Vodafone To Slash Roaming Charges

MATHA531 · 08-05-2006, 13:10

Guys take a look at this:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/...2170740,00.html

Any comments?

snaimon · 08-05-2006, 13:25

Similar story over @ teltarif.de

"The Times and other newspapers reported this morning that T-Mobile is to impose a flat rate of 55p a minute for its contract and pre-pay customers. This represents a cut of up to 54 per cent to its existing prices, and will apply in Canada and the United States, as well as in Europe."

Whatever THAT means about the US. PREPAY T-MO US AFAIK does not YET allow ANY roaming abroad, although we READ it was coming. Maybe means UKers or Europeans can roam for 55 e-cents in the US rather than USers can roam for 55 e-cents in Europe.
POSTPAY T-MO roams for $.99, in- and out-bound.

These rates are still above UM or other international rates AND with many internationals one still has "FREE?" inbound. Not totally clear, but it looks as if inbound on Voda, etc will be billed as normal calls, no?

Stan

MATHA531 · 08-05-2006, 13:32

...and therein lies the big question....

With vodafone passport say on Vodafone IE, I believe it's 0,79? fee to receive a call while roaming....so a 6 minute call received while roaming on a vodafone network costs 0,13?/minute...will this new policy mean free receiving of calls throughout roaming turf and 55 whatevers (? or p) to make calls "home"?

And will they include the USA, Canada and Australia?

And will this then lead united mobile to drop rates in the USA?

And will they be allowed to roam in the USA on T Mobile?

So many fascinating questions remain.

andy · 08-05-2006, 13:42

Orange UK has been a great deal more cynical, and is heading in the opposite direction, actually lying to its contract customers about the latest increased roaming charges

http://www.orange.co.uk/away/

Quote:

You can now look forward to even better value when you use your phone abroad, with more control over your spending too. From 1 June 2006, we'll be introducing new pricing zones and a range of new bundles to help you manage your spend while you travel

Ok, they have reversed their welcome of the new EU entrant countries, and put charges back down to 70p after the 2003 increase from 51p to ?1.10, but other non-EU countries such as Norway have gone up to ?1.30

Edit - and I forgot to mention - Orange have changed all roaming calls to per minute billing, when before they copied the roamed network eg 60/15 or 30/01 or whatever

I'm falling over laughing at all the retro self-vindicating claims in the article that only competition not regulation is driving down charges - would the networks really have come out with these lower new tariffs without the threat of a big boot up the arse about this?

MATHA531 · 08-05-2006, 13:42

And the response from the eu:

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/17277.php

MATHA531 · 09-05-2006, 11:18

I think ATT Wireless was the first one to have free nationwide roaming with their old "One Rate Plan." I signed up for it in 1997. It gave me 1,500 minutes I could use nationwide for about $170 out the door. (They billed it at $150, but then had the taxes, fees, ...). There were no free nights or weekend. Then came Verizon Single Rate. Sprint's claim to fame was that it was the first plan of this nature marketed at consumers rather than business. To get this plan in 1997, I had to enroll as a business.

I think the goal of the EU is to make the member states more like Canadian provinces where the national government sets currency decisions, common defense decisions, border decisions, and trade decisions. The Provinces can dictate language, culture, and domestic legal issues. Perhaps Swiss Cantons might be an even better example.

Stu

Reading some more of this...

T Mobile UK is pushing its new rate plan for roaming...only a flat 55p/minute to roam throughout Europe, US and Canada.

I say, big deal....55p using the rate of $1.85 to ?1 comes out to be $1.02 US...

T Mobile US with its world class rates, which we all know are ridiculouosly high, charges $0.99/minute so this move by T Mobile UK is hardly a bargain (although compared to some of the roaming rates on UK carriers I suppose it is)...

Also the lady in the eu who is in charge of the roaming controversy seems to be saying she will only be satisfied when all roaming fees among European carriers are kaput including the free reception of calls throughout the eu.

Obviously these moves by T Mobile UK and Vodafone are desperate attempts on their part to head off the eu and eat into their cash machines..

We had similar stuff in the US...not too long ago packages basically included a local calling area where one's minutes were used and then outside the local area you were roaming....the concept of free roaming throughout the USA started I believe with sprint and then spread throughout so that today in the USA on contract mobile phones, there are essentially few roaming charges on the major carriers throughout the country...every call is a "local" call and when you're outside your home area you don't pay to receive calls (although in the US unlike Europe receiving calls come off your "free" minutes; although in most cases today you get unlimited weekends and unlimited night calling starting after 2100). The only thing the US is not so big on prepaid and none of the prepaid plans allow international roaming today....apparently the ultimate goal of the eu is to make the national borders more or less like states in the USA so that if you cross from France to Belgium to Holland, it is really no different than crossing from New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania; everybody would be a european just like here everybody is an American. Thoe mobile phones seem one part of their grand equation in this.

JMHO

meir · 09-05-2006, 14:32

Here in Czech Republic, both remaining operators( T-MOBILE and Eurotel) have announced that they will also reduce roaming charges with Eurotel first sometimes this summer.

Triband81 · 09-05-2006, 18:47

Good move on T-Mobile's and Vodafone's part but let's hope that O2 and other networks follow suit.

snaimon · 09-05-2006, 19:52

Any news on T-MO US? As of May 8 there was nothing on HOFO to indicated that T-MO US would follow suit. Even IF they cut rates 50%, one would be better off with a UM or equivalent card with "FREE" inbound and CBW for outbound in most cases.

