computer internet connection & mobile phone for 1 month Germany
 

I and my boyfriend will be in Germany for a month late July to late August. We both need mobile phones to talk to each other and to others. Plus I need an internet connection for my computer. I want a one-month flat rate so i don't worry about usage. (He'll have internet at the university where he is teaching a few days a week.)

Does it make sense to use one company for both tasks? If so, which? I understand that I must buy a usb stick to get the signal into my computer. (I have a smart phone, but that would not be adequate for a month of using the internet.) So that is a factor in determining the price. I'd like one that works in other countries and in the US in the event I should want a similar service here. That seems to be the most expensive item in the whole communications package i need. (Is there a standard unlocked stick I could get for less money, or do you have to get one from the provider?)

I see Tchibo being advised here as a good service, also because it doesn't live on a clogged system. Is that the best for me? What are the alternatives? Should I get phone and internet from different companies?

What about tethering? Can I use my G1 Android to connect to a wireless provider and tether that to my computer via bluetooth or cable?

Appreciate your advice.

Regarding your requirements for voice communication I would recommend either Alditalk (€ 0,03/min to other Alditalk subscribers, € 0,12/min to North America and domestic networks) or Fonic (€ 0,09/min to other Fonic subscribers, North America and domestic networks). Both SIMs are easily to buy, as Alditalk is sold at omnipresent Aldi supermarkets and Fonic at Lidl, Real, Müller and dm supermarkets, which are even wider spread.
Another option would be solomo pro (if you order through this link, you'll get € 5 of extra credit and so will I) with € 0,05/min among solomo customers, € 0,09/min to North America and € 0,10/min to domestic networks with the great advantage of billing by seconds after the first minute, whereas the afore-mentioned round up call time to full minutes. The only downside of solomo is, that SIMs are only sold online and can also be recharged online by creditcard only.
Which of those is the best for you depends on distribution of destinations called.

The G1 can be tethered to a computer and so be used as a modem, but afaik the appropriate application has been pulled from the Android store and can now only be installed by rooting (hacking) your phone. However extensive modem-usage will wear out your G1's battery soon and so it may be reasonable to get a USB-modem instead.

When it comes to a modem, that will work in the US later, you should be aware of the different frequency bands used for 3G in Europe and the US:
Whereas European 3G-networks operate at 2100 MHz (and some outside of Germany also at 900 MHz), American 3G networks use 850 and 1900 MHz (AT&T) and 1700 and 2100 MHz (T-Mobile), whereby T-Mobile uses a combination of 1700 and 2100 MHz (so-called AWS), which is incompatible with the European 2100 MHz-band.
As there's no device available in Europe, that supports T-Mobile's 1700/2100 MHz-band, you could only get a device that will work in Europe and on AT&T's 3G network, but not on any other US-network (as the rest are not using UMTS-technology). So in order to get a device suitable for Germany and AT&T you would need a device supporting 850, 1900 and 2100 MHz. The only reasonably priced device meeting this requirement would be a Huawei E160.
Actually the Huawei E160 is sold by several providers (Tchibo, Fonic, Vodafone, Aldi) starting from € 30, but they all have different designations and I fear some or all are a trimmed version called E160G, which lacks support for UMTS 850 and 1900 MHz and so won't even work on AT&T's 3G network. I'll try to find out on German forums, if the E160 is available somewhere and let you know soon.

As you already found out, Tchibo is perhaps the best choice for internet access. If you want even better quality (better 3G coverage and even higher bandwidth) Vodafone is interesting, as they have a summer promotion offering 7 days of internet access for € 10. However Vodafone's so-called "WebSessions" will be terminated after reaching 1GB of data volume. That could easily happen sooner than 7 days and so you could need more than 3 WebSessions (each costing € 10) to stay online for a month.

Another plus for the Vodafone data offer is that they sell the USB-Modem for 29 Euro at the moment (and it is not even SIM-locked).

Chris

Just got the information, that the "Tchibo Internet Stick", which is sold for € 50 including one month of free internet access (worth € 20) does definitely support UMTS 850 and 1900, so it generally would work on AT&T's 3G network, if it wasn't locked. But you can unlock it after leaving Germany for € 15. So the total cost for the Tchibo stick (purchase, 1 month internet, unlocking) would be € 65.

