Cellphones???

We have been to Europe 7 times since 2011, for a total of about 6.5 months of travel. During this time, we used a phone 1 time to call the US to unblock our money card. We use email (thru the hotel wifi) and a roaming device from T-mobile (which provides a portable router). So, for "communication in Germany" - what specifically are you trying to do?

I have noted that the availability of free wifi in cafes and coffeeshops has really dropped since 2011. In 2011, we could go to any coffeeshop or restaurant and find open free wifi. On our trip in 2022, we found very few such open wifi options outside of our hotels. European natives have noted that this is due to the availability of low-cost wifi services.

While I'm no AT&T expert, there are a couple of questions I have that may help your problem....

1) Did you sign up for AT&T's international plan?

2) Did you turn on data roaming on your phone? (This tells your phone its okay to connect to a non-AT&T cell service but one that has a relationship with AT&T.)

We switched to T-Mobile a few years ago and have seamless coverage across Europe. The MAX Magenta plans include some foreign coverage but we like to ensure we never run out of data so we buy a $50 add-on for each month we are away which gives us more than we need.

pwalker 2359, what exactly do you mean by blocked? Do you mean the phone was "locked" so that you couldn't install a local SIM card? Even then the phones would still have worked, but ATT would have charged an outrageously high rate for roaming service.

We've used our ATT iPhones in several countries in Europe. The thing is, ATT does not operate cell service abroad. What they do is contract with other local service providers in those countries, and automatically link you to the most appropriate service wherever you are. But you have to have activated one of their international plans, the most common being the $10/day plan for each day you have the phone turned on. The strategy there is to minimize using your phone at all, or sticking to wifi for communication.

But if you plan to use it a lot during your trip, you could buy a local "burner" phone to use while there, noting that that will give you a european phone number while using it. Or get a local SIM after you get your phone unlocked before the trip.

Good luck

Hi, well I've had this issue as well a few years ago, even though signed up for international plan. As mentioned above, have you signed up for the $10 per day international usage? BTW, IF the phone doesn't work to make calls, there's a short cut number to call AT&T internationally, but I seem to recall you need a PIN number to use that callback feature, so best to set it all up on-line before departure. You will know it's working correctly when you get off the plane and AT&T sends you a text saying 'welcome to blah blah, enjoy your data' and calling. The max charge per your billing cycle is $100. Frankly I also agree with others, you can just use wifi, which would mean you'd want to be SURE data is turned off. And then just turn on phone for any 24 hour period when you really need it. Good luck!

You do have to be sure that roaming is turned on in your phone's settings. I think it is often turned off by default so that people don't unknowingly rack up roaming charges.
I too have been using TMobile for ten years and had zero issues with international cell service. It's included in my plan so all that happens is a "welcome to ______" text pops up and I'm good to go.

I like to do a heads-up about possible data connections by wifi (broadband access).

Hotels, restaurants and cafés often offer wifi access - free or when you buy something.
Most large train stations of Deutsche Bahn and also some cities / towns offer free wifi spots, e. g. Berlin public WLAN.

On top Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone (two main broadband network operators) have thousands of wifi points in Germany which can be accessed by a wifi pass (Telekom) or a Hotspot ticket (Vodafone).

Telekom Hotspot info (German web page) - search for hot spots on the map.

Vodafone Hotspot info (German web page) - search for hot spots on the map.

btw: in Germany ask for WLAN (wireless LAN) if you want to ask for wifi - technically both words are not exactly the same but they are used vice versa.

For mobile data tariffs also Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone are the best tested operators since years (results overview of 2024 test). Currently the mobile network of Deutsche Telekom provides more stable and performant connections, especially on the landside.

Patty,

I have used my AT&T phone in Germany with no problems.

jkh