Due to the extensive amount of traveling that many business people are required to perform today, many of these individuals wish to know if their cellular phones will work in a variety of different countries. If you are planning on making a trip to Germany and wish to have the use of a cell phone, there are certain factors that you will want to keep in mind.



German cellular service providers operate under the GMS, which stands for the Global System for Media Communications. This type of operating system is used in many European countries and is classified as 2nd generation cellular technology. The only American companies that offer GMS services are AT&T and T-Mobile and while you may own a GMS telephone, the frequencies that are used in Europe are different than those that are used in the United States and Canada, so you cell phone may not work. If you find that you can use your own phone, you may want to set up a “roaming” service with your current provider. While this option can be expensive, it may be ideal for you if you are not planning on placing many calls or if you wish to retain your own phone number.

If you have another type of cell phone, you can almost be guaranteed that it will be useless while you are in Germany. As a matter of fact, only approximately 20% of North American phones will function within Germany and these must have 900/1800 frequency capabilities. You will also need to have the ability to unlock your cellular phone so that you can change your SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) with an Ortel SIM card. It is best to purchase one of these cards before you leave home so that you will be able to leave your new German phone number with family, friends, and business associates here in the United States. The SIM cards may also prove to be difficult to locate once you are on German soil.

Another option that you may decide to use if your cell phone will not function in Germany is to rent a cellular phone, which may be your best bet if you are only planning on staying in the country for a short period of time. These devices are available in most major airports, although you may want to order one of these rental phones online, as the airport versions of these products can be quite expensive in comparison. These online services charge approximately US $1 per minute for both ingoing and outgoing calls.

If your stay in Germany is going to be an extended one, you may want to look into purchasing an inexpensive German cellular phone. You can purchase one of these devices for approximately 50 EUR and can operate it using prepaid phone cards. Even with this type of cell phone, Germans do not pay for incoming calls. Any incoming communications that you receive will not cost you a penny.

Traveling to Germany can be a rewarding and memorable experience. By renting or purchasing a proper cellular phone, you can remain in touch with friends back home as you enjoy the people and scenery of this majestic country.