Even if the Vodafone stick "K3565" supports American 3G bands, too, it wouldn't be significantly cheaper, as you would need to purchase the stick (€ 30), buy a Tchibo SIM (€ 10) and topup € 20 for the internet flatrate, so € 60 in total. If you consider the effort to order a Vodafone stick, buy a Tchibo SIM, get the topup voucher and all the technical challenges (Vodafone stick needs to be debranded in order to use other SIM cards and then the access software "Mobile Partner" doesn't support USSD-commands, which are necessary for topups), the Tchibo Internet Stick appears to be the better choice.

Tchibo for internet, Q about mobile phone roaming
 

So Tchibo seems best for internet. I saw on the website that there could be a two week delay getting the usb stick. Is that only for internet sales? Will I have a problem in shops? Or should I order via the internet now to make sure it arrives at a German address in time?

Re mobile phones, i read that the eplus network Alditalk uses is bad, clogged. So that Fonic would be better.

I found this comparison chart about mobile carriers which seems to be out of date in terms of minute prices:
Google Translate

Is there some chart that compares what the mobile companies charge for roaming inside Europe? For example, if i go to France for a few days, what will it cost me to make local calls? To call Germany?

I see Fonic charges
o 9 cents per minute for calls to landline numbers in Europe, the USA and Canada.
o 29 cents per minute for calls to mobile numbers in Europe, the USA and Canada

But what about FROM France to French numbers?

I see that there are quite a few German discount carriers that sell plans where the sim cost is free or equals the minutes included. Can't find that in France. (Orange costs 30 EUR for a sim!) Or am I looking in the wrong place?

Yes, for sure if you want to use the Tchibo flatrate its not worth the effort. If you want to use Vodafone Websessions instead its a good deal - always depends on the coverage of course. Here in the area Vodafone is the only one with 3G coverage so the choice is quite easy for me ;)

The availability shown on Tchibo's website refers to their stock for the online shop. The stick could still be available at local shops, as it is the case here in my town. So you can either order it online in advance or call some shop and ask them to reserve one or ask some German to pick one up.
Where in Germany are you actually going to stay?

Those congestions on the eplus network mostly affect data usage (low speed). Voice calls usually work fine on the eplus network, as long as you use eplus' GSM-network. So if you have a 3G-phone like the T-Mobile G1, you should better switch network mode to GSM/2G-only, since congestion on the 3G-network results in unavailability despite your phone showing full reception bars. Switching to GSM/2G-only, by the way, would also prolong battery life. In general 3G is only relevant if you want high data rates.
But as mentioned, voice calling and SMS isn't an issue on the eplus GSM-network.

Roaming tariffs are equal for almost all providers, as they all charge the maximum, which European roaming regulations allow. That means € 0,22/min for incoming calls and € 0,51/min for outgoing calls within the EU to the EU. If you call a destination outside the EU while roaming expect to be ripped off with prices above € 1/min.
The only siginificant exception with roaming tariffs is solomo pro, who charge only € 0,10/min for incoming calls in the whole European Union and outgoing calls abroad are also cheaper, at least when activating the callback option. If you go to France e.g. with solomo pro you could call Germany for € 0,29/min (fixed lines) or € 0,49/min (mobile phones) and the US from France for € 0,29/min. For a further tariff details of solomo pro go to https://www.solomo.de/?function=showTariffFC
If you are planning to go to other Europen countries solomo pro if the first choice.

That would cost € 0,51/min as stated above.

French SIMs are cheap to get from French eBay.
As you might be interested in cheap international rates from France, check this thread - it's primarily about cheap rates from France to Germany, but I presume those providers have similiarly cheap rates to the US.

Thanks.
I will be in Berlin. If I go to Paris, it would be for just a few days.

So unless I thought i would make under 20 min outgoing calls inside France, (10EUR) i could just keep the German sim. Otherwise there is at discount local French sim at 10EUR/including 5 EUR credit, 19c minute. OMER Telecom (Breizh Mobile ) using Orange network.

I'll check Solomo, but issue for me is time; I'm only in Berlin for a month, might not want to wait for mailed sim. Rather go to a shop and get all set up on the spot.

calls in france
 

sorry, meant to say that unless i made OVER 20 min calls in France, best to stay with German sim

Reading about Fonic, it says
Activation:
The card must be activated online FONIC -- Das ist die Wahrheit. (then "SIM freischalten") or Tel. 0800-4636642, Mon - Sat 8 - 20 h. You need a german bank account, a german address and a passport-number. For the first activation you must recharge 10 Euros from the german bank account

so not good for US citizens, no?

