German mobile phone provider Bildmobil is launching a new mobile data tariff option for smart-phone users. According to Computerbild, the new tariff option costs € 9.99 for a 30-day period and offers mobile Internet access over the Vodafone network via GPRS, EDGE, UMTS or HSDPA for data transfers with up to 7.2 mbps (download). There is a traffic limit of 250 MB for faster mobile data transfers via EDGE, UMTS or HSDPA per billing cycle. As soon as the smart-phone user has reached this data volume limit, the bandwidth will be reduced to GPRS speed for the remaining days of that specific billing cycle. Without this tariff option Bildmobil customers pay € 0.35 per megabyte when surfing the web via cell phone or smart-phone.

Is that another iPhone? Nope, it just looks like one. It might have been coincidence that Samsung invited me to come Munich to a presentation of the Samsung Galaxy S I9000 smart-phone the very same day that Apple launched the iPhone 4 in Germany. But I don’t believe this – the Samsung Galaxy S seems to be too much a copy of the Apple iPhone. But, heck, I am not accusing Samsung of plagiarism. Lots of cell phone manufacturers have picked up the ideas and concepts that made the iPhone a success story. Since its launch the Apple phone has changed the smart-phone world dramatically and the users have benefited from that. The Samsung Galaxy S is just one example of how simple to use a smart-phone with such a broad range of features can be. Here is my short review of the new Samsung smart-phone and some information on how to buy it in Germany at a comparably low purchase price.

The HTC Desire is certainly one of the best Android smart-phones available right now. It offers a large number of functions and applications as well as a powerful processor, and it is easily operated. On the other hand, camera, music player and battery performance could be better. German operator Vodafone is selling the HTC Desire for € 479.90 without contract. At O2 Germany stores the HTC Desire is available for € 509.00. At Telekom (T-Mobile) stores buyers will have to pay € 449.00 for the Android smart-phone when he or she does not agree to a new cell phone plan with long term commitment. German web stores offer the HTC Desire for purchase prices beginning at around € 450.00.

Discount provider Bildmobil has launched a new mobile data price plan for netbook and notebook users in Germany. The new prepaid plan offers 3 GB of data traffic over a period of 90 days for a monthly fee of € 39.99. As soon as the notebook user reaches the traffic limit, the mobile Internet access via GPRS or UMTS will be cut off for the remaining days or weeks of the three months period. The prepaid starter package of Bildmobil including a prepaid SIM card and a starting balance of € 10.00 is available at www.bildmobil.de for € 14.95.

With 1&1 there is one more provider in Germany offering micro SIM cards with postpaid price plans for voice and mobile data services to users of the smart-phone iPhone 4 or the tablet PC iPad. New customers can choose between a voice and mobile Internet flat rate for the new Apple smart-phone and two mobile data flat rate tariffs for the Apple tablet PC. In each case the subscriber can decide on a long term commitment of 24 months or a short term commitment of just three months. New customers agreeing to a long term commitment will benefit from a discount. The SIM cards and voice and mobile data price plans of 1&1 are available at www.1und1.de, during the ordering process the user can select the desired micro SIM card format for iPhone 4 and iPad.

German operator Vodafone has launched a new prepaid price plan that offers low rates for mobile phone calls within Germany and for international calls from Germany to other countries. With the prepaid price plan “CallYa International” Vodafone customers can make mobile phone calls from Germany to 80 other countries for rates as low as € 0.04 per minute. The “Callya International” prepaid starter package including the SIM card and credit of € 11.99 is available at Vodafone stores. There is a monthly fee of € 1.99.

The Android 2.1 (Eclair) smart-phone Vodafone 845 is now available at Vodafone stores in Germany. Due to its comparably low purchase price of € 129.90 without a Vodafone contract, the Vodafone 845 is a touch-screen smart-phone for new starters or for penny pinchers. As a contract phone with a “Superflat Internet” plan, purchase prices of the Vodafone 845 begin at € 1.00 at Vodafone stores. Except for at the Vodafone web store, it is also possible to buy the new Android smart-phone with a Vodafone prepaid SIM (“CallYa”) for € 139.80. The prepaid starter package includes the cell phone, the Vodafone SIM card and calling credit of € 10.00.

German Internet service provider 1&1 has launched a new flat rate tariff for mobile phone calls within Germany and mobile Internet access via smartphone as well as two new flat rate tariffs for surfing the web via Notebook or netbook.

Since 1 July 2010, new rules within the European Union are putting a cap on mobile roaming charges. Travelers roaming in other EU member states no longer need to worry about accidentially running up huge bills when accessing the web over mobile networks via mobile phone, notebook or netbook. Travelers’ data-roaming limit is automatically set at € 59.90 (long price) unless they have chosen another limit or a special traveler’s tariff option. Charges for receiving or making mobile phone calls in another country within the EU fall below € 0.18 and € 47 per minute. The former “cost trap” voice mail has been minimized since receiving a voice mail message while roaming is now free of charge.

The Apple iPhone 4 is now available in Germany. Unlike in most other countries, there is one mobile phone provider in Germany having the exclusive rights for selling the iPhone 4. This means, in this country users can actually buy an iPhone 4 with Net-lock at the shops of operator Telekom (T-Mobile) when they also enter into an agreement with an initial term of two years only. However, there are some other ways to get an Apple iPhone 4 in Germany.