How are toll free calls (00800) charged in Germany

[ajd_sjc]

I'm working for a couple months in Germany, but I will often need to do conference calls back to the US in the evenings from my apartment. I have several different ways to access the calls, one is via USA 800 number, one is via German 0800 number, and for some calls, I can have the service call me. I have good internet in my apartment but no land line.

I'd like to minimize my costs, but I need good call quality. I thought I'd use Skype, but based on my experience today, quality is variable, at least when I tried the US based number.

For the times I can have the service call me, I think using a cell phone is straight forward and free to me.

If I dial the German 0800 number from a cell phone, how is that charged? Is it free or as a landline call? I'm in suburban Munich, so I'd expect to have good cell coverage. Any differences in carriers?

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Aaron