Ben
11th February 2008, 08:13 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7238279.stm
Note the GSMA's comment, as always!
Europe's mobile phone operators are to be warned to cut the cost of texting and internet access while customers are overseas or face regulation.
A text sent while abroad can cost as much as 49 pence ($0.95) and a recent study found that transferring 1MB of data on average costs £4.11.
Mobile phone companies have begun to cut costs, with O2, Vodafone and 3 lowering some tariffs.
The warning will come from EU Commissioner Viviane Reding.
Dramatic cuts
She will be speaking at the GSM Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.
Before the meeting Commissioner Reding told the BBC that firms have until 1 July to lower prices to acceptable levels.
"I urge the industry to bring down prices in a dramatic way," she said.
"If the industry does what it claims it can do, bringing prices down to normal, then of course, regulation will not be necessary."
Cheaper roaming
The mobile phone industry said costs are coming down quickly, particularly for mobile internet access.
"Accessing the internet and web pages while you're roaming around Europe using a mobile phone can be expensive," said Tom Phillips, head of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the GSM Association.
"But it's a very new service, it's growing in popularity and the prices are coming down very quickly." Last year the EU adopted regulations that forced mobile phone companies to lower the costs of making calls while outside a caller's home country.
On average those "roaming" charges were halved.
Mobile data is, like, totally new. Maybe in another 8 years or so time the price will start to fall...
Note the GSMA's comment, as always!
Europe's mobile phone operators are to be warned to cut the cost of texting and internet access while customers are overseas or face regulation.
A text sent while abroad can cost as much as 49 pence ($0.95) and a recent study found that transferring 1MB of data on average costs £4.11.
Mobile phone companies have begun to cut costs, with O2, Vodafone and 3 lowering some tariffs.
The warning will come from EU Commissioner Viviane Reding.
Dramatic cuts
She will be speaking at the GSM Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.
Before the meeting Commissioner Reding told the BBC that firms have until 1 July to lower prices to acceptable levels.
"I urge the industry to bring down prices in a dramatic way," she said.
"If the industry does what it claims it can do, bringing prices down to normal, then of course, regulation will not be necessary."
Cheaper roaming
The mobile phone industry said costs are coming down quickly, particularly for mobile internet access.
"Accessing the internet and web pages while you're roaming around Europe using a mobile phone can be expensive," said Tom Phillips, head of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the GSM Association.
"But it's a very new service, it's growing in popularity and the prices are coming down very quickly." Last year the EU adopted regulations that forced mobile phone companies to lower the costs of making calls while outside a caller's home country.
On average those "roaming" charges were halved.
Mobile data is, like, totally new. Maybe in another 8 years or so time the price will start to fall...