Glossary
Common French telecom expressions
When working out a calling plan or ordering a phone line, you will probably encounter some complicated vocabulary. This glossary will help you out with special telecom terms.
Abonnement = subscription to the contract
Annuaire = directory
Appel = call
Coût de la cart SIM seule = cost of the purchase of SIM card itself, which sometimes also includes a few minutes of Communication (crédit d'appels inclus)
Conso = consumption of the purchased credits
Coût de recharge = cost of recharge
Coût de SMS/texto = cost of sending a short message (SMS)
Coût mensuel = monthly fees (for contracts)
Double appel = possibility to hold to calls at the same time and switch between them
Durée de l'abonnement = period time of the contract
Durée de validité en émission = time of the validity to make calls from the time the recharge purchase was made
Durée de validité en réception = time of the validity to receive calls from the time the recharge purchase was made
Durée minimum d'engagement = minimum period of time of the contract
Facturation = billing
Facturation à la seconde dès la première seconde = communication costs are based on a per second basis from the beginning of the call (this is a good option if you often make calls shorter then one minute)
Facture détaillée = bill with a complete list of calls made over the billed period
Forfait = the regular monthly payment which gives corresponding number of credits for calls
Formule de l'abonnement = main plan characteristics/features
Garantie en cas de vol = anti-theft insurance
Messagerie vocal = answering system
Nombre de SMS/texto = number of short messages (SMS) that can be sent within the recharge purchase period
Numéros verts = (green numbers), toll-free numbers when calling from fixed lines, starting with 0800
Numéros azurs = (blue number), numbers charged as a local call regardless from which place in France you call, starting with 0801
Numéro indigo = (indigo number), special number for various commercial services; the calls are more expensive than a local call
Opérateur présélectionné= default service provider (without dialling any specific prefix)
Pages Blanches, Jaunes, Pro etc. = various French phone directories, available also on-line
Prélevement automatique = order to your bank to make your monthly payment automatically
Présentation du numéro = display of the phone number of the coming call
Prix de revient à la minute = cost of communication per minute
Prix de revient de SMS/texto = cost per short message (SMS)
Prix de revient/mn dans le forfait = cost of communication per minute within the plan (for contracts)
Prix de revient/mn hors forfait = cost of communication per minute for communication in excess of the plan (for contracts)
Report de minutes inutilisés, de communication non consommée = reporting of unused minutes in the plan to the following period
Résilier l'abonnement = contract termination
Services inclus = included services
Signal d'appel = signal indicating the presence of a second incoming call whilst already talking
Tarif normal, plein tarif = normal rate
Tarif réduit, creux, super creux = discounted rate during some periods of the working days and during the weekends (hours depends on each operator)
Tarification à la seconde au-delà de la première minute indivisible = connection cost is equal to one minute of the call and after the first minute you pay per second
Temps de communication inclus = included time of the communication within the recharge purchase
Temps de communication mensuel = the minutes/month of communication included within the plan (for contracts)
Also in this section
- Introduction: Calling, prefixes and phone directories
- Fixed lines: How to get a phone line in France
- Mobile phones: How to use your mobile phone in France
- Mobile plans: How to choose the right calling plan
- Glossary: Common French telecom expressions
- Calling Cards: How to save money on international calls
- Choosing: Choosing a prepaid calling card
- How to use: Using an international phonecard
- Internet in France: How to get the access to the net
