EU brings the hammer down on roaming charges

by Thomas Ricker posted Mar 29th 2006 at 11:02AM

Well, the ~~cellular~~ mobile phone industry can't say it wasn't warned about their bloated roaming charges in Europe. EU officials are now ratcheting up the heat on European carriers under ~~the invisible hand~~ a new proposal that, among other changes, would make it free to receive a call when abroad in addition to being charged at "home rates" when making an in-country call. Goverment figures show that currently, a 4-minute call received from the UK while in Italy results in a steep £3.80 ($6.65) tarrif from O2 or £3.04 ($5.32) with Vodafone. The proposal has the support of 25 nations with EU commissioner, Viviane Reding, stating that the new pricing could be in effect by Summer of 2007 if the European Parliament and national governments moved quickly. Er, right...quickly Viv. You did say Parliament and national governments must agree, right?

Tags: Culture

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

E71 @ Mar 29th 2006 3:32PM

Hey, Ricker, I think you owe all the American Engadget-readers an apology for LIMEY-FYING cell phone into 'mobile phone'.

Change it back damn it!

On a lighter note, I bet that fruit tackling the streaker enjoyed it as much as the streaker did.

Neutral

MacroEQ @ Jun 7th 2006 6:30AM

The term "mobile phone" is used in 99% of the countries in the world (including most areas of the U.S). The term "cell phone" is an out-dated expression mainly used in one country - the U.S.

Taking into account that "cell phone" is only used in 1% of the world and "mobile phone" is used in 99% then it makes sense to call is "mobile phone".

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