A common question that many travelers to Germany often ask is whether their current cell phones will work there. All of Europe, including Germany, uses the GSM standard for its telecommunication networks. The frequencies that are used to transmit the cell phone signal run on one or both the 900 and the 1800 MHz spectrums. Therefore, to be able to use your cell phone in Germany, your phone has to have the 900 and 1800 "bands." There are several ways you can tell if it has - ask your carrier, read your manual or check to see if there is a slot for a SIM chip.
If your phone does not work you can either buy or rent a cell phone. If you are a frequent traveler to Germany, it probably makes more sense to buy a German phone, whereas if you do not travel frequently, a rental is probably a better option. While there are several different cell phone rental solutions for Germany, a pay as you go option offers the same rates as Germans pay with no binding contracts. If you plan to purchase a cell phone, companies such as Cellular Abroad (
www.cellularabroad.com) are available at cell phone stores in all major German cities. Alternatively they sell phone packages in North America and will send you the phone with English instructions prior to your departure.
