Telephone Services

Once your housing situation in Germany is finalized, the first thing to do is to get the phone ringing there. You'll discover that there is a wide selection of telephone, Internet and mobile options available, but you may also find that most German carriers are best equipped at serving their native, German-speaking population, leaving somewhat of a gap in the area of English-language support.

If you are looking to break through the language barrier, consider contacting TKS Telepost Kabel-Service, a German provider that offers service in English. German telephone service is also available through Telekom stores located in most towns and cities throughout the country. Your bills, correspondence and customer care will of course be in German. It's important to be aware of the terms and conditions of your service agreement. Many German phone and Internet plans are only available for example with a 2-year minimum, and also require that you cancel months in advance in order to avoid an automatic (and binding) contract extension.

Public telephones are also widely available however most of them are no longer coin operated; you will need a phone card. The cards are available in various denominations at post offices, filling stations, supermarkets, and most newsstands.

Phone services: Analog or ISDN

There are two general types of phone service in Germany: a "standard" analog phone service, and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Each type of phone service has similar tariffs that allow you to choose the best plan for your type of use. Discounted domestic and international calling plans are available. Features such as caller-ID, call forwarding and voice-mail are standard features with most carriers.

An analog phone connection is by far the most popular and easiest to use: you get one line and number; a standard 56K dial-up modem is used to access the web. Analog telephones, answering and fax machines from other countries can normally be used when coupled with a compatible German TAE (telephone jack) adapter. It is illegal to use most North American cordless telephone products in Germany because of the radio signal used by those devices. If you buy a cordless phone in Germany you'll be assured that it complies with local radio-frequency regulations and electrical safety guidelines.

ISDN phone service utilizes digital network technology to add more features and flexibility with two digital phone lines and a total of three different telephone numbers. This allows two separate phone conversations at the same time, which may be ideal for larger households or a home office that needs a dedicated line and number. On the other hand, the basic monthly fee is typically higher, and ISDN telephones and modems are somewhat more costly than their analog counterparts.

Before selecting either analog or ISDN, you may want to first check with the homeowner to find out how the house or apartment is wired and if there are any special requirements that could lead to additional costs. Many German homes only have only one telephone outlet! Cordless telephones or routers may be the best solution, offering the greatest flexibility in nearly any housing situation. DSL Internet service can also be had with either analog or ISDN. The dedicated internet connection will not interfere with your telephone calls.

Details That Make a Difference

When registering for your telephone service, make sure that you know the complete address. It is very useful to the activation process if you provide the name and telephone number of your home's previous tenant when possible. Do request a fully itemized bill at the time of sign up as this is not always the default for many German service providers. Activation times can vary, taking between 5 to 14 business days. Your telephone number and date of activation will be confirmed in writing. (TKS can send your activation letter and monthly statements to your private email address.) In some cases a technician may require access to your home to activate your telephone and additional installation charges may apply. If you have several German TAE telephone outlets in your house, do not be surprised if only the single primary-outlet is activated. The internal wiring of your home is not part of the standard German service agreement and you may incur extra charges if requesting "additional installation." It is best to work with the property owner or have a private installer customize your home's wiring. Take the time to fully assess your requirements, and the costs, beforehand.

Phone bills are sent monthly and are typically due within seven business days of the date of issuance. Cash payments can usually be made at any German post office or bank, a nominal fee for the Überwiesung (bank transfer) may apply. The default and preferred payment method is to have your monthly bills automatically debited directly from your bank account through a Lastschriftverfahren.

Mobile phones

There are several mobile phone service providers to choose from, along with a wide array of mobile devices that are available prepaid (pay-as-you-go) or with annual plans. It is possible to use your own mobile phone, but if you are going to be in the country for a while, it would be best to get a new SIM card that would then provide you with a German mobile number and service plan. Otherwise you will be billed pricey international roaming rates by your home service provider for both in and outbound calls. With a German service plan, calls received anywhere within the country regardless of origin are free of charge. It is more expensive to call German mobile phones since the caller is picking up the entire cost of the connection. In Germany it is against the law to use a mobile phone while driving, so be sure to use some sort of "hands-free" device.

The Internet in Germany

Dial-up:

As the name implies, dial-up service requires your computer to "dial-up" and make a phone call to a remote access server, which then connects you to the Internet. If the default profile on your computer is configured to dial-up the ISP in your home country, watch out, because when dialing-in from Germany, long distance charges will apply!

Aside from a slow 56kbit/s connection speed, dial-up service has some other drawbacks. If you opted for ISDN phone service for example, dial-up connectivity is improved to 64kbit/s, or 128kbit/s if you multilink or use both ISDN phone lines. There is no flat rate for dial-up service in Germany, so if you do multilink, be prepared to pay an additional charge for the second line. You will also have to purchase special modems or network devices for ISDN service. Dial-up is ideal for light users. With an analog phone line, there is very little if no start up cost, and typically, no additional gear or wiring is needed. Dial-up can be had at any address that has a phone line.

Broadband:

If you know that dial-up is not for you, then one of several DSL plans can be considered. Some cities or towns, neighborhoods, streets and even certain buildings still do not have broadband access. So if Internet connectivity is critical, it is a good idea check the availability before buying or renting a home.

High-speed DSL (digital subscriber line) service is gradually becoming the preferred and even required connection for high-usage, performance oriented users and for people that work out of their home. Accessing sites high in multi-media content (streaming audio/video) over a dial-up connection is extremely tedious and sometimes not even possible.

Unlike dial-up Internet access, unlimited DSL flat rates are available. DSL does not utilize your telephone connection so you can talk-and-surf simultaneously and your single high-speed connection can be distributed to other computers in your home with a router via a wired (or wireless) LAN. Really, the only downside to DSL, as opposed to dial-up service, is the onetime startup costs. In the long run, however, you will save money with the flat rate.

Internet on the Go:

Internet access does not have to be restricted to your home. Germany has both Internet cafes and over 8,600 Internet "hotspots" according to a recent online search. A hotspot typically gives you access to the Internet over your laptop via a short-range wireless LAN. Locations are subject to change and your computer must have a wireless network adapter installed. Aside from the usual locations in airport terminals, smaller businesses such as hotels, gas stations, bars and restaurants also provide wireless Internet access on the go and very often free of charge. The best way to find hotspots is online, so when you are at a hotspot, search and save the location of hotspots.

Important Details:

Choosing the right service provider and Internet plan is important. Many of the Internet "bargains" that you see advertised may have some major drawbacks if you read the German "fine print." For example, some providers bundle a low telephone monthly fee and a DSL flat rate together, but then charge you more for all your phone calls. Obtaining a lower rate from other carriers may be restricted and the use of calling-cards may be blocked as well. Many providers also offer Internet and telephone "service-bundles" that can potentially save you money on activation and hardware costs, but may require that you sign a one or two year contract. Before signing on the dotted line, do check the terms of cancellation and be aware of special requirements and costs for early cancellation. Look for plans that are flexible and find out if the service provider can offer any type of technical or billing hotline or even basic configuration instructions in English.

Germany has many Internet options and this can be a good thing. However, pinning down and recommending the exact Internet plan for every type of user is difficult given the constantly changing nature of the telecommunications marketplace. One place to start for English-speakers here in Germany is TKS. TKSSurf! Internet service has many competitively priced plans that have no contractual obligations and offers subscribers full service, over-the-phone technical support in English. When you run into your first connectivity issue, having a service provider that has English-speaking technical experts can go a long way in getting things sorted out. So to establish your connection to the worldwide web here in Germany, first try to define your household's Internet and budgetary requirements, and then look for an Internet service that is easy to use and compatible with your particular needs.