roaming - EU committee decision

[Motel75]

Surely any "setup fees" or the like would ipso facto exceed the maximum price set by the EU. I suspect they've already thought of these tricks, as the roaming rip-off has been under discussion for at least two years, and the European Commission has already created websites and brochures warning consumers about hidden costs. As I understand it, all customers in the EU will soon automatically be switched to the new maximum tariff (40 cents/min all calls within EU, 15 to receive,60-second billing) with no extras. It's up to the providers if they want to offer a cheaper rate.

I note that 40 cents is less than many domestic mobile calls. I'd be interested to see whether these, as well as the outrageous international calling prices, will also be capped. If not, it would be generally cheaper to roam in, say, France, than to use a domestic SIM.

[unobtrusive]

Originally Posted by Motel75

tariff (40 cents/min all calls within EU, 15 to receive,60-second billing) with no extras. It's up to the providers if they want to offer a cheaper rate.

60 second billing is just continuing the rip off really

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by unobtrusive

60 second billing is just continuing the rip off really

The real rip-off results from the combination of the billing increment and the minute rate. I prefer 5 cents/min with 60 second increment to 1 euro/min with 1 second billing .

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by Motel75

Surely any "setup fees" or the like would ipso facto exceed the maximum price set by the EU. I suspect they've already thought of these tricks,

I hope so!

Originally Posted by Motel75

(40 cents/min all calls within EU, 15 to receive,60-second billing) with no extras. It's up to the providers if they want to offer a cheaper rate.

I note that 40 cents is less than many domestic mobile calls. I'd be interested to see whether these, as well as the outrageous international calling prices, will also be capped. If not, it would be generally cheaper to roam in, say, France, than to use a domestic SIM.

Yes, that's a good point! But it happens even now - using a foreign SIM in roaming is cheaper than using a local SIM

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by Motel75

I note that 40 cents is less than many domestic mobile calls. I'd be interested to see whether these, as well as the outrageous international calling prices, will also be capped. If not, it would be generally cheaper to roam in, say, France, than to use a domestic SIM.

Well think that thanks to the new tariff plans by vodafone Italy calling from a slovenian mobile to a dutch one under roaming Voda IT can be cheaper than to call a italian mobile network directly from a Voda IT simcard

[snaimon]

http://teltarif.de/arch/2007/kw18/s25849.html

Vote on roaming previously scheduled for May 10 cannot take place that day. Next meeting between EU minister council and EU parlament now scheduled for May 15.

"Die Gespräche zwischen dem EU-Ministerrat und dem Europäischen Parlament über gesetzliche Maximalpreise für Handy-Telefonate im EU-Ausland ziehen sich nun doch länger hin als ursprünglich erwartet. Nach einer heutigen dritten Verhandlungsrunde hätten beide Seiten vereinbart, sich erst wieder am 15. Mai zu treffen, sagte eine mit dem Fall vertraute Person heute und Brüssel. Damit ist der 10. Mai als Termin, an dem das EU-Parlament über die so genannte Roaming-Verordnung abstimmen wollte, hinfällig."