Internet Access & Cell Phones

[PTS21]

Hey everyone!

1. I work off my laptop and unfortunately I might have to do a few hours of work here and there while in Germany. Does internet access work differently in Europe? I have a newer laptop with wifi and I'm hoping it will work there. Also, are there a lot of public hotspots? I would hope they would set that up for the World Cup at least.

2. As for calling home/having a cell phone? Any recommendations for what's the best way to do it. I'd like to call home each day or every other day for no more than a few minutes just to let everyone know I'm alive.

Thanks in advance!
Paul in Buffalo

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
.: My World Cup Info:
.: LTU: JFK-Dusseldorf - 6/9 5:45pm
.: LTU: Dusseldorf-JFK - 7/2 1:45pm
.: USA TST-5 Cat-3
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:

[dirk diggler]

You will have no problems using wifi in Europe. One of the best places in Europe for hotspots are Mcdonalds. Nicely the cashier or manager for a coupon for 20 free minutes. If you are in Berlin, Sony offers free wifi acess at their headquarters complex at Potzdamer Platz.
http://www.sonycenter.de/sonycenter_eng/

[PTS21]

Someone sent me a link to a good cell phone website:

www.telestial.com (http://www.telestial.com)

Thanks Dirk for the wifi answer.

[roadkit]

There's another thread about this topic, but in short, WiFi works there like it does here. If you are staying in a hotel, check to see if they have WiFi or broadband in the room or lobby - many do.

Good info on McD's and if they have Starbuck's I'm sure they will have T-Mobile - you can get a one-day pass, etc. just like in the States.

Edit: yes, they have Starbuck's. Many locations in Frankfurt!

[porkrind]

Skype is your friend. That's what I intend to use for most of my phone needs.

[bltleo]

There's another thread about this topic, but in short, WiFi works there like it does here. If you are staying in a hotel, check to see if they have WiFi or broadband in the room or lobby - many do.

Good info on McD's and if they have Starbuck's I'm sure they will have T-Mobile - you can get a one-day pass, etc. just like in the States.

Edit: yes, they have Starbuck's. Many locations in Frankfurt!


STARBUCK´s is in COLOGNE too!

[MikeLastort2]

T-Mobile is actually a German company.

[roadkit]

Skype is your friend. That's what I intend to use for most of my phone needs.

I love Skype! That's all I use when I'm on travel. It's fantastic.

[bmurphyfl]

What's skype?

[dirk diggler]

www.skype.com
After installing their software, you can make free computer to computer "phone" calls, with just an internet connection. They also have a premium service which allows you to make calls from your computer to any phone number in the world at dirt cheap rates.

[Thunderpac]

T-Mobile and Cingular have international roaming available. I'm not sure about any of the others. Just go to your mobile provider's site and look around for it. You will usually have to pay an international roaming rate of around $1.25 or $1.50 per minute, plus any long distance charges.

If you plan on using your phone a lot, look into getting a German SIM card. I've had people tell me these are available for $5 in Europe, but hopefully someone here will clarify. I have ordered one from http://www.valuesphere.com/intouchsmartcards/germany_o2_sim.html for $59 (use code 5OFF to get $5 off your order). It comes with something like 20 minutes of local (German) air time. There is a catch. You phone must be able to take SIM cards from other providers.

Try using a SIM card from a friend's phone. If it works, you're set. If not, call your provider and ask them about unlocking your phone. If they refuse to tell you how, you'll have to pay someone to do it.

I have a Cingular phone and I had to have it uncoupled from Cingular. There is a guy in Chicago who does the procedure for something like $10 plus priority shipping costs. I sent my phone to him and got it back within a week. That brought my total expenditure to around $90.

The end result of using a German SIM card is that you get a local number and you pay local rates for calls. You can buy minutes as you go in convenience stores over there. I got my card already and I have the German phone number and everything.

I'm no expert at this, but I'll try to answer questions here if anyone has any. I think this is a great way to go to keep in touch with other fans.

[Supersuperman99]

I have T-Mobile Sidekick can I use it over there? Im planing on just comunicating using Email. TExt messages and IM can I use this over there just like I do here? I might have to sign up for T-Mobile int'l though can someone help? Thnx

[Magpie Maniac]

I have T-Mobile Sidekick can I use it over there? Im planing on just comunicating using Email. TExt messages and IM can I use this over there just like I do here? I might have to sign up for T-Mobile int'l though can someone help? Thnx

Since the Sidekick is triband (and has GPRS), you shouldn't have any trouble as long as you have international roaming enabled on your account. Call T-Mobile to make sure. Minutes and texts will cost you more.

[Magpie Maniac]

I have a Cingular phone and I had to have it uncoupled from Cingular. There is a guy in Chicago who does the procedure for something like $10 plus priority shipping costs. I sent my phone to him and got it back within a week. That brought my total expenditure to around $90.

Forking out $90 before the first call might pay off for someone who plans to use their phone a lot, but it wouldn't for the people who just need to make quick calls each day to check in with family and friends. I estimate I'll be on the phone for no more than 60 minutes the entire time I'm in Germany. With Cingular's standard international rates, I'd only have to pay around $77 total.

[ONE]

Check also http://www.cellularabroad.com. Pretty handy.