Another GiffGaff user here. UK activation not needed. I’ve not been to UK for years. I do send a text about once a month and that seems to be fine.
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In fact it was @SuePJ 's recommendation that led me to GiffGaff in the first place. So thanks Sue!
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Thanks, Sue. May give it a try. My bank etc all have my French number but it would be worth a few euros a year in case a long-lost, rich relative wants to contact me on the UK number. Thanks also to the others who have helped me out.
Yeah I think Sue convinced me too after Vodafone realised I’d stopped working for them and cancelled my staff discount. Shame there’s no commission!
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I have the same with my Three UK SIM.
Yes so far as I am aware a SIM has to be activated for the first time in its country of issue. For some things connecting may be enough but for some features operators might require, say, 1 call or 1 sms out or, if lucky (and may not be stated by operators) 1 call or text received.
Not with Giffgaff - I activated mine here in France 
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Me too. 
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Me three
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Hi @Al_Rogers - you should use this option as explained by @Mat_Davies and port your old UK number to Three as a Pay-as-you-go sim and keep it in an old phone. You should not pay any charges as long as you don’t use it for outgoing calls or data.
The use of multiple sim phones has made this even easier such as IPhones 14 etc. so you have both numbers in same phone but only the French sim pays the bill. Pick Free they are by far the best French service provider.
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Not when something goes wrong or you wish to cancel (in my personal experience).
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Port your number into the app Vyke.com. You will receive all calls/messages to your UK number via an app on your phone. Then you can use your sim slot in your phone for your French SIM. Vyke costs about 17 euros/year. You can also make calls using Vyke using your UK number. You will not be subject to any roaming restrictions or Fair Use restrictions. If you need help, their help is very responsive.
I was using a Handspring Deluxe in 1999. Initially a PDA, but with an expansion slot that was used by a GSM module, a modem, a GPS module and many others. One could download, what at the time, were called applications, a very long time before apple decided to appropriate the function as ‘apps’. Indeed, I had full Ordinance Survey mapping for the UK and IGN mapping loaded that covered my desired areas of France, all with moving position GPS plotting. It also was loaded with City Maps, the predecessor to TomTom that gave worldwide city tourist and driving assistance.
Give me a break.
And who can forget Brian Blessed awarding a Palm Pilot as a game show prize?
Warning: contains gratuitous swearing and sex references…
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