EU may move to cut SMS costs

The European Union may be preparing to cut the amount mobile phone carriers can charge for text messages.

Multiple media reports suggest that EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding will announce a new set of caps later this week.

This could include an extension to roaming charge limits and a 12 cent cap on text messages, according to Reuters.

Reding's proposal would also demand that carriers provide more information to customers about roaming tariffs and billing policies.

The commissioner has been examining the possibility of SMS and data roaming caps for at least five months.

She told a group in Barcelona that the extra roaming costs would "have to disappear" if they could not be justified by mobile service providers.

Reding was also behind the ongoing caps which limit roaming costs for voice calls and efforts to regulate call termination fees.

She has a long history of wrangling with the telecoms industry in Europe over regulation issues.

See also:

Microsoft outlines appeal against EU fine

Two sides back in court  08 Jul 2008

Nokia gets green light to buy Navteq

Deal expected to close in days after European Commission approval  02 Jul 2008

EU to fund technology for the elderly

Independent living gets smart  24 Jun 2008

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