Getting Connected

Getting connected; mobile phones, Internet, post and courier:

The main telecommunication companies in Prague are UPC, O2 and Vodafone. You can arrange for phone, Internet and satellite TV services through these companies, although prices and customer service will vary, and some companies may work better than others in certain areas of the city.

If you already have a quad band phone, you’ll find that a Czech SIM card will likely work in your phone. Some services, like Vodafone, will give you the SIM card for free if you purchase a new phone from their store. Otherwise, a SIM card costs about CZK200-300. If you choose not to sign up for a monthly mobile service, you can purchase phone credit at any kiosk or store that features a yellow SAZKA globe in front (CZK200 minimum), at a service provider retail shop, according to what brand of SIM card you have (CZK500 minimum), or through the ATMs of certain banks, including CSOB, if you have a CSOB account.

Probably the best thing about using a mobile phone in Prague is that incoming calls and text messages (SMS) are free, whether local or international. You can also purchase public transport tickets via SMS if you find yourself without enough coins to buy a ticket from a machine. Simply text “DPT” to 90206, and the cost of the ticket will be taken from your phone credit or charged to your monthly bill. If you’re stopped by a ticket controller, you can show him the time-stamped electronic ticket that has been sent as an SMS to your phone.

Internet:

The most popular and reliable options for Internet service are UPC, O2 or T-Mobile. When you contact the provider, they’ll let you know if they’re the best company for the area you live in. Some areas in the centre, due to old building infrastructure, are more difficult to supply with Internet. Sometimes the company has a deal going and will throw in your router for free. Otherwise, expect to pay about CZK400-500. A basic monthly bill for high speed (16 Mb/s) Internet runs about CZK800 a month. But almost any decent-sized cafe in Prague, touristy or not, will offer free Wi-Fi (this should be marked on the door). You might need to ask a waiter for the password. From the time that you contact the Internet provider until the time you actually have the Internet working in your apartment might be a couple of weeks, so expect to hit up a nearby cafe meanwhile.

Post & courier services:

There are Česka Pošta (www.ceskaposta.cz ) post offices all over Prague, open Monday-Friday from 8am to 6pm, but the lines get longer towards the end of the day when everyone’s on their way home from work. When you receive a package that won’t fit in your apartment mailbox, you’ll get a piece of paper from the post office instead, notifying you that the package will be held in your local neighbourhood post office for two weeks (the exact post office address and date will be given). You must bring your passport when you go to pick it up. Sometimes you may even have to pay a small fee as well, depending on the origin or contents of the package. Some post office workers, especially the younger ones, will speak English. Prague’s largest and busiest post office is located right off Jindrisska tram stop / Mustek Metro, and is actually open nonstop, aside from a break between midnight and 2am, Monday-Friday. There’s an information booth with English-speaking postal workers, but some of the postal workers at the windows also speak a little English. Mail to other parts of Europe will take a few days, and mail to North America usually takes about 6-7 days. An average letter costs about CZK12-20. Parcels can be insured, and you must fill out a customs form if the package is being sent abroad.

You can also buy cards and stamps and pay your bills (phone, Internet, etc) at any post office, but make sure you go to a window marked “Penežni služby” (money orders). You can pick up several blank forms (available right next to the window) ahead of time and fill them out at home to save time. The post office will charge CZK22 to process a money order of up to CZK5,000.

Getting connected; media (newspapers, magazines), websites (listings):

Media

When it comes to English-language media in Prague, you’ll find it easiest to turn to the Internet to stay informed of current affairs. The Prague Post (www.praguepost.com ) is the city’s only English-language newspaper, published every Wednesday. The Prague Daily Monitor (www.praguemonitor.com ) provides English translations of all the leading stories from the major Czech newspapers each morning. Ceska Pozice (Czech Position) (www.ceskapozice.cz/en ) is an excellent website that reports on key stories and events in Czech and English.

The nation’s largest newspaper, Ceske Noviny , offers an English translation of its site (www.ceskenoviny.cz/news ). Radio Praha (www.radio.cz ) offers a huge selection of thoughtful and unique articles and radio broadcasts on Czech culture, lifestyle, politics and more. The articles can be read in English, Spanish, French, German, Russian or Czech. CIJ (www.cijjournal.com ) is an English-language construction and investment publication that features the latest trends and opportunities in the real estate industry across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Websites:

Prague has an active expat community, and checking out expat portals like www.expats.cz and www.prague.tv are the best ways to find out what’s going on around town, get solid advice from experienced expats, browse the classifieds section for anything from baby monitors to cars to apartments and connect with other expats. Two very useful and entertaining expat blogs are: http://rickyyates.com