A German bank account is neither required for registration nor for recharge for more than a year now. Passport number was never required and a German address, which you will still be asked for upon registration, will not be checked, so you can provide just any German address.

solomo SIMs are deliverd within 2-3 days after ordering. If you order them in advance, they will be with you in time.

So the new rules just issued by the EU must change things a bit, no? Now everyone must charge by the second after the first half minute. Does that change what is the best mobile in Germany?

All these rules only apply when you are roaming with a EU SIM-card in another EU country. That does not affect the national tariffs.

As you mentioned you would arrive only in late July, I anticipated the recent decline of roaming-price caps and so all mentioned roaming prices (€ 0,51 for outgoing and € 0,22 for incoming calls) already took yesterday's changes into account. Hence solomo pro is the cheapest German prepaid SIM while roaming.

Today three new dayflat tariffs were announced by German providers.

Tchibo introduced a dayflat for € 2.99/calendar day on the O2 network. Since Fonic already offers a dayflat on the same network for € 2.50 Tchibo's offer isn't overwhelming, but the fact you now have the choice between Germany's cheapest monthly flat on a HSPA-enabled network for € 20, a 500MB volume pack for € 10 and a dayflat for € 3 with a single SIM, is absolutely attractive.

Ja! mobil and Penny mobil, which are subsidaries of Rewe and Penny supermarkets and whose prepaid SIMs are sold in these, announced a dayflat for € 2.49/calendar day on the T-Mobile network. Since T-Mobile provides superior coverage with widespread HSPA-coverage and nationwide EDGE-support, in my eyes this is the best dayflat for Germany so far. Against the background of T-Mobile's dayflat costing € 4.95/day, the price decline is quite impressive.
The dayflats will only be available for special SIM cards called "ja! mobil data" and "Penny Mobil Data", which will also support voice calls at € 0.09/min to all national networks. Both SIMs are rechargable by regular T-Mobile vouchers, so-called "Xtra Cash".

All three offers will be subject to bandwidth-throttling to 64 KBit/s after exceeding 1 GB of traffic per calendar day.

Internet Stick inkl. Prepaid SIM-Karte

simply data - Deutschlands gnstige Datenflat

Tchibo = 3.6Mb/s and work in O2 network

Simply = 7.2Mb/s and work in D1 - T-mobile 19.95EURO/Monat without contract , prepaid .


Why it's Tchibo better ?

Which network have better coverage : O2 or D1 - T-mobile ?


Anyone have an experience with Simply ?


What it's the best USB stick like Modem for : HSDPA connection ?

HSDPA work just in major city's from Germany?


Pre-paid Internet Mobile
Mobile Prepaid Internet Anbieter


Price from various offers:
Preisvergleich Mobile Internet Anbieter


What do you say about all this offers? Which it's the best ?

In which network it work the Internet with the best speed?

What about Simplydata?

simply data - Deutschlands gnstige Datenflat

Based on the information I got on this site, I got a Tchibo stick for internet and Fonic for a cell phone. Both were very good choices. The Tchibo, with a promotion, cost 60 euros and included a month on line. Normally 20 Euros a month. And I keep the stick for next time. The Fonic cost 10 euros and included 111 minutes. I didn't even use them all. Problem with Germany in general is that you can't pay for things on line with a credit card, including to top up minutes. Inconvenient.

Question: I was in Berlin with my boyfriend. We had to keep switching the Tchibo stick between his computer and mine. Is there a program or device that would allow us to share the stick and both get online at the same time?

Lucy

That free first month is not longer offered, just FIY.

Actually you could use the stick in the US, if you have a data plan there. It supports 3G at 850 and 1900 MHz, so except for T-Mobile (who use 1700/2100 MHz) the stick is compatible with any UMTS-based 3G-network in the US (e.g. AT&T).
You would just need to unlock it, which simply requires a code to be entered. The codes are available for less than $6 from eBay sellers (e.g. "3g-fever").

Top ups can be bought online and paid with credit card for both, Tchibo and Fonic, at Aufladen.de - So macht man das!. Further compared to the US recharge vouchers are available nearly everywhere and anytime, at least at gasstations and those vending machines.
In general you are right, credit cards are less accepted in Germany than in the US. In Germany we mostly pay with debit cards (Maestro) and direct debit, which is siginificantly cheaper in regards of processing fees and in the end it's us customers who pay for those.

