 Wireless in the EnterpriseNetwork World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 08/08/07EC tames wayward roaming chargesBy Joanie WexlerRoaming users in Europe are now getting some relief from formerly incalculable and often shocking end-of-the-month cell phone bills. The new Eurotariff roaming regulation sets ceilings on fees charged for phone calls made and received by customers in the European Union – price caps that will decrease slightly over the next three years. As of July 30, all roaming customers in the European Union were to have been given the opportunity to begin using the Eurotariff plan, which effectively caps the cost of a call at about 66 cents per minute and the cost of receiving a call at about 33 cents. Note: A European Commission proposal earlier this year capped prices at 81 cents per minute to make a call and at 40 cents to receive one, so users have come out ahead of the game.
These prices may not seem cheap to those of us here in the U.S. However, at least they are predictable and, thus, budgetable. Unpredictable roaming charges have long been a source of consternation for those crossing European borders, because the charges have been inconsistent and high. Roaming charges were as high as $2 a minute, not including any long-distance charges. Subscribers who take the passive route and don’t contact their cellular carrier about getting on the Eurotariff are supposed to automatically be charged the new rates starting in September. If they don’t receive those rates, they can take their operator to court. Reportedly, the EC will investigate to make sure that operators are complying with the Eurotariff and will offer information about defectors on a Web site so that users can take action.
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| Contact the author: Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com. ARCHIVEArchive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATUREIT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007 |
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