Computers, scanners, printers, hand-helds etc. are widespread and easily purchased anywhere in the country in specialised shops, hypermarkets or shopping centres.

 

Getting the internet connected

 

There are several ways to be connected to Internet. You can use your phone wire (ISDN, DSL, dial-up), cable-TV connection, microwave connection, mobile phone, or direct fixed Internet connection. For households or individuals the first four options will do. Large companies can opt for their own direct Internet connection to Slovak peering centre (SIX) and the worldwide web. Up to now, there is the sole owner of phone wires – T-Com (www.t-com.sk). However, there exist a large number of other Internet providers offering mostly phone wire connection and microwave connection (e.g. Slovanet - www.slovanet.sk, MICRONET, a. s. - www.micronet.sk, VNET - www.vnet.sk, Robur, s.r.o -  www.roburnet.sk). Cable-TV Internet connection is provided by UPC BROADBAND SLOVAKIA, s.r.o. (www.upc.sk or www.chello.sk, only in Slovak) or SATRO s.r.o. (www.satro.sk). Slovak Higher Education Institutions are connected through SANET (Slovak Academic Network www.sanet.sk). Mobile phone Internet connection is provided by mobile operators, at present there are two: T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.sk)  and Orange (www.orange.sk).

 

Internet Cafes (“internetová kaviareň” in Slovak) are widespread and not confined to large towns.

Moreover, city of Bratislava has launched pilot project of providing internet access in the city centre. There are three PC terminals connected to the broadband internet available at the moment. First one is located near the gate of Primatial Palace at Primatial square opposite to Bratislava Town Hall. The other two public internet kiosks are located in the entry hall of City Hall and in the Bratislava Culture and Information Centre building in Klobúčnická street. All kiosks are equipped with the standard keyboard and trackball and are available to public free of charge.

There are also available wireless (Wi-Fi) internet hotspots for those using their own notebooks equipped with a wireless internet access card. Primatial Square (Primaciálne námestie), Main Square (Hlavné námestie) and Frantiskanske Square (Františkánske námestie) are covered by the wireless internet and so is the City Hall and the Front Office of City of Bratislava. Wi-Fi connection to the internet is again provided free of charge.

 

For more information you can either browse the Internet or check Yellow Pages (“Zlaté stránky” in Slovak, www.zlatestranky.sk).

 

Getting the phone connected

 

IDD (International Direct Dialing) is available. The country code is 00-421. For calls in the Slovak Republic consult a list of area codes for the appropriate region which can be found on http://telefonny.zoznam.sk (in Slovak only, look for “Smerové telefónne čísla”). All numbers in the world can be dialled directly; international area (country) codes are listed on http://telefonny.zoznam.sk (in Slovak only, look for “Medzinárodné smerové telefónne čísla”. Names of countries are also given in Slovak).

To place an international call, dial 00, the country code, area (city) code and number.

There are public booths, including special ones for international calls. Surcharges can be quite high on long-distance calls from hotels. Public phones take either coins or phone cards. You can buy phone cards (“telefónna karta” in Slovak) at newsstands, petrol stations or in post offices.

 

Mobile phone operators

 

Network providers include

T-Mobile Slovensko, a.s., GSM (900 and 1800 MHz) (www.t-mobile.sk)

Orange Slovensko, a.s., GSM (900 and 1800 MHz) (www.orange.sk).

 

General Phone Numbers:

Emergency calls:

General Emergency - 112

Ambulance - 155

Fire - 150

Police - 158

Town police - 159

 

Enquiry services:

Directory enquiries - information about telephone numbers in Slovakia - 1181

International directory enquiries - information about telephone numbers abroad - 12 149

Info Assistant - Practical information for everyday use - 12 111

Exact time - 12 110

Wake-up calls - 12 125

National calls mediated by an operator - 12 102

International calls mediated by an operator - 12 131

 

Slovakia Direct.......................................................... 0-800-89-0420

AT&T USA-Direct……………………………………….(00421 001 01) 0-800-000-101

MCI WorldPhone………………………………...………(00421 001 12) 0-800-000-112

Canada Direct       …………………………………………(00421 001 51) 0-800-000-151

BT Direct…………………………………………………00421 044 01

BT Multilingual…………………………………………..00421 044 03

Sprint …………………………………………………….00421 871 87

 

Postal services

 

At a Slovak post office (“Slovenská pošta” www.posta.sk) you can pay your utility bills, receive cash on delivery consignments, buy lottery tickets, get film developed, receive payments, make phone calls and buy phone cards, buy mobile phone cards, and of course send telegrams and mail. Poste Restante services are also available. For incoming packages and money orders you must bring your passport with you.

 

Tariff rates (“Cenník” in Slovak) for domestic and international relations services are available at www.posta.sk so far in Slovak; the English version is going to be launched on the website.

At the website www.posta.sk, you can search also for local postcodes (“PSČ” – “Poštové smerové číslo” in Slovak), after entering town and street

 

Shipping and Packing

Personal belongings can be sent by air, which is fairly expensive, or surface. Surface costs are lower, but can take from 6-8 weeks. Contact your local post office about requirements and procedures. Customs officials will open, inspect and hold the shipment at the post office nearest to where you are staying. You will be notified when your belongings arrive. Your shipments can be opened, inspected, and re-secured before you arrive to collect them.

 

Telegram and fax

Services are provided by the post offices. Telegram messages can be taken at the local post office or dictated over the telephone with the charge appearing on your telephone bill. Fax machines are available at hotels and local post offices.