Data roaming in France -- any suggestions?

SMS Text News reader Geoff (that’s not his real name, we’re doing anonymous, but it’s nice to use a name isn’t it?) emailed me this morning to ask about data roaming in France:

This may be an odd question coming from me but I guess you are the man to ask. I am going to France in a few weeks and plan to buy a new Windows Mobile GPS unit to replace my aging Garmin. Anyway, as my current network, 3, has no data roaming to France, I was wondering if you can advise me as to the best operator to go with. My wife is currently on 02 so I’ll just port her no. across and use that while we are there – I want to do some blogging, uploading of images, etc.

I immediately thought of Vodafone’s 90-odd quid a month data tariff that gives you 100mb of international data use each month. Very cool if you’re heading off to France but alas, not that good if you don’t want to commit to 12 months of 90 quid.

But if I had a card on that tariff I’d lend it to you Geoff. Maybe someone you know does?

Then I happened upon an idea. If you’re off to France — for a few weeks — it’s probably worth getting hold of a pay as you go sim card, right? And using the data on that? Although, I don’t know too much about France and it’s data policies, except that ONE network, is it SFR (?) still charges by the minute for data usage. That’s what I heard last time I was there, anyway.

So, do you have any ideas on what Geoff could do? All concepts appreciated.

Oh yeah, and while we’re at it Geoff… Windows Mobile? Deary me……. 😉