Telephone Services
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Telephone Services Germany is very well connected to the rest of the world, and a large selection of telephone and Internet services is available. Choosing the right services is critical. While Deutsche Telekom was historically the "Ma Bell" or telephone monopoly of Germany, other providers have joined the marketplace. You can sign up for telephone services with TKS (Telepost Kabel-Service). They specialize in providing telephone and internet solutions to the English-speaking community in Germany. TKS is a full-service partner of Deutsche Telekom that does everything in English. You can also sign up for services at Telekom stores located in most towns and cities throughout Germany. Your bills, correspondence and most customer service will be in German. Regardless of where you sign up, make sure that you are aware of the terms and conditions of your service agreement. Many service providers have long-term minimum contract requirements with automatic renewal clauses. Public telephones are 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. Coin operated phones do not make change if you overpay, but with a card, only the exact amount of the call will be charged. There are two general types of phone service in Germany: a "standard" analog phone service, and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Each phone has similar tariffs that allow you to choose the best plan for your type of use. Discounted local and long distance calling plans are available. And features such as caller-ID, call forwarding and voice-mail are standard with either service. An analog phone connection is the most familiar as it is the default phone service worldwide. With analog phone service, you get one number and one tele-phone line and a standard 56K dial-up modem is used to access the web. Analog telephones, answering and fax machines from other countries can normally can be used when coupled with a compatible German TAE (telephone jack) adapter. It is illegal to use most cordless telephone products from the USA here in Germany! Buy a cordless phone in Germany to assure that the device complies with local radio-frequency regulations and safety guidelines. ISDN uses digital network technology to add even more features and flexibility. The primary benefit is having two digital phone lines and a total of three different telephone numbers. Internet connectivity is also somewhat enhanced. However the ISDN connection speed of 64/128 Kbit/s is easily outpaced by even the slowest German DSL connection. ISDN compatible telephones and modems are required to make the most of an ISDN service and are typically more expensive than analog devices with similar features. Depending on your needs and the layout of your home, you may need to have special wiring and ISDN telephone jacks installed at an additional expense. Analog is by far the easiest to use. ISDN service costs more and requires special devices but may be ideal for larger households or for a home office. If Internet speed is what you need, then a broadband Internet over DSL, where available, is the best way to surf the web. You can get DSL with either an analog or ISDN telephone line, and the separate Internet connection will allow you to talk and surf simultaneously. When signing up for your telephone, make sure that you know your complete address. Providing the name and tele-phone number of your home's previous tenant is not required, but can help expedite the activation process. 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 normally takes between 3 to 10 business days. Your telephone number and date of activation will be confirmed in writing. (TKS can offer you the convenience of delivering your activation letter, and your monthly statements, directly to your private Email address.) Also note that in many cases a technician may require access to your home to activate your tele-phone and additional installation charges may apply. If you have several German 1 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 will incur extra charges if you request extra services. Technician fees are not cheap in Germany. It is best to have either the property owner or a private installer customize your home's wiring, but take the time to fully assess your requirements, and the costs, beforehand. Phone bills are sent monthly and should be paid within seven calendar days of the date of the bill. Payment can usually be made at any German post office, by check or überweisung through a German bank, or the amount can be taken directly from you bank account through a Lastschriftverfahren. (See the Banking article elsewhere in this issue.) There are several mobile phone service providers to choose from, along with a wide array of mobile devices that are available pre-paid or with annual service plans. The average American "cellular" phone will not work in Europe unless it is a compatible tri-band/GSM device. While roaming within Germany, you will not be charged for your incoming calls, regardless of their origin. It is more expensive to call German mobile phones since the caller is picking up the entire cost of the connection, not the receiver. Be aware that in Germany it is against the law to use a mobile phone while driving, so be sure have 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. 2 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.