In Germany, mobile phone users can choose between four different networks of the operators T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and o2 Germany and a fifth network owned by the mobile virtual network enabler vistream. In addition to that there is a broad range of mobile providers and so-called no-frills providers without an own network. Even though there are so many mobile providers on the German market, the choice of a new price plan is actually much easier than it seems at first. This is due to the fact that many price plans of different providers look pretty much the same.

There is usually neither a big difference between the tariffs of T-Mobile and Vodafone or between the tariffs of different mobile providers in the networks of the two big operators. At the moment the networks of T-Mobile and Vodafone seem to be the better choice when it comes to mobile data services. The networks of T-Mobile and Vodafone still allow much higher data transfer rates than the networks of E-Plus and o2 Germany and also support EDGE in more regions instead of just GPRS. However, E-Plus and o2 Germany sometimes offer cheaper price plans for mobile telephony and mobile internet access than the big two operators.

The market of current price plans for mobile telephony can be broken down to four different categories of price plans that are suited for tourists and other travelers visiting Germany for a limited period of time:

• Prepaid or postpaid price plans with a consistent price per minute for mobile phone calls within Germany and an one month minimum term. The price per minute for domestic starts with 8 cents per minute, most of the time it is 9 cents per minute to all German networks. Because the price plans often come without a monthly fee they are suited for people using their mobile phone not that frequently.
• Prepaid or postpaid community tariffs with a cheap price per minute for mobile calls within the provider’s network. For community calls these providers usually charge their customers 5 cents per minute and for other domestic calls 10 cents per minute. For example, such price plans may be suited for families when all family members use the SIM card of the same mobile phone provider.
• Prepaid or postpaid price plans of no-frills providers that allow cheap calls to other countries.
• Prepaid or postpaid price plans of German mobile providers with cheap prices for roaming calls outside of Germany.

Overviews of current price plans in Germany:
Prepaid Price Plans for Mobile Phone Calls
Prepaid Price Plans for Mobile Internet Access