EU warns firms on text charging

BBC News - Monday 11th of February 2008

Europe's mobile phone operators have been warned they must cut the cost of texting and internet access for users who are overseas or face regulation.

The warning came from EU Commissioner Viviane Reding at the industry's main European trade fair in Barcelona.

A text sent while abroad can cost as much as 49 pence ($0.95) and a study found that transferring 1 megabyte (MB) on average costs £4.11.

Mobile phone companies say they have already begun cutting prices.

"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," said Ms Reding.

Business perk

The new generation of phones have made it easier to surf the internet and email, but it is still an expensive option.

"Roaming the internet abroad has so far been treated as a businessman's perk which companies will pick up the huge bill for," said BBC Technology Correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones.

"But it is becoming a big consumer thing and consumers are getting cross about how much it costs."

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.

•   Advertisements