Cell Phones & Keeping In Touch
Cell Phone Plans
The two most common providers are T-Mobile and TKS. TKS is located inside the Tower Barracks PX. T-Mobile has locations outside gate 1 of Tower Barracks and inside the Tower Barracks PX.
Use Your Phone from Home!
Germany uses GMA technology, like AT&T or T-Mobile phones stateside. Other U.S. carriers, like Verizon, offer GMA phones to international travelers, but largely use CDMA technology. If your phone operates on GMA technology you can probably replace the SIM card and use it in Germany!
NOTE: Call your carrier to make sure your GMA enabled phone is “unlocked” before traveling overseas! Also, your carrier can suspend your line at no charge during your time OCONUS.
Wireless Store on Post
There is a cell phone and internet store with bilingual German employees that can help you choose a cell phone carrier and internet provider. Additionally, there is a T-Mobile store located immediately off post that has cell phone and internet plans.
Keep in Touch with Family Back Home
There are a number of free or cheap ways to stay in touch with family and friends in another country. Here are a few:
- WhatsApp (free texts & calls)
- Facebook Messenger (free texts and calls)
- Skype (free chats & video calls)
- Magic Jack App (free voice calls & U.S. number)
- Vonage (costs $, U.S. number & voice calls)
NOTE: For some apps to work, add “+1” to U.S. numbers.
Quick Tip: How to dial a phone number
The country code for Germany is +49. If you are dialing to a German phone number from the US (or any other country), it’s +49 123-45678901. If you are dialing a German phone number from another German phone number, you drop the +49 and replace it with a zero. So, 0123-45678901. Also, in Germany, phone number can be of different lengths, not the standard 10 numbers like in the US. So don’t get confused if you see a phone number that’s only 6-digits long!
To dial to the US from a German phone number (or any other country), it’s +01 (area code) - seven-digit-number. So, +01 123-456-7890.