The Local Germany

Germany to require ID for buying prepaid phones

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:39:51 +0200

Those who prefer their mobile phone to remain anonymous are in for a shock in Germany, as ministers agreed on Wednesday to require anyone buying a pay-as-you-go SIM card to present ID.

Jet-setters rejoice: roaming price caps start Saturday

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:52:01 +0200

Phoning and surfing while abroad is about to get a lot cheaper in the EU as new rules limiting how much mobile operators can charge come into force on Saturday.

Berlin robbers hand back uncool mobile phone

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:31:00 +0200

Three muggers were arrested by Berlin police on Wednesday after an unproductive night of robbery.

EU roaming charges capped from July 1st

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:19:00 +0200

A new EU roaming charge cap takes effect from midnight, July 1st, and will lower costs for people travelling across the EU.

Scientists offer app to help with digital diets

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 17:23:00 +0100

How many times do you check emails, news sites and social networking sites each day on your smartphone? Most people have no idea, say a group of German scientists, who have developed an app to help people regain control.

German internet providers fail to impress

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:53:00 +0100

Although more than 85 percent of German households are connected to the internet, many consumers are rightly unimpressed with the service they get from providers a study published on Monday suggested.

Germans want to interrogate Snowden

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:59:00 +0100

German politicians said on Monday they wanted to call whistleblower Edward Snowden as a witness in a parliamentary investigation into US spying - and possibly grant him asylum at the same time.

White House 'ended NSA Merkel phone tapping'

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 08:47:00 +0100

The United States flatly denied on Sunday that President Barack Obama had been informed years ago that US spy agencies were monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone calls.

Obama was aware of Merkel spying: Report

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 11:36:00 +0100

US President Barack Obama was personally informed of mobile phone tapping against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which may have begun as early as 2002, German media reported Sunday as a damaging espionage scandal widened.

Spy chiefs head to US over phone tap row

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 15:18:00 +0200

German spy chiefs will travel to the United States next week to demand answers following allegations that US intelligence has been tapping Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone, as a row over widespread US snooping threatened to hurt transatlantic ties.

Merkel: relations with US not 'one-way street'

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:23:00 +0200

UPDATE: Chancellor Angela Merkel said the relationship between the United States and Germany was not a "one-way street" and that actions, not words, mattered in the future.

Merkel has two phones, just one encrypted

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:50:00 +0200

On the back of revelations that the US has been listening into Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone, the leader said on Friday that she has two phones. The one that the NSA were listening to is not used for really important chats.

EU roaming charges 'to go by July 2016'

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:21:00 +0200

After months of waiting, the EU finally announced the date when mobile phone roaming charges will be scrapped. There should be no extra charge on calls, texts or internet by July 2016.

EU cap to crush mobile roaming costs

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:44:00 +0200

Happy holidays once again courtesy of the EU, as a new, lower cap on was slapped on the cost of Europe-wide roaming mobile calls and internet from Monday.

Happy holidays for mobile phone users

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:26:00 +0200

Holiday makers are celebrating the end of astronomical roaming charges after new rules were announced to cut the cost of using a mobile phone to call loved ones or check emails while abroad within the EU.