There is only one company operating fixed lines in all parts in Germany and offering home phone and DSL connections with a short minimum term: Deutsche Telekom with the brands T-Home and T-Online. On the other hand, the monthly fees and service charges of the T-Home offers often seem very expensive compared to home phone and DSL packages of competitors in the market.

However, there are several reasons why people living in Germany might still decide on a home phone and/or DSL connection of T-Home: In some packages, T-Home customers can withdraw for a home phone contract within six days; no other operator offers home phone or broadband internet lines at the place of residence or work; no other operator offers just a home phone connection without DSL; and customers of T-Home are the only ones being able to use call by call.

How to Use Call by Call with a T-Home Fixed Line

With call by call, users with a home phone connection provided by T-Home can make phone calls to cheaper rates offered by other telephone companies. By dialing a – mostly a five digit – prefix before the phone number of the person they want to call, T-Home customers can use the phone service of an alternative provider. For most call by call services users don’t even have to pay monthly fees or even to register. However, people using call by call should be careful and check current rates every day they use call by call because prices vary constantly. Web portals such as www.teltarif.de provide a good overview of call by call prices for all kinds of phone calls and update their data base on a daily basis. Usually, you can also check current call by call rates in newspapers or via video text.

Home phone calls in Germany are usually charged per minute, this includes locals calls which are not free of charge unless you have a flat rate tariff. With flat rate tariffs becoming predominant in home phone and internet packages, call by call has lost its relevance for home phone calls to other home phones in Germany. But it helps reducing costs when calling a mobile phone or making international calls.

Home Phone Packages of German Providers with Short Minimum Term

The following home phone packages of German providers come with a minimum term of one month and an analogue connection. For an ISDN line the home phone providers charge a few euros more per month. Except for the Call Plus package of T-Home, a DSL connection is included. The Alice Fun package of Hansenet and the Maxi komplett package of M-net already include a double flat rate tariff for internet access and phone calls to other home phones in Germany. Hansenet also offers a flat rate option for home calls to fixed lines in all European countries, Australia, Canada and the United States for 4.90 euros per month.

How to Get a Landline in Germany

In order to get a landline in Germany you either fill out an application form in the store or at the website of the chosen provider or you request a home phone connection by calling the provider’s hotline. You can reach the T-Home hotline at 0800 330 1000 for free, the Hansenet hotline at 0800 411 0 411. When you choose a home package with a short minimum term of just one month you always have to pay a one-time set-up fee. Waiting times are around two to three weeks, sometimes even longer.

Telephones can be bought or rented from the phone company. It can be cheaper to select and buy a new telephone on one’s own at a retailer’s store though. Customers receive their phone bills on a monthly basis either by mail delivery or by email. Some providers only allow direct debit.

How to Make a Home Phone Call

Especially older people still first identify themselves when being called. When you call someone you should do this first, too. Anything else will be regarded as rude. When you call a local number in your resident area you just dial the phone number. When calling someone living in another city, it is necessary to dial the prefix – for example 030 for Berlin or 0331 for Potsdam – followed by the other person’s phone number.

Be aware of other code prefixes such as 0900, 0180 or 0137 because these are prefixes for special services of companies, of organizations or for votings or sweeps. Dialing numbers with these prefixes is usually very expensive. Calling numbers starting with 0800 is free of charge.

Cheap Alternatives for Tourists and Business Men

For people just staying for a short period of time in Germany such as tourists or business men, it doesn’t make sense to order a home phone or DSL package. For these users there are other alternatives for cheap phone calls within Germany and to other countries: For phone calls within Germany, it could make sense to buy a prepaid SIM card of a mobile phone provider – people from abroad only need to show a valid ID when buying a prepaid SIM card in a German store. The cheapest way to make international calls is to use voice over IP services such as Skype or Google Talk. You might also consider buying a prepaid phone card with cheap rates for international calls.

Overviews of current home phone plans in Germany:
Home Phone Packages with Short Minimum Term
Home Phone and DSL Packages with Double Flat Rate