This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28096678
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU roaming fees fall for phone users | EU roaming fees fall for phone users |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Charges for surfing the internet on smartphones while travelling in the EU have been cut by half as new rules come into force. | Charges for surfing the internet on smartphones while travelling in the EU have been cut by half as new rules come into force. |
| European leaders have brought in changes over recent years to cut the fees in stages since 2007, aiming to eliminate them entirely within months. | European leaders have brought in changes over recent years to cut the fees in stages since 2007, aiming to eliminate them entirely within months. |
| These roaming charges can lead to phone users getting a "bill shock" following overseas trips. | These roaming charges can lead to phone users getting a "bill shock" following overseas trips. |
| The latest changes are designed to coincide with the holiday season. | The latest changes are designed to coincide with the holiday season. |
| "This huge drop in data roaming prices will make a big difference to all of us this summer," said Neelie Kroes, the EU telecoms commissioner. | "This huge drop in data roaming prices will make a big difference to all of us this summer," said Neelie Kroes, the EU telecoms commissioner. |
| Fees for calls and text messages should also be reduced as the new rules come into effect on Tuesday. | Fees for calls and text messages should also be reduced as the new rules come into effect on Tuesday. |
| Stuart Miles, founder of the Pocket Lint website, said that consumers should feel the benefit of the changes, although phone companies could alter the structure of some of their deals. | |
| He said that many operators already had infrastructure across different European countries so these additional charges were questionable. | He said that many operators already had infrastructure across different European countries so these additional charges were questionable. |
| European politicians want to go further and make the cost of a call or downloading internet data in another EU country the same as it would be at home. | European politicians want to go further and make the cost of a call or downloading internet data in another EU country the same as it would be at home. |
| In April, the European Parliament voted to scrap roaming fees, but this now requires the approval of all EU governments. | In April, the European Parliament voted to scrap roaming fees, but this now requires the approval of all EU governments. |