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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU to challenge roaming 'rip-off' | EU to challenge roaming 'rip-off' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Regulators are set to try to force phone companies to cut the cost of sending text messages within the EU. | Regulators are set to try to force phone companies to cut the cost of sending text messages within the EU. |
| EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding is expected to outline plans to make the cost of texting from abroad more comparable to doing so at home. | EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding is expected to outline plans to make the cost of texting from abroad more comparable to doing so at home. |
| The ambition for legislation follows the refusal of most firms to reduce overseas SMS prices and the cost of mobile internet access while abroad. | The ambition for legislation follows the refusal of most firms to reduce overseas SMS prices and the cost of mobile internet access while abroad. |
| The mobile phone operators argue that customers are not being ripped off. | The mobile phone operators argue that customers are not being ripped off. |
| The industry body, the GSM Association, says that they are in a competitive business and that prices are falling anyway. | The industry body, the GSM Association, says that they are in a competitive business and that prices are falling anyway. |
| Calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered Viviane RedingEU Telecoms Commissioner | |
| The new measures may be proposed to the European Parliament in September. | The new measures may be proposed to the European Parliament in September. |
| 'No self-regulation' | 'No self-regulation' |
| The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in EU member states cost over 10 times more than domestic messages, Ms Reding says. | The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in EU member states cost over 10 times more than domestic messages, Ms Reding says. |
| She is expected to reveal that the average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was 29 euro cents (23p), but was sometimes as high as 80 cents (64p). | She is expected to reveal that the average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was 29 euro cents (23p), but was sometimes as high as 80 cents (64p). |
| UK customers pay up to 50 cents (40p) per text message from abroad compared to the equivalent of 15 cents (12p) domestically. | |
| And sending a text to family in the UK from holiday in Spain will cost the traveller an average of 63 cents (50p), according to EU figures. | |
| Last year, the European Commission set limits on roaming charges for mobile phone calls across the EU. | Last year, the European Commission set limits on roaming charges for mobile phone calls across the EU. |
| But it says that "calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered". | But it says that "calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered". |
| Ms Reding is also expected to try and put an end to "bill shocks" - when users are hit with unexpectedly high costs for using a mobile connection to surf the internet. | Ms Reding is also expected to try and put an end to "bill shocks" - when users are hit with unexpectedly high costs for using a mobile connection to surf the internet. |
| 'Real cost' argument | |
| GSM spokesman Tom Phillips told the BBC that the costs of texting from abroad had fallen by 10% in the past year, and that it was free to receive texts overseas. | |
| There's nothing wrong with mobile firm companies competing on a whole package of services Tom Phillips, GSM Association | |
| He admitted charges for using mobile phones abroad were significantly higher than for domestic use and that they did not reflect the cost of the service, but said that there was no need for them to do this. | |
| "When you buy a mobile phone service you get a whole series of things. Often you get a handset that is free or nearly free, so clearly that doesn't reflect the real cost either," he said. | |
| "There's nothing wrong with mobile firm companies competing on a whole package of services - some of which they subsidise, some of which they make relatively more profit on. | |
| "The danger is when regulators get in there and start picking the little bits of that package apart and regulating on cost. That's not in the consumers best interest." | |
| Cross-border fees | Cross-border fees |
| Last month, the Commission unveiled plans to lower the cost of mobile phone calls by reducing the fees operators charge each other for using their networks. | Last month, the Commission unveiled plans to lower the cost of mobile phone calls by reducing the fees operators charge each other for using their networks. |
| Europe's telecoms watchdog published guidelines for laws to harmonise call termination fees across the EU by 2011. | Europe's telecoms watchdog published guidelines for laws to harmonise call termination fees across the EU by 2011. |
| Currently, 27 national authorities regulate fees charged by an operator for handling calls from another. | Currently, 27 national authorities regulate fees charged by an operator for handling calls from another. |
| Brussels said consumers ended up losing out because of variations in cross-border fees. | Brussels said consumers ended up losing out because of variations in cross-border fees. |
| Operators have until 2011 to abide by the new regulations, which the Commission estimated would make calls 70% cheaper. | Operators have until 2011 to abide by the new regulations, which the Commission estimated would make calls 70% cheaper. |