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| EU warns firms on text charging | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. | |
| Roaming the internet abroad has so far been treated as a businessman's perk which companies will pick up the huge bill for Rory Cellan-JonesBBC Technology Correspondent | Roaming the internet abroad has so far been treated as a businessman's perk which companies will pick up the huge bill for Rory Cellan-JonesBBC Technology Correspondent |
| "I urge the industry to bring down prices in a dramatic way," she said. | "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 | Business perk |
| The new generation of phones have made it easier to surf the internet and email, but it is still an expensive option. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | On average those "roaming" charges were halved. |