FonoTerms of Service
1. Provider and scope
These terms apply to your use of the Fono app and the website tryfono.app. The provider is [FILL IN: full name], [FILL IN: address], email: support@tryfono.app (see also the legal notice).
2. The service
Fono is an app for learning German. You talk with Zümi, an AI learning partner, practice everyday situations, review words and sentences, and can prepare for language exams. Zümi is an AI, not a real person. Content and ratings are generated automatically and may contain mistakes. Fono does not replace a language course or a teacher.
3. Contract, account, age
You can use Fono as a guest or with an account. For an account you must give correct details and keep your credentials secret. You must be at least 16 years old. The contract is formed when you install and use the app or buy a paid offer.
4. Free and paid offers
Some features are free; scope and limits are shown in the app. More features and conversation minutes are paid, either as a subscription or as a minute pack. Prices, term and scope are shown in the app before you buy.
- Handling: purchases go through the App Store (Apple) or Google Play. Their terms apply in addition. Payment and billing are handled by Apple or Google.
- Subscriptions renew automatically for the booked term unless you cancel at least 24 hours before it ends in your Apple or Google account settings. You cancel there, not in Fono.
- Minute packs are one-off purchases of digital content. Unused minutes are not refunded unless the law says otherwise.
- Refunds follow the rules of Apple or Google, where you can request them.
5. Right of withdrawal for digital content
As a consumer you generally have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal. For digital content and services it expires once we have started performance after you expressly agreed and confirmed that you lose your right of withdrawal (Section 356(5) German Civil Code). For purchases through Apple or Google, their withdrawal and refund rules also apply.
6. Exam preparation
The exam areas in Fono (for example telc Deutsch B1, Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, Berliner Sprachtest for naturalisation) are independent practice offers. Fono is not affiliated with telc, the Goethe-Institut, BAMF or Berlin authorities and is not reviewed or endorsed by them. We recreate task formats from publicly available information. Practice results and AI ratings are not an official exam result and no guarantee of passing an exam. Exam conditions may change; the details of the relevant exam provider always prevail.
7. Rules of use
Use Fono lawfully only. Not allowed in particular: abusing the services (for example automated access, bypassing limits or paywalls), sharing your access, entering unlawful content, and trying to disrupt or reverse-engineer the app or its servers unless the law expressly permits it. Do not speak in conversations about third-party data you may not share.
8. Rights in content
The app, Zümi, texts, graphics and sounds are protected by copyright. You get a simple, non-transferable right to use Fono for your own learning. Your own input remains yours; you only grant us the right to process it to provide the service (see the privacy policy).
9. Availability and changes
We aim for a reliable app but cannot promise uninterrupted availability. Third-party AI services can fail or change. We may change or discontinue features where reasonable; for paid services we refund proportionally in case of a significant restriction, where required by law.
10. Liability
We are liable without limit for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health, and under the Product Liability Act. For slight negligence we are liable only for breach of essential contractual duties (duties whose fulfilment makes proper performance of the contract possible in the first place), limited to the foreseeable damage typical for this type of contract. Otherwise liability is excluded. We give no warranty for the accuracy or completeness of AI answers.
11. Termination, account deletion
You can delete your account in the app at any time (see Delete account). You cancel subscriptions with Apple or Google. We may block or delete accounts for material breach of these terms, after a prior warning except in serious cases.
12. Governing law, disputes
German law applies, excluding mandatory consumer protection rules of your country of residence. We are neither willing nor obliged to take part in dispute resolution before a consumer arbitration board. For questions or complaints write to support@tryfono.app.
13. Changes to these terms
We may change these terms with effect for the future if the law or our offer changes. We tell you about material changes in the app or by email; continued use after a reasonable period counts as acceptance, which we will point out.