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Gimme a Ring
Calling by phone
Phone calls are generally run over the telephone network operated by the Deutsche Telekom company, even though there are many private phone companies in business. When making long-distance calls, that is, to places more than 50 kilometers away, it’s worth it to use the so-called call-by-call services. The number of companies offering such services is large, and their offers vary considerably. It’s worthwhile to do some research; one good information source is www.teltarif.de.
Calls to directory information or requests for special services are more expensive than normal local calls. Directory information is also available online. When you’re away from home, you can call from the many phone booths across the country. All you will need is a telephone card, which is available in post offices, stationery stores, or Deutsche Telekom shops. Some phone booths still accept coins, but they’re rare these days. It’s better to be equipped with a telephone card.
Mobile Phones
Even if Germany can’t quite compete with mobile phone heavyweights like Finland or Italy, the Germans do love their “handys,“ the endearing name they’ve given their mobile phones. There are many mobile phone service providers with just as many rate plans. Even though life without the mobile phone is hardly thinkable these days, the noise that goes along with it is annoying, and becoming more and more so. So remember, carrying on a loud conversation on your “handy” in the middle of restaurant isn’t going to win you any friends.
Telephone connections
Local phone books, both white pages and yellow pages, are available free of charge from Deutsche Telekom. They can also be found in phone booths and post offices. In most post offices, you can look up numbers in phone books from other cities and regions around Germany.
The yellow pages offers categorized information ranging from doctors and pharmacies to businesses and craftsmen. You can also get numbers online at www.t-online.de. When you order a telephone connection, it’s advisable to take over the number of the previous tenant, since this way you only pay one-half of what it would cost for a new number. You can order or discontinue telephone service in any of the Deutsche Telekom shops, called T-Punkten, that are found in every city.
Important Telephone Numbers:
110 -- Police Emergency
112 -- Fire Emergency or Ambulance Call
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