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Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
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Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
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Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
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UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
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Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
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Opinion Articles

Friday, August 26, 2011

The cost of European roaming needn't be a worry

Mark Bridge writes:

Today’s podcast feature is a personal look at the cost of mobile ‘roaming’ in France.

At the beginning of July 2011 the rate for European roaming charges fell to a maximum of 38p per minute (incl. VAT) for calls made while abroad in the EU – and 12p per minute for calls received. There’s also a maximum 12p charge for sending text messages.

That’s the theory - but what reality did I discover  when I spent a couple of days in romantic Paris?

Well, from my perspective as a Vodafone ‘pay monthly’ customer, the reality tallied very nicely. Vodafone sent me a text message that confirmed their call costs were actually fractionally lower than the reported EU charge caps. Of course, it’s possible to find cheaper call charges, but for the sake of a couple of days... a handful of calls... and a few pence... it didn’t seem worth it to me. Even data charges seemed affordable for casual use.

There are still a few things to trip you up - heavier-than-expected data use and voicemail are a couple of potential culprits - and using your mobile outside the EU can be pricey. But ultimately, I'd say using your mobile abroad is much easier and considerably more affordable than it was a few years ago.

You can listen to the full feature on our website, via iTunes or by downloading the MP3 file.
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