Yes, there are WiFi-routers with integrated 3G-modem and also WiFi-routers with a USB-jack, where you can plug in your existing stick and share the connection over WiFi. Both types of devices are not really cheap. Those WiFi-routers with integrated 3G modem, like the Novatel MiFi 2352 cost ~ $300, while those in which you would plug in your existing stick cost ~ € 100.
You will find a choice of devices at 3G/WiFi-routers - 3G modem wiki

@mods Could you please move this and Lucy's post to http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/euro...ny-merged.html ?

where to top up internet sticks and mobile phones.
 

Re: Top ups can be bought online and paid with credit card for both, Tchibo and Fonic, at Aufladen.de - So macht man das!.

Tchibo and Fonic are not on that site.

My boyfriend had a hard time finding a shop with a Fonic minutes card. He finally found and bought one for 20 Euros and discovered that it had granted him only 10 Euros of minutes.

Tchibo and Fonic can both be topped up with regular O2 vouchers, which you get everywhere.

Topping up
 

Thanks. Neither Tchibo nor Fonic provide that information.

That's because they lose the premium from the sale of their own vouchers, when people use the ones from O2.
For additional information see:
Germany - Tchibo - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access
Germany - Fonic - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access

WARNING!!! Fonic can not be topped up with O2 Loop vouchers anymore! Fonic SIMs must be topped up with official Fonic top ups.

Bought internet stick at Tchibo, and can't activate/register?
 

Hello,

I bought a prepaid internet stick at $20 voucher at Tchibo, but when I plug it in the SIM can't activate on the network. I went to https://www.tchibo-mobil.de/registration to try and register online, but I'm just a frequent visitor and don't have a german bank account to use. How can I get this running?! They didn't ask me to fill out any forms at the store.

Help appreciated!

Thanks,

- James

Is there anywhere online that I can purchase Fonic Pre-Paid vouchers? Silly as it may seem, I am having difficulty finding them at the local stores. When I ask for Fonic TOp up, I am usually handed a starter kit. To be fair there is a slight language barrier, which is my fault since I was totally unprepared for this trip from that aspect....

Fonic top up vouchers are sold at the following stores, however not online:
real (supermarket)
dm (drugstore)
Müller (drugstore)
Jet (gasstation)
The Phone House (telecommunications)
expert (electronics)
MediaMarkt (electronics)
Saturn (electronics)
ProMarkt (electronics)
KOMET (electronics)
Staples (office supplies)

Shop locations can be found at http://www.fonic.de/html/filialfinder.html

In German top up vouchers are simply refered to as "Guthaben", which means "credit". So just ask for "Guthaben für Fonic".

The only way of topping up online (through Fonic's website) requires a German bank account.

Hi,
I've checked the original form which you usually have to fill in in a Tchibo-shop when buying your SIM: http://images.tchibo.de/eCS/Store/de...ular122006.pdf

They do not ask for a bank account there and you will not need one if you chose the prepaid option. I have it prepaid and was never asked for a bank account number.
BUT: It is possible to chose a postpaid "comfort" option with a little more support like my Tchibo or what else. Then you'll need your bank.

Inquisitor, thank you! Your tips helped me get exactly what I needed!

Fonic seems to be adding other retailers. They have prominent ads and SIM sales in the Spiele Max toy stores (although not yet in Smyk stores, even though they own Spiele Max).

So, I'm heading over to Germany again this summer and will also spend about two months in Britain.

What are the current best deals for prepaid internet flat rates and are there any companies that let you use the same sim in both countries for a reasonable rate?

I'm currently looking at unlocked surf sticks on ebay, but haven't bought one yet.

If you'll be using data for more than 8 days per month, Tchibo's monthly flatrate costing € 20 for 30 days is still the most competitive offer. Otherwise Fonic's daily flatrate (€ 2.50/day) with a price cap of € 25 per month is also an interesting option, especially since Fonic have very cheap international rates.
Details on both are available at Germany - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access

Since data roaming is still exorbitantly expensive, you'll need to pick a separate SIM for the UK.

