Don’t Roam Without Knowing Where it Leads
By Moneysupermarket.com, PRNEMonday, July 11, 2011
CHESTER, England, July 12, 2011 -
- Costs for Using Your Mobile Abroad are Much Higher Than in
the UK - Using Your Mobile Beyond the EU Remains Uncapped
If you’re using your phone while you’re abroad on
this year, ensure you know what charges are being applied for
calls, messages and data downloads, warns
moneysupermarket.com.
On Friday 1st July, new maximum limits on mobile
roaming from the European Commission came into force. The amount
mobile phone operators are allowed to charge their customers for
mobile roaming on another network within the European Union were
further reduced to bring costs down for consumers.
Eurotariff maximum roaming charge per
minute in Euros (without VAT)
Making a Receiving Sending Receiving
Eurotariff maximum price while abroad call a call an SMS an SMS
11
Summer 2009 43 cents 19 cents cents free
11
Summer 2010 39 cents 15 cents cents free
11
Summer 2011 35 cents 11 cents cents free
ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/tariffs/index_en.htm
A cap of €50 also exists to ensure charges for mobile data
roaming don’t deliver ‘bill shocks’ to customer who are unaware
using their mobiles for downloading data and internet browsing are
charged at much higher rates when in EU countries. Mobile providers
charge mostly per MegaByte (MB) but some do offer a set amount of
data allowance for a one-off cost. Examples of data usage are:
- Web browsing for one hour = 1.5MB
- Downloading/uploading a quality jpeg/image = 2MB
- Music downloading = 3.5MB per track
- Opening emails = 1MB per 20 average sized emails
Although things have really progressed in favour of British
travellers heading to EU countries, there is still a huge
difference in the cost of calls, texts and data roaming when using
your mobile further afield.
When travelling to Turkey, a country some people mistake as
being part of the EU, making a call with Vodafone can cost as much
as £1.65 per minute, whilst receiving a call can cost a hefty £1.50
with T-Mobile. For other popular destinations, costs can be even
higher. For example, making a call from Egypt with the
operator, 3, can cost £2.00 and receiving a call can cost
around £1.50 with Virgin and T-Mobile.
When it comes to data roaming in these countries, it can cost a
substantial £8 per MB with Orange. As they are outside of the EU,
the €50 cap wouldn’t come into force and bills could easily
escalate. Some providers do try to combat high data bills, Vodafone
applies a cap to data roaming outside of the EU and will put a
block on accessing data when costs reach £100.
(Costs for using your mobile in the USA and
Australia are also available in the notes to
editors).
There are ways consumers can cut the costs of calls and texts.
By speaking with their provider before heading off on holiday, they
can often opt-in to a specific add-on which is tailored to make the
costs of using a mobile cheaper when outside of the UK.
Vodafone, Orange and O2 offer the best deals with O2’s ITS package
(Worldwide) a great deal for their customers who already have a
contract with them that includes 600mins or more and Vodafone
passport (EU only) available free to all customers.
Mike Wilson, manager of mobiles at
said: “The cost of using your mobile increases significantly
when you leave UK shores. Any inclusive texts, minutes and data
allowance become void and everything you do with your phone is more
expensive. Although there is a lot being done by the European
Commission to bring down the costs for using your mobile in EU
countries, there is no such action in process when travelling
beyond.
“It is vital consumers are fully up to speed with the charges
that could be levied on them should they use their phone whilst on
holiday and do what they can to combat arriving home to an
expensive bill. Ensuring you are on a provider’s specialised
overseas tariff is one way to do this but there are other ways to
avoid bill shocks.”
moneysupermarket.com offers tips and advice on avoiding
expensive mobile bills when holidaying outside of the UK:
- Be aware that when abroad you will have to pay to receive
calls - It’s free to receive texts in the EU so if people want
to get in touch with you make sure they text you as opposed to
calling. - To avoid costs from using voicemail, ask your provider to
de-activate it before you go, but only if you don’t need
it. - Be careful when travelling beyond the EU (remembering that
the popular tourist destination of Turkey is not within the EU).
Pricing caps are in place within the EU but beyond costs are
significantly higher and vary greatly from country to
country. - If you go to the same destination regularly it is worth
getting a local SIM - the bigger charges will still apply when you
want to call home, but you will save on local calls whilst
there. This is really beneficial if you’re spending an
extended period in one particular place. - If you’re on a gap year or spending time travelling
around a lot of different countries the best option may be to get a
global SIM card. These offer greatly reduced rates across various
destinations. Just check that the majority of the places you intend
to travel are covered and then decided which of the global SIM
cards available is the right one for you. - Unless you really need to use it, do not use your mobile
internet whilst abroad. Within the EU there is a cap at €50 to
ensure you don’t get a shock bill when you return home.
However, the current cost per MB means that even within the EU it
wont take much surfing the net to reach your this
cap. - If you go outside the EU think very carefully about using
data. With no regulation currently in place there is no end to
the charges customers can run up. when - To avoid accidently running up large data bills turn
off your data roaming and automatic updates. Smartphone Apps (such
as weather, news and email) will update automatically, typically
every hour. When this happens you are using data. Most Smartphones
make it quite simple to switch off your roaming and automatic
update functions. - Use Wi-Fi - a lot of hotels and cafes will offer
customers free Wi-Fi. This will enable you to surf the internet for
free. It also serves as a great way to keep in touch with people at
home if you have a Skype account. - Check your mobile insurance before you go. Most insurers
will cover you worldwide but the levels of cover will
differ.
