The Apple iPad hit Apple stores in Germany on May 28th and some German mobile phone providers already market micro SIM cards and mobile data price plans for mobile internet access via GPRS or UMTS with Apple iPad WiFi + 3G. Here is an overview of purchase prices of the Apple iPad and portable WiFi 3G routers as well as of micro SIM packages with mobile data tariffs for connecting the iPad to the web. This selection only includes prepaid price plans and postpaid price plans with a short minimum term commitment of just one month.

Deutsche Telekom: Prepaid package (micro SIM + credit of € 10.00) available for € 9.95

• web’n'walk Dayflat Special, prepaid, € 4.95 per day, 1 day, flat rate (1 GB)
• web’n'walk Flat Special, prepaid, € 34.95 per month, 1 month, flat rate (5 GB)

Vodafone: Free starter package only available with iPad price plan

• MobileInternet Basic Tagesflat 24h, postpaid, € 4.95 per 24 hours, flat rate (1 GB)
• MobileInternet Basic Monatspaket, postpaid, € 14.95 per month, 1 month, flat rate (200 MB)
• MobileInternet Basic Monatsflat, postpaid, € 24.95 per month, 1 month, flat rate (3 GB)
• Note: Subscribers of a Vodafone iPad price plan must pay their bills by direct debit. It is not possible to top up new credit by buying a voucher. iPad users can also book any other mobile data tariff of Vodafone for acessing the internet over the mobile network.

O2 Germany: Purchase price for delivery of starter package with micro SIM card when ordering at O2 web store: € 3.95

• Blue S, postpaid, € 10.00 per month, 1 month, flat rate (200 MB)
• Blue M, postpaid, € 15.00 per month, 1 month, flat rate (1 GB)
• Blue L, postpaid, € 25.00 per month, 1 month, flat rate (5 GB)

1&1 (Vodafone network): Set-up fee € 29.99

• Notebook-Flat, postpaid, € 9.99 per month, 1 month, flat rate (1 GB)
• Notebook-Flat XL, postpaid, € 19.99 per month, 1 month, flat rate (5 GB)

Bildmobil (Vodafone network): Prepaid package (micro SIM + credit of € 10.00) available for € 14.95

• Surfpaket, prepaid, € 0.59 per 30 minutes, 1 GB
• Surfpaket, prepaid, € 0.99 per 90 minutes, 1 GB
• Surfpaket, prepaid, € 6.99 per 1 week, 1 GB

Blau (E-Plus network): Prepaid package (micro SIM + credit of € 10.00) available for € 12.90

• Einheitstarif, prepaid, € 9.90 per month, 1 month, 1 GB
• Einheitstarif, prepaid, € 9.90 per month, 1 month, flat rate (5 GB)

Fonic (O2 Germany network): Prepaid package (micro SIM + credit of € 2.50) available for € 9.95

• Internet-Tagesflatrate, prepaid, € 2.50 per day, 1 day, flat rate (500 MB)

Maxxim (Telekom network): Available at Maxxim web store with 1 month term commitment, set-up fee of € 24.95

• maxxim data, postpaid, € 19.95 per month, 1 month, flat rate (5 GB)

Simyo (E-Plus network): Prepaid package (micro SIM + credit of € 5.00) available for € 9.90

• Einheitstarif, prepaid, € 9.90 per month, 1 month, 1 GB

(Updated on September 15th)

Tourists from other countries bringing their iPad to Germany will have to buy a micro-SIM card at a Telekom store if they are looking for a prepaid price plan of a German network operator. iPad users can buy such a prepaid micro-SIM card without having a banking account in Germany. New credit can be topped up by credit card or by buying a voucher (Xtra Card). Since discount providers’ micro-SIM cards can only be ordered at web stores and will be delivered by mail, this could make it difficult for foreigners to buy a micro-SIM card for the Apple iPad there.

This overview shows you the names of the iPad mobile data plans of the different providers, followed by the type of contract, the charge per day or per month, the duration of a minimum term commitment and the data volume included per billing cycle. Flat rate tariffs usually include limited data volume for faster uploads and downloads with EDGE, UMTS or HSPA speed. By clicking on the provider’s name you will be directed to its website with more information on the iPad and dedicated price plans.

3G Network Coverage in Germany

The German 3G networks of Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2 Germany support HSPA with up to 7.2 mbps (download) and 2.0 mbps (upload) in several areas. E-Plus has just begun upgrading its 3G network coverage and capacity with HSPA. Currently, maximum data transfer speeds do not exceed 3.6 mbps (download) and 384 kbps (upload).
Read more: Using the Apple iPad on German 3G networks.

Apple iPad, Pictures: Phone Guide Germany

Six different versions of the Apple iPad are available at Apple stores and at some Saturn, Media Markt and Medimax stores with Apple shops in Germany. Apple sells the iPad without SIM lock, but also offers micro SIM cards by T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 Germany in its stores. People buying the iPad with a micro SIM card of Vodafone or O2 Germany at an Apple store, pay an extra EUR 0.20 for the micro SIM card, but will not receive credit for connecting to the web.

Purchase Prices of the Apple iPad at Apple Stores in Germany

• Apple iPad 16 GB WiFi: € 499.00
• Apple iPad 32 GB WiFi: € 599.00
• Apple iPad 64 GB WiFi: € 699.00
• Apple iPad 16 GB WiFi + 3G: € 599.00
• Apple iPad 32 GB WiFi + 3G: € 699.00
• Apple iPad 64 GB WiFi + 3G: € 799.00

Purchase Prices of Portable WiFi + 3G Routers for the Apple iPad WiFi

• Novatel MiFi 2352: €  229.90 at Vodafone stores
• Huawei E5: €  129.00 at O2 Germany stores

Read more: Three Portable 3G Modem Routers for the iPad WiFi

Three Voip Apps for Making Phone Calls with Apple iPad

• Sipgate for iPad
• Skype for iPad
• Acrobits Softphone Client

Read more: Three Voip Apps for Making Phone Calls with Apple iPad

Network Coverage Maps of German Operators:

• Deutsche Telekom
• Vodafone
• O2 Germany
• E-Plus

Overviews of Mobile Data Price Plans in Germany:

• Overview of Prepaid Mobile Data Price Plans for Smartphone Users
• Overview of Prepaid Mobile Data Price Plans for Notebook Users
• Overview of Postpaid Mobile Data Price Plans for Notebook Users
• Overview of Prepaid Mobile Data Price Plans for Apple iPad Users

Read more about the iPad at www.teltarif.de (in German).

Read more about micro SIM cards at www.teltarif.de (in German).