EU comission to limit roaming-SMS price to € 0,11-0,15 on Sept 23rd

[MATHA531]

I believe, and the many Europeans here can correct me if I'm wrong, the ultimate purpose of all this is to turn the eu into something akin to the USA with the various countries playing the role the various state do in the USA. It seems to be Redding's plan to eventually have no roaming charges throughout and within the eu.

If that comes to pass, it will certainly pretty much be the death of most of the international cards as Europeans would simply not need them. What would be the market? Americans? And basically if an American were travelling to Europe, all he or she would need is the cheapest PAYG card available. As the majority of my travelling is to Europe, I am beginning to question whether I really need to keep buying recharge vouchers to keep the sim cards I acquired earlier from France, Holland, Germany, Italy and Ireland. The Dutch one began to have a very limited shelf life, they have just deactivfated my German one, I'll be doing a three week tour of France and have been assiduosly acquired 10¢ top ups to keep that card alive, my Italy card is scheduled to expire in June. Perhaps with the current tariff situation I can make do with a free O2-UK card and as it stands now, use their european roaming tariffs (the key one is receiving at 18p/minute) calling back to the USA is expensive outside the UK of course but maybe a local ld card with a local number with resolve that issue at what is the rate for calls within Europe, 35p (especially since the UK£ has plunged to just about $1.45 US)....and of course if Redding has her way, reception will eventually be free and something like 15p/minute.

Now if only carriers such as T Mobile USA and AT&T would see the light and give even moderately fair rates on international roaming.

[petkow]

Originally Posted by MATHA531

Perhaps with the current tariff situation I can make do with a free O2-UK card and as it stands now, use their european roaming tariffs (the key one is receiving at 18p/minute) calling back to the USA is expensive outside the UK of course ....

Depending on how much you are likely to call in a month, it can be a lot cheaper than that with a temporary subscription to o2 MyEurope Extra. This can be switched on and off for a month at a time on the prepaid o2 cards, and costs 10 pounds a month. For that it offers free incoming and slightly cheaper outgoing at 25p/min though you can also setup a callback. The subscription cost justifies itself as opposed to the roaming tarriff if you are going to be receiving more than 55 mins of calls in a month.

I have mentioned it before here, but I really can't sing it's praises enough, as it has saved me probably 1000's of euros in the last few years, and a lot of the headache that goes with the Internatioal roaming cards (which have come to light again recently with the 'possible' demise of UM). The nicest thing is that I keep the same ordinary UK mobile number that I have had for the last 10 years and never have to give out an IOM/Jersey,Lichtenstein,belgian etc. or setup a divert etc. Also unlike with other +447 numbering ranges (IOM, Jersey etc.) friends from the UK on any network never get nasty bill surprises when they call me. This used to be an issue in the past.

After more than a few dabbles with international roaming cards, I basically gave up on pretty much all of them about two and half years ago, after o2 UK kindly gave me a free subscription (on my postpay account) to MyEurope Extra. I still have a few other international cards for travel outside Europe (e.g. eKit, Maxroam), but they see limited use these days for the countries I end up visiting.