Some DSL and home phone packages of German providers such as 1&1, Alice and Congstar come with a minimum term of four or six weeks. The DSL packages include at least an analog landline and a DSL connection with a flat rate tariff for web access. Sometimes a flat rate tariff for landline calls to other home phones in Germany is already included as well. Since some providers rely in certain regions on a wholesale product of Telekom in order to provide landline and broadband Internet connections, they may add an additional € 5.00 per month to the standard monthly fee – depending on the subscriber’s address.

With the Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) Blackberry users automatically receive emails from web-based POP3 and IMAP accounts on their a Blackberry smart-phone. In Germany, this Blackberry service is provided through a mobile phone service provider which means Blackberry smart-phone users have to book a specific tariff option in order to use the email push of the Blackberry Internet Service. Here is a short overview of mobile phone providers in Germany offering BIS, of the monthly charges and included services of the Blackberry tariff options and of the prerequisites for booking a Blackberry tariff option.

A new mobile network test by Stiftung Warentest shows: Overall voice quality in Germany is quite good even though there are still a few rural spots without phone coverage. But there are considerable differences between networks when it comes to mobile data transmission rates.

O2 Germany is now offering an express top-up option to its prepaid customers. With the new top-up service, O2 prepaid customers are be able to top up their credit via direct debit or credit card no matter where they are.

Telefónica Germany (O2) will reduce the price for the iPhone 3G S drastically to sell off the older iPhone model before the new iPhone 5 will be launched – this could already happen in four weeks. As of tomorrow, the iPhone 3G S with 8 GB memory will cost just € 361.00 with or without plan at O2 shops.

At home you are used to having access to email, apps and the web and when traveling you want to have it, too. Depending on the destination country and on how often and how long the user wants to connect to the web, it might also be ok to keep the SIM card of the German provider in the smart-phone during the trip. Here is a short overview of what users of a prepaid SIM card of a German provider pay for mobile Internet access on their smart-phone when being in another country.

For the brand’s first birthday, Telefónica Germany (O2) has relaunched the mobile advertising tariff called Netzclub. Instead of having the choice between three different tariff versions, customers can now choose between two versions, both with a mobile data flat rate tariff option for mobile Internet access over the network of Telefónica Germany. “Sponsored Surf Basic” offers monthly mobile Internet access for free with up to 100 MB data volume for transfers with HSPA speeds of up to 7.2 mbps (download). Alternatively, smart-phone users can surf the web with 300 MB data volume for transfers with HSPA speed with the “Sponsored Surf Pro” tariff which costs € 5.00 per month.

Consumers get an LTE connection with 10 GB of data volume per month for data transfer with the maximum speed of up to 7.2 mbps (download) for a monthly fee of € 29.90 over the first six months. After the first half year, Telefónica Germany raises the monthly for the LTE connection for private customers to € 39.90. Freelancers, self-employed and small businesses pay the same amount of money for their LTE connection, but get 12 GB of data volume per month for data transfers with maximum speed.

Telefónica Germany is one of the first telecommunication providers to introduce a rating system in Germany that assesses the environmental and social compatibility of mobile phones. The system is called Eco Index. As a result, and effective immediately, customers can find information on-line about the sustainability aspects of their preferred mobile phone. Starting in autumn, that information will also be available in shops.

If you buy a new iPhone 4 in Germany, you pay at least € 630.00 without plan (check my updated overview). But there is a way to save some money: At stores of the two German operators Telekom (T-Mobile) and O2 Germany you can buy arefurbished iPhone 4 which means the phone is not new, but supposedly as good as new. Compared to buying a new iPhone 4, you can save up to 20 percent when purchasing a refurbished one. On the other hand: There might be warranty and guarantee issues with a refurbished iPhone. Here is a short overview of how much refurbished iPhone 4 cost at Telekom and O2 stores.