Telecommunication
There is a wide spectrum of choices depending on the needs for telecommunication service.
Mobile telephony
The pricing & offers change very frequently. Therefore it would not make any sense to declare which service provider is good & cost effective.
A small list (very small indeed) of Mobile Telephone service providers.
Hold your breath there are atleast 30 more companies providing service. Largely there exist 2 major type of contracts with service providers.
Prepaid
Pay as you call. Buy some credits & the call charges get debited.
I wouldn’t recommend prepaid if the stay is longer than 3 months, since the call charges are generally high.
Postpaid
For duration of stay longer than 3 months it makes real sense to buy a Post paid connection.
Depending on the contract you may get some or all of these benefits
- Cheap call rates
- Calls within the same network for reduced rates or totally free
- Calls to landline either free or at reduced rates
- Provision of home zone (accessible within a area of 1.5 to 3 kms with a landline/fixed line telephone number)
- Subsidized mobile phone based on model & manufacturer
- Fixed monthly costs
- Free SMS
- Free Mobile internet
Internet
Depending on the following factors the prices vary
- Bandwidth (from 2mbps to 25mbps or even higher)
- Contract period
- Complete flat rate or billing based on usage over time, download/upload limit
- Wired (DSL)/ Wireless (UMTS) etc
- Free / Subsidized router (optionally wireless)
International telephony
Generally receiving calls within Germany is absolutely free but making international calls from mobile phone is expensive. Cost effective alternatives are
- PC to PC, PC to Phone calls using VOIP solutions such as Skype, Yahoo, Google talk, JustVoip etc
- Calling using telephone cards from Fixed lines/ public telephone booths / Mobile phone
- Call by Call service providers (3rd party service providers – billed directly to fixed line or mobile phone bill)
Hint: Request per email for a student starter pack which includes actual recommendations for Bank accounts, Health Insurance Service Provider, Mobile/Internet service provider, pre departure checklist, Travel agencies, Do’s & Don’ts etc.
