German carriers roll out effectively free phone contracts and €4.99 O2 TV package

Some German mobile providers now list contracts that are "effectively free" because the market value of a bundled smartphone or other bonus offsets the total fees over a typical 24‑month term. The calculation involves multiplying the monthly charge by 24 months, adding any activation or hardware fees, and then subtracting the retail value of the handset or credit. When the result is zero or negative, the plan is considered free, though customers still pay the monthly subscription.

Separately, O2 TV introduced a Classic bundle priced at €4.99 per month for a minimum 24‑month term. The package includes over 150 HD live‑TV channels, pause, rewind and restart functions, up to 100 hours of recording, and access to media libraries. As a promotional add‑on, new subscribers receive three months of ad‑supported Netflix at no extra cost. The deal targets households that want traditional broadcast channels combined with modern streaming flexibility.