Conference Venue
Presenters
Do you provide invitation or visa letters?
Public Transportation
Taxis
Visas
Climate
Language
Time
Currency
Electricity

The 2010 Technology Conference will be held in Berlin, Germany from 15 to 17 January 2010.


Conference Venue

Free University Berlin
Seminaris CampusHotel Berlin
Takustraße 39
14195 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49(0)30-557797-0
Fax: +49(0)30-557797-100


Presenters
Data projectors will be provided in all of the parallel session rooms. However, you must supply your own laptop for your presentation. In addition, if you are a Mac user, you will need to bring a VGA Mac connector. Overhead projectors (for use with transparencies) will not be available.


Public Transportation
Berlin has an extensive network system of underground lines (U-Bahn), urban railway lines (S-Bahn), buses and tramways (Tram), allowing you to reach every location and sight in town in a safe and convenient way. http://www.visitberlin.de/english/berlin-infos/e_bi_stadtinfos_nahverkehr.php


Taxis
In many situations taking a taxi is the most comfortable option. Often you don’t have to wait long to hail a passing taxi. In the larger transport hubs there is generally a taxi rank. For shorter taxi rides it is good idea to use the “hailing fare” (only when hailing a passing taxi, not from a taxi rank) - a short journey then only costs €3. Make sure you tell the taxi driver that you would like this fare at the start of your journey.

Phone numbers of taxi companies
City-Funk: 21 02 02
Funk-Taxi Berlin: 26 10 26
Quality Taxi: 26 3000 or 0800-26 3000 0 (freecall)
Spree-Funk: 44 33 22
TaxiFunk Berlin: 0800-44 33 22 (freecall)
Taxi-Ruf Würfelfunk 0800-Cabcall: 0800-222 22 55 (freecall)


Visas

Non-EU citizens require a valid passport to enter Germany. Leaflets with the requirements for individual countries for stays of less than 90 days are available at relevant German embassies. Non-EU citizens who wish to stay in Germany for more than 90 days must acquire a visa from their German consulate. These are generally only granted to businesspeople and students visiting on scholarships. Residents of the following countries don’t require tourist visas to enter Germany:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of Korea), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela. Tourists, who want to combine their stay in Germany with the journey to another European country should inform themselves about visa regulations of the other countries.


Climate

Berlin lies between oceanic and continental stamped climate. During the summer-months daily-temperatures reach 22-23 °C (72°F), but there are also days with temperatures up to 30°C (86°F). In winter highest temperatures are between 2-3°C (35°F). Longer periods with snow and ice are not unusual.


Language

German is the official language and is spoken as a first language by almost the entire population. There is some variation between Hochdeutsch (standard German) and the Berliner dialect, as well as between East and West Berlin. The dialect spoken in Berlin stems from the Prussian empire and the French speaking Huguenots who sought refuge here. English is the most common second language, and is widely understood and spoken by those in tourism-related fields.


Time

Berlin is in the Central-European time-zone, which means one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Additionally, Berlin has a summer time, meaning that during spring and summer (from March to October) the clocks are put forward one hour.


Currency

The Euro is the offical currency of Germany.


Electricity

In Germany sockets operate with 230 V and comply with European standards. For appliances from outside Europe you should bring the necessary adapter with you.

For all inquiries please email the Conference organisers, Common Ground, by clicking this link.