Mobile Telephones

In Germany mobile phones are very common nowadays. Reception is generally available everywhere except in remote areas, for example on mountains. If you should happen to have a Tri-Band-Telephone at home or another phone that handles the GSM-Standardoff-site link you can use it here in Germany.

Prepaid

You can either buy a pre-paid card or get a service agreement at a mobile telecom provider. When using a pre-paid card you buy a certain amount of minutes before placing your call. You don’t have to pay basic fees and have no minimum call volume, but the minutes are a bit more expensive.

Pre-paid cards are especially worth it if you want to always be available but make few calls yourself - for instance as a supplement to your land line.

mobile phone (Bild: sxc.hu)Some pre-paid cards come with a mobile telephone for an additional charge, but usually you have to buy them separately.

Some low priced pre-paid providers are:

Service Agreement

In a mobile phone service agreement there is a monthly basic price or a minimum call volume, but in exchange the price per minute is less expensive. A mobile phone service agreement is especially worthwhile if you use your mobile phone a lot, for example if you have no land line. To apply for a mobile phone service agreement you need your passport and a valid residence permit.

Some service agreements offer a mobile telephone for an additional price. Pay close attention to the contract duration and be sure to cancel your service on time before you return to your native country.

With some providers you can define a limited spatial area where your phone calls are cheaper. This is worth it for example if you live near your school and you are within this zone at home as well as at school.