I think you got it all backward. The French law requires the phone to be available without subscription (the 50€ a month part), the phone will still be locked with Orange. You can buy talk time and a number of SMS for various prices (for 35€ you get 2h talking time or 450 SMS or a mix of both) from Orange and not pay a subscription. The phone can receive calls even if you used all your credit. So, the law requires the phone to be available without subscription so you can use it with these cards, but it doesn't require the unlocking of the phone.
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I think you got it all backward. The French law requires the phone to be available without subscription (the 50€ a month part), the phone will still be locked with Orange. You can buy talk time and a number of SMS for various prices (for 35€ you get 2h talking time or 450 SMS or a mix of both) from Orange and not pay a subscription. The phone can receive calls even if you used all your credit. So, the law requires the phone to be available without subscription so you can use it with these cards, but it doesn't require the unlocking of the phone.
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Gizmo from France
That makes a lot more sense... Damn, leave it to the French language to make something sound soooo good when it really isn't that special at all.
Mommy? Can I still dream of unlocked phones? Pleeeeease?
So basically just a prepaid service.