Regarding 3G modems, you should go for one from Huawei, as from my experience they are the best and easiest to handle, especially when it comes to unlocking or debranding. What you should consider is, that only few sticks support the major European 3G band (2100 MHz) and AT&Ts 3G bands (850 & 1900 MHz). So if you want to use the device back in the Staates, your choice is limited to the Huawei E160 (available at some Tchibo stores, while others have already been restocked with the newer E1550, which unfortunately doesn't support American 3G bands like the E160G) or the E1762 sold in Germany as "Bild Mobil Speedstick" for € 50 (available only online), where the latter is much faster (7,2 MBit/s downstream vs. 3,6 MBit/s and 5,76 MBit/s upstream vs. 0,4 MBit/ts).

I'm going to be in Germany for a week in June and again for a week in August.
In between, I'll be in Britain.
What do you think of a Simyo sim, with 1GB for 9.95 Euro?
Thanks for mentioning what surf sticks to look for!
So far, I haven't needed one in the US, but you'll never know...

I picked up an unlocked usb stick (Novatel MC950D) and a couple of sim cards for the UK so far.
Have not received the modem yet, but wonder what kind of connection manager I should use, and how to go about activating the sim cards.
Do I activate via cell phone (I have an old, unlocked one I'll be taking along), or can it be done via the netbook and software.
Same with adding more credit to the cards, if needed. Can that be done via software and credit card? Do I need to register with the company the cards are from (3 and T-mobile in the UK)?
Thanks in advance for any info!

simyo uses the eplus network which has very limited HSDPA-coverage and suffers from regular congestions. Besides network quality simyo is only available online and they ship only to German adresses, which might be a problem for you.
So you might prefer Fonic, which is widely available through retailers and also offers cheap international calling rates.
As I've never had any Novatel hardware, I can't give you any advise on your stick, but I would always prefer the original dashboard from the manufacturer.

P.S.: I think the last posting is kind of misplaced in this thread.

Thanks and sorry for the content not related to the thread!
I reposted in another thread, hopefully more suited to my question.

I've recently purchased a Tchibo stick (20eu at the moment with the 500mb free) and I want to upgrade to the flat rate plan.

Now, these questions might seem stupid but I can't read German and can only speak a very little, so the going is slow when it comes to finding information. I hope you'll all forgive me.

Now, as I understand it, to upgrade to the new plan I need to buy credit (either Tchibo(from the store) or O2 (from all over the place)) and apply this to my account/phone number. Is it possible for me to add the credit via the web, even if I buy it in a store?

I ask this because at the moment I don't have a phone, nor do I intend on buying one while I'm in Germany unless I must.

I've noticed that the stick software has SMS features, however when I tried to activate the free 500mb plan all my SMS bounced back or didn't send(I'm not sure which). So I'm concerned that I won't be able to activate the credit via the SMS featues on the stick and with my very poor german and lack of a mobile(handy) it's a hassle to activate anything over the phone.

So, I guess I'm asking what my options are here and how I would best go about upgrading to the flatrate.

And I'm sorry if this post is a mess, it's 4am and I'm jet lagged and really not thinking that clearly. Maybe I've missed something really obvious.

Thanks.

I doubt you can switch to the "Internet-Flatrate XL" during the first month, in which the free "Internet-Flatrate L" is pre-activated. You could try sending an SMS with "STOP DATENFLAT2" to 7777 in order to request cancelation of the current "Internet-Flatrate L". Shortly later you should receive a message requesting your confirmation by sending "ENDE DATENFLAT2" to 7777.
After receiving the final confirmation for your cancelation, send "START DATENFLAT" to 7777 and you will again be asked by another SMS to confirm subscription of the "Internet-Flatrate XL" by sending "JA DATENFLAT" to 7777.

At least without a German, Austrian, Swiss or Dutch credit card you can't purchase recharge vouchers online. But O2 vouchers are sold absolutely everywhere.

You don't need a phone to manage your credit. If you're using Tchibo's version of Mobile Partner, there should be a button called "Guthaben verwalten", through which you can check your credit ("Guthabenabfrage") or redeem a voucher code ("Guthabenkarte aufladen").

Did you receive any error message?

Beyond SMS and customer care, there's also a USSD-menu (*104#), through which you can manage your tariff options. In order to send USSD-commands with your USB stick, you'll need to download MDMA, fully close Mobile Partner (otherwise MDMA won't work) and then run MDMA, which allows sending USSD commands (*104#).

Thank you for the swift response. I'll give the program you suggested a go.

As for the SMS's, it attempts to send them - the bar moves slowly across, then an error message flashes up so quickly I can't make it out (and wouldn't be able to even if it were in english) and the next message goes to the postausgang folder with a red exclamation point beside it.