Mobile data roaming fees are still prohibitive. While flat rate tariffs of German providers for accessing the internet over a mobile network can be booked for monthly charges as low as EUR 10.00, in other countries mobile internet users pay EUR 1.95 per megabyte or much more with their German mobile data plan. Thanks to the European Commission, there will be less risk of enormous expenses soon. As of July 1st, European mobile phone providers have to set up a cost limit of EUR 59.50 per month for mobile data roaming within the European Union.

When getting close to that cost limit, users will receive a text message from their provider. As soon as the mobile data roaming expenses of the subscriber reach the limit of EUR 59.50, the mobile internet access will be blocked for the remaining days of that month.

Mobile internet users can already benefit from this cost limit for mobile data services when being in another country of the European Union. However, they have to request their mobile phone provider to activate this cost limit feature. Vodafone customers can book the data roaming limit by dialing the number 12469, T-Mobile customers by dialing 2202. E-Plus customers enter “*141#” on their phone’s keypad.

Special Tariffs for Mobile Data Roaming

The four German operators T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 Germany also offer special mobile data roaming tariffs for smartphone, netbook or notebook users that travel to other European states. The “Websessions International” tariff of Vodafone provides 50 MB over a 24-hours period for EUR 14.95. T-Mobile (“web’n'walk Roaming DayPass”) charges EUR 14.95 for up to 50 MB per day. Customers of O2 Germany (“International Roaming”) pay EUR 0.07 per 10 kB up to a maximum amount of EUR 15.00 per day. And E-Plus only offers the “Reisevorteil Plus” tariff with EUR 0.99 per megabyte.

Users of a netbook, a notebook or a smartphone should also look for public WiFi hotspots when being in another country. Websites such as www.worldofinternetcafes.de, www.jiwire.com, www.hotspot-locations.de, www.mobileaccess.de and www.free-hotspot.com help finding WiFi Hotspots.