R E L A T E D C O N T E N T

EU wants borderless phone bills

Viviane Reding is still not happy with European roaming charges

Dave Bailey, IT Week 15 Jul 2008

EU Commissioner Viviane Reding has once again warned mobile operators to reduce the price they charge consumers for sending text messages abroad, explaining that, "EU citizens should be free to text across borders without being ripped off.”

The Commissioner said out that since calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages had not been answered, "[the EC] will therefore start working on measures to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly single market for mobile text services."

Head of broadband and mobiles at moneysupermarket.com Rob Barnes, said “At last something will be done to reduce the extortionate text and data charges that holidaymakers face, although ideally this should have been introduced last summer at the same time as the cap on calls." He added, "It's a shame that providers weren’t responsible enough to lower charges themselves so consumers could have saved this summer instead of having to wait for regulation. "

The Commission also warned that it would, "Seek to put an end to 'bill shocks' that can hit roaming customers using a mobile connection to surf the Internet," threatening that, "New measures could be proposed by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council in early autumn."

EC President José Manuel Barroso added, “Europe's Single Market should be allowed to play its part, making sure that no borders re-appear on travellers' phone bills.”

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