Cost of texting abroad for Europeans is lowered

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The European Commission has announced that as of today, July 1, customers roaming in another EU Member State will not only benefit from lower prices for making and receiving calls but also for texting when abroad and using data services.

The Commission has introduced the following rules for providers in the EU:

Limit the price for sending a text message while abroad at €0.11 (9.4p). Receiving an SMS in another EU country will remain free of charge.
Reduced cost of surfing the web and downloading movies or video programs with a mobile phone while abroad by introducing a maximum tariff of €1 (86p) per megabyte downloaded. This limit will be decreased each year.
The new rules will also protect consumers from "bill shocks" by introducing a cut-off mechanism once the bill reaches €50 (£42.93), unless they choose another cut-off limit (recently, a German downloading a TV programme while roaming in France faced a bill of €46,000 (£39,500). Operators have until March 2010 to put this cut-off limit in place.
Reduced prices for mobile roaming calls with a maximum tariff of €0.43 (36.9p) for making a call and €0.19 (16.3p) for receiving one.

"The roaming-rip off is now coming to an end thanks to the determined action of the European Commission, the European Parliament and all 27 EU Member States," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

Also, mobile operators have been forced to charge for calls by the second after the first half minute, instead of rounding up to the nearest minute.

#1 paokun on 01 Jul 2009 - 23:06

It was about time that these old rules were finally changed

#2 +warwagon on 01 Jul 2009 - 23:08

Then you have those morons on your addresbook in the states which send you forward images, which you usually get charged extra for.

#3 Nexx295 on 01 Jul 2009 - 23:13

Finally! I'm still hoping they'll introduce an internet flat soon. I have an online business and each time I'm on vacation I have to purchase a prepaid SIM with internet flat which I can throw away when I go home.

#4 noroom on 01 Jul 2009 - 23:20

How can this be? I still pay 0.19 € per SMS I send. (If I use up my 100 monthly SMS limit)

(3 replies) #5 zivan56 on 01 Jul 2009 - 23:43

1 euro per mb? Here in Canada, it is about 0.10 euro per kb...so roaming in the EU should be way cheaper. Does this apply to all providers in the EU regardless of the customers origin? Or just for EU citizens?

#5.1 shhac on 02 Jul 2009 - 00:02

I would assume the phone must use a SIM from a European mobile phone network.

#5.2 gigabit on 02 Jul 2009 - 00:10

You meaning roaming in Canada should be way cheaper? What you said would mean you are charged 102.40 euros per MB in Canada...

#5.3 zivan56 on 02 Jul 2009 - 03:50

gigabit said,

I meant regular data costs should be way cheaper in Canada. As it stands, even roaming in Europe is much much much cheaper than regular data costs in Canada. That is what you are charged if you are on the only GSM network here without a data plan (100 euros ($153.60 CAD) per mb).

(2 replies) #6 Frank Fontaine on 02 Jul 2009 - 01:40

Some of those rates are actually cheaper than things in the UK, for example texts cost 10p each, and IIRC data used to cost something like £2.40/MB on o2.

Definitely good for those that go abroad.

#6.1 Kevincvz on 02 Jul 2009 - 21:28

Someone from the UK saying something positive about the EU?

#6.2 Ksg on 04 Jul 2009 - 12:00

Frank Fontaine said,

Some of those rates are actually cheaper than things in the UK, for example texts cost 10p each, and IIRC data used to cost something like ï¿½2.40/MB on o2.

Definitely good for those that go abroad.

The â‚¬0.11 does not include tax

(2 replies) #7 powerade01 on 02 Jul 2009 - 01:57

Wait what?

Can someone reexplain this alot easier? Is the EU lowering prices for cell phones?

I mean thats up to the mobile company right?

#7.1 SteelToast on 02 Jul 2009 - 05:06

powerade01 said,

EU, is basically telling mobile operators to lower their costs in EU countries...

#7.2 JamesCherrill on 02 Jul 2009 - 08:51

No, individual companies can do what they like within their own country. The new EU limits apply when you use your phone outside its own country - its because the companies were acting like a cartel and maintaining artificially high charges for that.

#8 Antaris on 02 Jul 2009 - 05:43

This is a good move, stanardising roaming call and text tarriffs is a great.

I swear I heard this on Spotify first...or was that the "everybody loves music, especially in the bedroom".

Say Yes! to safe sex!

#9 wrack on 02 Jul 2009 - 08:05

I never thought I would say this but EU did 2 right things in past 2 days!

First unifying mobile phone chargers and now this. Bravo.

#10 bbfc_uk on 02 Jul 2009 - 08:52

It's about time! Vodafone had the right idea this summer by scrapping Roaming Charges, making it cheaper to call home from abroad, thus why my dad called me from his mobile for the first time since going abroad! There is no need for these rip off charges!

#11 jingarelho on 02 Jul 2009 - 10:42

just love living here.

#12 +petrossa on 02 Jul 2009 - 16:43

Great the consequent behavior of commenter's. If the EU prevents MS from ruling the world everybody curses them for stupid burocrats, if they cap the roaming charges (which is exactly the same principle as the MS case) everybody applauds.

Go figure

#13 ManosK on 02 Jul 2009 - 18:30

hmmm...i am wondering where are all the Brits who always complain about the EU and want out. On seconds thoughts perhaps they are on holiday somewhere in Spain, Greece or Italy!

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