Telecommunications • Using a Telephone in Germany
ALSO SEE MOBILE PHONE TIPS BELOW…
European telephone companies, including those in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, were once notorious for their high charges, particularly for international calls. Deutsche Telekom – despite privatization, increasing competition, and rate cuts – still charges more for a call from Germany to the US than it usually costs to call from the US to Germany. (But some other German telecoms offer better rates.) Since German deregulation of telecommunications in 1998, phone rates have dropped significantly.
A Telekom store in Stuttgart. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo
The problem now is to find the best deal among many large and small telecom competitors in Germany. Below we offer some help in finding your way through the ever-changing telephone maze in German-speaking Europe.
In 2010, facing increasing competition in the telcom market, Deutsche Telekom (DT) merged its separate mobile (T-Mobile), DSL/internet, landline, and TV services into one company known as Telekom Deutschland GmbH. For many years, DT (now Telekom) had more telephone subscribers than any other telecom in Germany. But times have changed. As of 2017, Telekom Deutschland ranked third, behind number one Vodafone and number two O2 (Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG).
The T-Mobile brand in Germany existed from 2002 until 2010. Although there are currently T-Mobile subsidiaries in Austria, the UK, and the USA, that brand name for cell phone service is no longer used in Germany.
| More at The German Way “Learning to Hate Deutsche Telekom” (by Erin) Helpful advice from the German Way Expat Blog |
Cutting your phone charges in Austria, Germany or Switzerland
Although some people only have a mobile phone (ein Handy), most people with a house or apartment in German-speaking Europe still want the security of a regular land-line (Festnetz) telephone from Deutsche Telekom or one of the other German telecoms. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use some of the other options as an alternative, or mostly for long-distance calls. (Also see our guide to using a cell phone in Germany.) Here are some of your options:
The famous TV tower on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz is also a giant communications antenna.
PHOTO: Hyde Flippo
International Calling Cards and Dial-Around Services
More competition in the telecom sector, as well as flat-rate calling plans have made this option less popular, but you can still use German call-by-call long distance services to cut costs. Also known as call-through, and similar to such services in the US and elsewhere, German “dial-around” services offer call-by-call long distance from any German residential or business phone. Dial-around can’t be used from public phones or cell phones, but no registration is required and you don’t have to change your current long distance carrier. Just dial the special prefix plus the number you’re calling and the charges will appear on your regular phone bill. More information: billiger-telefonieren.de (in German)
| More at The German Way “Expat, Phone Home” (by Sarah F) Helpful advice from the German Way Expat Blog |
Toll-free?
The concept of “toll-free” (zum Nulltarif) does not seem to be a German thing. Deutsche Telekom once encouraged German businesses to use the English term “freecall” in advertising their own toll-free numbers. DT apparently wanted the trademark to signify the changeover from 0130 to 0800 prefixes in Germany. DT tried to make the term familiar to all Germans through extensive advertising, and also offered its business customers free use of the “freecall” logo. But toll-free calling is still not very popular with German businesses. Most calls to a business in Germany will cost you about 14 euro cents per minute! Yes, they charge you extra for calling them!
“800” Calls from Germany
Since 1997 it has been possible to call 800/866/877/888 toll-free numbers in the USA and Canada from Germany. But such calls from Germany are NOT toll-free. The caller still has to pay international call charges. A recorded announcement in English warns callers of the charges before the call is completed. The only advantage is that previously such 800 numbers could not be called from Europe at all. Often the only contact number given in ads in English-language publications is a toll-free number. Now people in Germany can call these numbers, even though it isn’t a free call.
Pay Phones & Smart Cards
Since practically everyone in Europe has a cell phone (“das Handy”), pay phones are becoming more rare, but they still can be found – mostly at airports and train stations.
Cell Phones – Mobile Phones + SIM card
One of the best options for travelers and expats in German-speaking Europe is “ein Handy.” Your iPhone will also work in Germany. A German or multiband GSM cell phone with a prepaid SIM card is not only very convenient, but is also often the cheapest way to stay in touch. But since June 1, 2017, German law now requires proof of ID and a valid German address for the purchase of a prepaid SIM card. This makes it difficult for tourists or other people without a residence in Germany to get a prepaid SIM card.
The good news is that mobile phone roaming charges in the EU have been dropped! Europe was notorious for high roaming charges, but the EU ordered a change. No longer will a trip between Germany and France, or Spain to Portugal mean outrageous extra charges. In 2017 all roaming charges were eliminated. Learn more on our cell phones page.
Next | Using a Cell Phone in Germany
Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY
- The Internet and Computers in Germany – Helpful information for expats and travelers
- “Expat, Phone Home” – Helpful tips from the GW Expat Blog!
- The iPhone in Germany – Using an iPhone in Germany
- Electrical Facts – The shocking facts about German electricity and appliances
- Cell Phone Tips – A practical guide for Germany and Europe
- Television in Germany – Why your US TV set won’t work in Europe
- For Expats – Learn from those who have already been there, done that.
ON THE WEB
- Telekom Deutschland – Telephone, TV, DSL and other internet services
- A1 – Telekom Austria – Learn more about Austrian telephone, mobile and internet services (in German).
- Swisscom in English, German, French, or Italian.
- German Online Phone Book (Teleauskunft) in English, German or French.
- German Online Yellow Pages in English, German or French.
- Google Hangout – Video chat and phone calls around the world
- Skype – Video chat and phone calls around the world
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Thanks for the great list! You provided the Google Hangout Link, but there was one important benefit left unmentioned: Many people don’t know that Google Hangouts lets you call any US phone number for free. Just type in the US number (starting with +1) into the Hangouts app and you can call your friends and family for free from anywhere in the world. Note that this is not the regular internet call, because it actually reaches the landline or mobile number – the other person does not need to have any app installed. This also works from the Gmail web interface (buttons in lower left corner), so you can even call them from your computer. I am always surprised that almost no one seems to know about this.