required.and here are your answers:

[1]I had taken Nokie 2100. So if this can work, I am sure yours will work too. Why dont you check out the Sony site of France?

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[2]In france there are prepaid cards available. Depending on you stay you can choose the required one.

If your stay is for 1-6months then you can buy the SIM card (there is Orange--this one is best, SFR and Bouygues telecom) for 15 euros/20 euros/50 euros. For the required amount your SIM card is valid for x number of months.

The best part is even if your balance comes to 0 euros, you can recieve calls for 6months. after which you have recharge again.

If your stay is longer like for 2 years etc, there is this subsciption service each offered by the 3 compnaies which is good to go.

FOR BUYING SIM CARD:
1]you need you passport and visa photocopy.
2]SFR requires a blank cancelled cheque.

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[3]There are no charges for incoming calls if you have a valid SIM card for 6months

And yes forget making calls to India on your mobile. Telephone charges are high in France. You can get an international calling card at the newspapers / tobacco shops.

But it would be best if your family books a call fom India to France.

Check out Yahoo! Voice.

Skype,most GSM fones will work there, I will go tri band to be sure, yes for (2), it is free to receive calls in France.

900 and 1800 bands phone work in all Europe, and Sony Erisson T290i supports the 2 bands. So it should also work in France. 1900 band GSM phones work in America. Having Incoming calls on local SIMS are free and anybody who has proper identification (passport or driving licence) can get a SIM.

You can buy sim card prepaid type, no problem. Just have your passport ready for identification. Incoming calls are free.

Do not dream of taking international roaming from India, it's very very expensive and not worth it.

Another option is to go to http://matrix.in

They rent out mobile phones with local numbers in the counties where you wish to travel. I have used this service and have found it very good. it's a New Delhi based company.