The E-Plus Group (KPN), Chinese operator China Mobile and Chinese network supplier ZTE will start an LTE TDD field trial on 2.6 GHz frequencies in Germany next month in order to investigate the capabilities of ZTE’s commercial equipment. E-Plus has acquired this spectrum in the German spectrum auction last year. ZTE will be setting up the base stations, China Mobile is support the field trial with its know-how in the TDD technology.

Globus Mobile is one of the providers in Germany offering the lowest rates for mobile calls, texting (SMS) and mobile Internet access in Germany. With the pay as you go tariff of Globus Mobile customers can make mobile phone calls for € 0.07 per minute and text each other for € 0.10 per SMS. For accessing the Internet over the E-Plus network via GPRS or UMTS Globus Mobile customers are charged € 0.24 per megabyte.

I have to admit: I didn’t know this pay as you go tariff until a few days ago. The Mobilka tariff addresses mobile phone users in Germany who also make international calls. It offers low rates of € 0.05 per minute for mobile phone calls over the E-Plus network in Germany to home phones in 45 other countries. That sounds familiar? Well, you are right.

Upcoming Tuesday, discount provider Blau will launch a new tariff option called “International-Flat 500″ for its pay as you go tariff Blauworld. Blauworld users can book the new tariff option “International-Flat 500″ for € 9.90 per month. The name of the new tariff suggests that it is a flat rate tariff option, but actually it’s not - however, “International-Flat 500″ offers 500 minutes over a period of 30 days for international calls from Germany to 25 other countries.

Dear readers, we wish you a happy new year! As you have noticed we took a little break around Christmas and new year’s eve. Now we are back and will keep on offering you new information on low-priced pay as you go tariffs for mobile phone calls and mobile Internet access by smart-phone, netbook or laptop and new reviews on the latest handsets available in Germany. But first, let us look back at the most important developments in the German prepaid market in the past year.

Telekom and Vodafone are selling the Apple iPhone 4 only with SIM or net lock and to customers who also choose one of their voice and mobile data price plans with a long minimum term commitment of 24 months. O2 Germany is the only network operator in the Germany, offering the iPhone 4 without SIM lock and without plan to its customers. The current iPhone model with 16 GB storage capacity costs € 649.00 at O2 Germany stores, the iPhone 4 32 GB costs € 769.00. This is one of the most attractive offers for people looking for an iPhone without SIM lock in order to use it with a prepaid SIM card. Here is an overview of iPhone 4 prepaid offers in Germany, including purchase prices for the Apple smart-phone at different shops and pay as you tariffs that come with a necessary micro SIM card.

In Germany Apple had partnered with only one operator for marketing the iPhone. Telekom Deutschland (former T-Mobile) has had the right to sell the Apple iPhone in Germany exclusively since the launch of the first iPhone in 2007. Telekom offered the iPhone with special voice and mobile data plans with a long term commitment of 24 months and with SIM lock only. Now, other operators such as Vodafone and O2 Germany may market the Apple iPhone in Germany. But don’t get your hopes up too soon and count on dropping purchase prices for the iPhone 4 in Germany because of more competitors selling the smart-phone – the iPhone 4 will remain high-priced. Here is an overview of the iPhone offers of Telekom, Vodafone, O2 Germany and other mobile phone providers and retailers in Germany.

German discount providers Blau and Simyo will introduce new features for their pay as you tariffs in November: From November 1st on, the charges for mobile phone calls, texting (SMS) and accessing the Internet over the network of operator E-Plus in Germany will be limited to € 39.00 over a 30-day period. This new cost limit feature (Blau is calling it “Kostenschutz”, Simyo is calling it “Pille fürs Handy”) will be available for new customers ordering a prepaid starter package of Blau or Simyo. Customers already using a prepaid SIM card of Blau or Simyo must activate this feature by dialing the service number 1155 in order to limit their maximum costs for calls, texting and mobile Internet access.

German electronics and mobile phone retailer Conrad has launched a new prepaid mobile phone plan called “Fairpay 9 Cent”. With this prepaid price plan mobile phone users can make phone calls within Germany for € 0.09 per minute and send text messages (SMS) for € 0.09 each. Checking voice mail in Germany is free of charge. The price per minute for making an international call from Germany to another country is rather high (€ 1.84). In short: The “Fairpay 9 Cent” plan of Conrad equals the prepaid plans of other German discount providers such as Blau or Simyo.

Since June 24th the Apple smart-phone iPhone 4 is available in Germany. As before, the operator Telekom (T-Mobile) has the exclusive marketing rights for the new Apple iPhone in this country. Telekom is offering both versions of the iPhone 4 with 16 GB and 32 GB storage capacity for subsidized purchase prices between € 1.00 and € 399.95 only to customers entering or renewing a contract with a term commitment of 24 months. But one month after the iPhone 4 has gone on sale there are some mobile phone providers in Germany offering micro SIM cards with prepaid price plans to iPhone 4 users – here is a short overview.