Podcast - 4th July 2012
This week's edition of The Fonecast takes a look at the new Google Nexus 7 tablet, wonders what's next for RIM and awaits the arrival of the forthcoming Firefox mobile platform.
There's also talk about HTC's partnership with Pioneer, Vodafone's European reorganisation, the new BT WiFi brand, Ofcom complaints, tariff problems and international roaming.
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Just 26% get the lowest price, says billmonitor.com report
billmonitor.com, which offers an Ofcom-accredited mobile phone bill analysis and price comparison service, has calculated that UK consumers waste £6 billion per year by being on mobile phone tariffs that are either too small or too excessive for their needs. The figure has increased by £1.1 billion since the company’s last survey in 2011.
74% of mobile consumers are thought to be on the ‘wrong’ contract, just two percentage points down from last year’s report.
Virgin Media has launched a number of new ‘pay monthly’ mobile phone tariffs today, including an unlimited data deal.
The ‘Premiere’ tariff offers unlimited data, unlimited text messaging, unlimited voice calls to UK landlines and 2,500 minutes for calling UK mobiles every month (subject to terms & conditions). It’s priced at £26 per month for a two-year minimum term, with a £5 monthly discount available for customers who already subscribe to other Virgin Media services at home.
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The GSMA, the trade organisation that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, has announced a new scheme to help consumers understand and manage their data usage when abroad.
24 major network operators have agreed to implement a number of measures to help customers who are using their mobile phone abroad, reducing the risk of ‘bill shock’ when they return home.
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Complaints not upheld by ASA
The UK Advertising Standards Authority has not upheld two complaints made by Telefonica about ads for Vodafone’s Freedom Freebee tariff option.
TV and online ads had described the prepay tariff as offering £50-worth of calls for £10. However, Telefonica - the company behind O2 UK - argued that very few consumers paid standard tariff rates for texts and calls, which meant the comparison wasn’t justified. It also said the offer had run for more than six months and that the £10 price had become established, which meant that the package was no longer ‘worth’ £50.
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