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Netzclub versus Gettings: O2 Germany and E-Plus Offer Mobile Phone Calls for Free

24 May 2010 8 Comments

Netzclub vs. Gettings

Logos: O2 Germany / E-Plus

German network operator O2 Germany has launched a new prepaid price plan that offers mobile phone calls, text messages or mobile internet access for free. In return, subscribers to this prepaid price plan under the brand Netzclub will receive up to 30 advertising messages per month on their phone and will have to answer at least once by text message or click on one advertising link. However, there is no obligation for Netzclub subscribers to buy or order anything. The prepaid starter package including the SIM card for the O2 Germany network is available for free at https://www.netzclub.net/home.html .

Netzclub subscribers can choose between three different services that are free of charge: A flat rate tariff for accessing the internet over the O2 Germany network with 200 MB data volume per month for faster data transmissions via EDGE, UMTS or HSPA (“Handy Internet Flat”), 100 minutes per month for calls to other cell phones in Germany (“Telefon Flat 100″), or a combination of 30 minutes each for phone calls, for texting and for mobile internet access (“Kombi Flat 30″). Once selected, these tariff options cannot be changed anymore.

Aside from the services that are free of charge, users of a prepaid SIM card of Netzclub pay EUR 0.11 for every phone minute when making mobile phone calls and for every text message (SMS) within Germany. Checking voice mail is free of charge. For accessing the web via GPRS or UMTS Netzclub charges EUR 0.24 per megabyte. The Netzclub prepaid SIM card can also be a good choice for people making international mobile phone calls from germany to other countries: Phone calls to landlines in Europe, the United States of America and Canada cost EUR 0.09 per minute, calls to mobile phones in Europe and North America cost EUR 0.29 per minute.

There is neither a monthly charge or minimum turnover for the Netzclub prepaid price plan nor a minimum term commitment. In order to buy the Netzclub prepaid starter package, users have to register for the Netzclub community and to indicate a residence in Germany.

Comparable Offer “Gettings” by Competitor E-Plus

Competitor E-Plus is also offering credit to customers who agree to receive advertisement messages on their cell phone under the Gettings brand. The Gettings subscriber can choose between three different tariff options: 15 calling minutes or text messages for 10 advertisement messages per month (“Paket S”), 25 calling minutes or text messages for 15 advertisement messages per month (“Paket M”), or 30 calling minutes or text messages for 25 advertisement messages per month (“Paket L”). Customers of E-Plus brands such as Ay Yildiz, Base, Simyo and Vybemobile can register for the rewards programm “Gettings”.

Overviews of current cell phone plans in Germany:
Prepaid Price Plans with Single Tariff for Mobile Phone Calls
Prepaid Price Plans with Community Tariff for Mobile Phone Calls
Prepaid Price Plans with Flat Rate Tariff for Mobile Phone Calls
Prepaid Price Plans for International Mobile Phone Calls

Written by: Bjoern

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

8 Comments »

  • Jeff said:

    Hi Bjoern,

    I really like your web site.

    You mention that, “The Netzclub prepaid SIM card can also be a good choice for people making international mobile phone calls from germany to other countries: Phone calls to landlines in Europe, the United States of America and Canada cost EUR 0.09 per minute, calls to mobile phones in Europe and North America cost EUR 0.29 per minute.”

    I would like to inform that in the United States and Canada that for a person placing a telephone call there is no distinction between landline and mobile numbers. Therefore, I would expect that all calls to the U.S. and Canada would be billed at EUR 0.09 regardless if calling a landline or mobile number.

    # 25 May 2010 at 6:02 pm
  • Bjoern (author) said:

    You are right, Jeff. However, Netzclub is actually distinguishing between landlines and mobile phones in the US and Canada:

    https://www.netzclub.net/downloads/Preisliste_Netzclub_1.0.pdf

    This is something O2 Germany brand Fonic is doing as well. As a subscriber you cannot be sure what price per minute you pay when calling people in North America, I guess.

    # 26 May 2010 at 10:48 am
  • Cyrus Farivar said:

    So if I get the Internet option, theoretically I could just put this into an unlocked surfstick, yes?

    # 26 May 2010 at 8:43 pm
  • Bjoern (author) said:

    Frankly, I have no idea whether it is possible or not technically. However, Netzclub does say that you can only use the SIM card with a cell phone and not with an UMTS surf stick. You also have to keep in mind that you must react to text and MMS messages sent by Netzclub and to react to these ads.

    # 26 May 2010 at 9:01 pm
  • How to get free 3G mobile Internet in Germany | cyrusfarivar.com said:

    [...] your Mac to share the WiFi connection with your friends using these instructions.NB: According to Phone Guide Germany, NetzClub has a monthly limit of 200MB per month, although on the website I can't find where that [...]

    # 2 June 2010 at 7:30 pm
  • Cyrus Farivar said:

    Also, you can login to the NetzClub site and it will tell you how many ads they’ve sent — and you can have them send them to you again. :-)

    Under Mein Profile –> Historie

    Historie
    Erhaltene Produktwerbung
    Behalte Deine Werbehistorie immer im Blick. Denn nur wenn Du auf die Werbung klickst, bekommst Du auch Deine monatliche Flat.

    Du hast noch keine Produktwerbungen erhalten.

    Produktwerbung erneut zusenden
    Du hast ein interessantes Angebot verpasst oder vergessen zu klicken? Kein Problem! Lass Dir einfach die gewünschte Produktwerbung erneut auf dein Handy senden.

    Zur Zeit kannst Du Dir keine Produktwerbungen erneut zusenden lassen.

    Google Translate:

    History
    Resulting product advertising
    Keep track of your advertising history in sight. Because only if you click on the advertising, you also get your monthly Flat.

    You have not received any product commercials.

    Re-send product advertising
    You missed an interesting offer, or forget to click! No problem! Let you simply send the desired product advertising again on your mobile.

    Currently you can not product ads you can send it again.

    # 3 June 2010 at 12:26 pm
  • jumper1127 said:

    Do I need to pay per text message when I respond to the advertisement? What kind of response does Netzclub expect from users?

    # 31 May 2011 at 5:20 am
  • Bjoern (author) said:

    The kind of advertisement you receive from Netzclub can be WAP links or SMS. You have to respond to advertisement SMS just once per month and this response SMS doesn’t cost you anything as long as you use your mobile with Netzclub SIM card.

    # 31 May 2011 at 9:46 pm

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