Getting a new landline is pretty expensive, using call-through services is quite complicated – thus, two adequate alternatives for making international calls at low rates are not available to many phone users. Another way to make phone calls from Germany to other countries in the world at comparably low rates is to buy a prepaid SIM card of a German discount provider specialized in international calls such as Blau, Lebara Mobile, Ortel Mobile, Ring or Solomo. They offer cell phone plans with which mobile phone users can call family members, friends or acquaintances for rates beginning at EUR 0.09 per minute. However, prices vary and interested parties should select their prepaid starter package carefully.

How to Buy a Prepaid Starter Package

It is advisable to compare rates for international calls to those countries most mobile phone calls will go to. If the prepaid SIM card will be used for national calls within Germany as well, rates for these calls should also be considered when deciding on a price plan. For international calls on a regular basis the purchase price for a prepaid starter package and the amount of calling credit or free phone minutes play a lesser role since such differences are usually small: Expect purchase prices of around EUR 10.00 or EUR 15.00 for prepaid starter packages including a calling credit of EUR 5.00 to 10.00. Some providers also offer free calling minutes to new customers or for topping up new calling credit.

For buying a prepaid card at a store of a mobile phone provider new customers have to show their ID. When buying a prepaid starter package at online stores, they have to indicate a residence in Germany and sometimes also a German banking account. Since prepaid price plans come without monthly fees and with short minimum term, users pay only when actually using the SIM card for making a mobile phone call and the prepaid contract can be canceled at any time. Thus, these prepaid price plans are a suitable alternative for exchange students, business men or tourists coming to Germany just for a certain period of time who want to keep in touch with family and friends at home. Calling credit can be topped up by buying vouchers at supermarkets, kiosks or gas stations, by direct debit or by credit card.

Keep in mind: Most prepaid price plans for international calls from Germany to other countries are not suited for roaming calls from outside of Germany because of comparably high rates.

Overview of Prepaid Price Plans for International Calls

The following overview of prepaid price plans for international calls from Germany to other countries gives you an idea what rates to expect. The overview does not show all charges in detail, for example charges for SMS, for mobile internet access via GPRS or UMTS or for community calls are not included. Prices for phone calls are in euros per minute.

Plan	Network	Germany	Other EU States	USA + Canada	Rest of World
Aldi Talk	E-Plus	0.11 Voice Mail: 0.00	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	0.99
Blauworld	E-Plus	0.15	Landline: 0.049 - 0.079 (+ 0.15/call) Mobile: 0.25 - 0.29 (+ 0.15/call)	0.079 (+ 0.15/call)	0.049 - 0.99 (+ 0.15/call)
Fonic	O2	0.09 Voice Mail: 0.00	Landline: 0.09 Mobile: 0.29	Landline: 0.09 Mobile: 0.29	0.99
Lebara Mobile	T-Mobile	0.09 (+ 0.15/call)	Landline: 0.04 - 0.08 (+ 0.15/call) Mobile: 0.19 - 0.39 (+ 0.15/call)	0.05 (+ 0.15/call)	0.039 - 1.59 (+ 0.15/call)
Mobile World	E-Plus	Landline: 0.079 Mobile: 0.17	Landline: 0.049 - 0.09 (+ 0.19/call) Mobile: 0.25 - 0.29 (+ 0.19/call)	0.08 - 0.09 (+ 0.19/call)	0.05 - 0.79 (+ 0.19/call)
Nettokom	E-Plus	0.09 Voice Mail: 0.00	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	0.99
Ortel Mobile	E-Plus	0.13	Landline: 0.049 - 0.079 (+ 0.15/call) Mobile: 0.25 - 0.29 (+ 0.15/call)	0.079 (+ 0.15/call)	0.049 - 1.84 (+ 0.15/call)
Ring Global	E-Plus	0.13 Voice Mail: 0.14	Landline: 0.049 - 0.089 (+ 0.15/call) Mobile: 0.199 - 0.49 (+ 0.15/call)	0.075 (+ 0.15/call)	0.049 - 0.88 (+ 0.15/call)
Simyo	E-Plus	0.09 Voice Mail: 0.00	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	Landline: 0.12 Mobile: 0.29	0.99
Solomo Pro	E-Plus	Landline: 0.06 Mobile: 0.10 Voice Mail: 0.00	0.09 - 0.49	0.09	0.19 - 0.99

(Last update: April 17th, 2010)

Overviews of prepaid price plans for national calls:
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

Read more about prepaid price plans for international calls at www.teltarif.de (in German).