Notes to editors:
Standard Call Charges in Europe (Spain)
Receiving Cost per Cost of
Making a Call Calls Text Receiving Cost of using
Cost per Cost per Message Text Mobile
Network Minute Minute Sent Messages Internet
O2 36p 11p 11p Free GBP3.07 per MB
GBP5.00 per MB
1 hour travel
pass - GBP4.00
24 hour travel
Virgin 36p 11p 11p Free pass - GBP6.00
Three 36.6p 11.5p 10.2p Free GBP1.28 per MB
T-Mobile 36.6p 11.5p 10.2p Free GBP1.53 per MB
GBP2 a day for
Vodafone 36.6p 11.5p 11p Free 25MB
Orange 38.8p 14.3p 10.2p Free GBP3.00 per MB
International Bolt-on Options Europe
(Spain)
Receiving
Calls
Making a Call Cost per
Network Bolt-On Option Cost per Minute Minute
75p
connection
charge
Free up to
Vodafone 60 mins
Passport 20p per
Free for all 75p connection charge min
Vodafone customers. Standard home rate or inclusive minutes thereafter
O2 ITS
Free for
tariffs of 600
minutes or
more. GBP2.99
per month for
all other
O2 tariffs. 35p 15p
My Europe
Extra
GBP10.21 per
O2 month 25p Free
Europe 200 mins
Traveller for free
GBP5.10 per 200 mins @ 28.6p per min 14.3p
Orange month 38.8p thereafter thereafter
Standard Call Charges in Turkey
Cost per Cost of
Text Receiving Cost of using
Making a Call Receiving Calls Message Text Mobile
Network Cost per Minute Cost per Minute Sent Messages Internet
GBP5 a day for
Vodafone GBP1.65 GBP1.30 37p* Free 25MB
Orange GBP1.30 70p 40p Free GBP8.00 per MB
O2 GBP1.37 85p 30p Free GBP3.07 per MB
Three GBP1.40 99p 35p Free GBP3.00 per MB
Virgin GBP1.40 GBP1.25 25p Free GBP5.00 per MB
T-Mobile GBP1.50 GBP1.50 40p Free GBP7.50 per MB
*Plus standard plan charge for sending a UK text message.
International Bolt-on Options Turkey
Making a Call Receiving Calls
Network Bolt-On Option Cost per Minute Cost per Minute
O2 ITS
Free for tariffs of 600 minutes or
more. GBP2.99 per month for all
O2 other tariffs. 81p 52p
World Traveller
Orange GBP5.00 per month 91p 70p
Standard Call Charges in Egypt
Receiving Cost per Cost of
Making a Call Calls Text Receiving Cost of using
Cost per Cost per Message Text Mobile
Network Minute Minute Sent Messages Internet
T-Mobile GBP1.50 GBP1.50 40p Free GBP7.50 per MB
GBP5 a day for
Vodafone GBP1.65 GBP1.30 35p* Free 25MB
O2 GBP1.70 GBP1.11 40p Free GBP6.00 per MB
Virgin GBP1.70 GBP1.50 25p Free GBP5.00 per MB
Orange GBP1.75 GBP1.00 50p Free GBP8.00 per MB
Three GBP2.00 GBP1.25 35p Free GBP6.00 per MB
*Plus standard plan charge for sending a UK text message.
International Bolt-on Options Egypt
Making a Call Receiving Calls
Network Bolt-On Option Cost per Minute Cost per Minute
O2 ITS
Free for tariffs of 600 minutes or
more. GBP2.99 per month for all
O2 other tariffs. GBP1.20 85p
World Traveller
Orange GBP5.00 per month GBP1.75 80p
Standard Call Charges in USA
Receiving Cost per Cost of
Making a Call Calls Text Receiving Cost of using
Cost per Cost per Message Text Mobile
Network Minute Minute Sent Messages Internet
Orange GBP1.10 70p 40p Free GBP8.00 per MB
T-Mobile GBP1.20 GBP1.20 40p Free GBP7.50 per MB
GBP5 a day for
Vodafone GBP1.35 GBP1.00 35p* Free 25MB
O2 GBP1.37 85p 25p Free GBP6.00 per MB
Three GBP1.40 99p 35p Free GBP3.00 per MB
Virgin GBP1.40 GBP1.25 25p Free GBP5.00 per MB
*Plus standard plan charge for sending a UK text message.
International Bolt-on Options USA
Making a Call Receiving Calls
Network Bolt-On Option Cost per Minute Cost per Minute
O2 ITS
Free for tariffs of 600 minutes or
more. GBP2.99 per month for all
O2 other tariffs. 90p 39p
World Traveller
Orange GBP5.10 per month 77p 49p
Standard Call Charges in Australia
Cost per Cost of
Text Receiving Cost of using
Making a Call Receiving Calls Message Text Mobile
Network Cost per Minute Cost per Minute Sent Messages Internet
GBP5 a day for
Vodafone 80p 75p 35p* Free 25MB
O2 85p GBP1.11 30p Free GBP6.00 per MB
Orange 85p 70p 40p Free GBP8.00 per MB
Virgin 95p 80p 25p Free GBP5.00 per MB
T-Mobile GBP1.20 GBP1.20 40p Free GBP7.50 per MB
Three GBP1.40 99p 35p Free GBP3.00 per MB
*Plus standard plan charge for sending a UK text message.
International Bolt-on Options Australia
Receiving
Calls
Making a Call Cost per
Network Bolt-On Option Cost per Minute Minute
75p
connection
charge
Free up to
Vodafone 60 mins
Passport 20p per
Free for all 75p connection charge min
Vodafone customers. Standard home rate or inclusive minutes thereafter
O2 ITS
Free for
tariffs of 600
minutes or
more. GBP2.99
per month for
all other
O2 tariffs. 60p 43p
World
Traveller
GBP5.10 per
Orange month 60p 49p
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Tags: Chester, England, July 12, Moneysupermarket.com, United Kingdom