Any news from D1 Germany if they will match these rates? I did not see any of that on telarif or telefon-treff as of May 8.

Stan

MATHA531 · 09-05-2006, 20:36

If you get right down to it, as I pointed out, all T Mobile UK is doing is bringing their international roaming rates in line with what T Mobile USA currently charges for roaming in Europe; which means their roaming rates were far higher (at least 40% so) then what T Mobile USA charges....

It is obvious, at least to me, that the days of the international roaming rip off in Europe are fast coming to an end and like it or not, at some point in the near future the eu will issue regulations which will mean that intra European rates will be the same as home town within Europe rates and that fight as they may, the time will soon be here, thank goodness, that you will not pay to receive a call anywhere in Europe with a European sim.

I just wonder what that will do to companies such as UM or O9....

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

	(#1)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	08-05-2006, 13:10 Guys take a look at this: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/...2170740,00.html Any comments?

	(#2)
snaimon (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 898 Join Date: 17 Mar 2004 Location: Richmond, VA USA Country:	08-05-2006, 13:25 Similar story over @ teltarif.de "The Times and other newspapers reported this morning that T-Mobile is to impose a flat rate of 55p a minute for its contract and pre-pay customers. This represents a cut of up to 54 per cent to its existing prices, and will apply in Canada and the United States, as well as in Europe." Whatever THAT means about the US. PREPAY T-MO US AFAIK does not YET allow ANY roaming abroad, although we READ it was coming. Maybe means UKers or Europeans can roam for 55 e-cents in the US rather than USers can roam for 55 e-cents in Europe. POSTPAY T-MO roams for $.99, in- and out-bound. These rates are still above UM or other international rates AND with many internationals one still has "FREE?" inbound. Not totally clear, but it looks as if inbound on Voda, etc will be billed as normal calls, no? Stan Phones: DASH V3 (3) Service: US T-MO post paid (2) - US T-MO prepaid (2) - UM+ - TravelSIM DE SIMYO - DE SUNSIM T-Mobile DE Calling Cards: Onesuite Enjoyprepaid AT&T MCI Mobivox

	(#3)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	08-05-2006, 13:32 ...and therein lies the big question.... With vodafone passport say on Vodafone IE, I believe it's 0,79? fee to receive a call while roaming....so a 6 minute call received while roaming on a vodafone network costs 0,13?/minute...will this new policy mean free receiving of calls throughout roaming turf and 55 whatevers (? or p) to make calls "home"? And will they include the USA, Canada and Australia? And will this then lead united mobile to drop rates in the USA? And will they be allowed to roam in the USA on T Mobile? So many fascinating questions remain.

	(#5)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	08-05-2006, 13:42 And the response from the eu: http://www.cellular-news.com/story/17277.php

	(#6)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	09-05-2006, 11:18 I think ATT Wireless was the first one to have free nationwide roaming with their old "One Rate Plan." I signed up for it in 1997. It gave me 1,500 minutes I could use nationwide for about $170 out the door. (They billed it at $150, but then had the taxes, fees, ...). There were no free nights or weekend. Then came Verizon Single Rate. Sprint's claim to fame was that it was the first plan of this nature marketed at consumers rather than business. To get this plan in 1997, I had to enroll as a business. I think the goal of the EU is to make the member states more like Canadian provinces where the national government sets currency decisions, common defense decisions, border decisions, and trade decisions. The Provinces can dictate language, culture, and domestic legal issues. Perhaps Swiss Cantons might be an even better example. Stu Reading some more of this... T Mobile UK is pushing its new rate plan for roaming...only a flat 55p/minute to roam throughout Europe, US and Canada. I say, big deal....55p using the rate of $1.85 to ?1 comes out to be $1.02 US... T Mobile US with its world class rates, which we all know are ridiculouosly high, charges $0.99/minute so this move by T Mobile UK is hardly a bargain (although compared to some of the roaming rates on UK carriers I suppose it is)... Also the lady in the eu who is in charge of the roaming controversy seems to be saying she will only be satisfied when all roaming fees among European carriers are kaput including the free reception of calls throughout the eu. Obviously these moves by T Mobile UK and Vodafone are desperate attempts on their part to head off the eu and eat into their cash machines.. We had similar stuff in the US...not too long ago packages basically included a local calling area where one's minutes were used and then outside the local area you were roaming....the concept of free roaming throughout the USA started I believe with sprint and then spread throughout so that today in the USA on contract mobile phones, there are essentially few roaming charges on the major carriers throughout the country...every call is a "local" call and when you're outside your home area you don't pay to receive calls (although in the US unlike Europe receiving calls come off your "free" minutes; although in most cases today you get unlimited weekends and unlimited night calling starting after 2100). The only thing the US is not so big on prepaid and none of the prepaid plans allow international roaming today....apparently the ultimate goal of the eu is to make the national borders more or less like states in the USA so that if you cross from France to Belgium to Holland, it is really no different than crossing from New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania; everybody would be a european just like here everybody is an American. Thoe mobile phones seem one part of their grand equation in this. JMHO

	(#7)
meir (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 269 Join Date: 21 Feb 2006 Location: It's long story Country:	09-05-2006, 14:32 Here in Czech Republic, both remaining operators( T-MOBILE and Eurotel) have announced that they will also reduce roaming charges with Eurotel first sometimes this summer.

	(#8)
Triband81 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 529 Join Date: 01 Dec 2004 Location: Köln Country:	09-05-2006, 18:47 Good move on T-Mobile's and Vodafone's part but let's hope that O2 and other networks follow suit.

	(#9)
snaimon (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 898 Join Date: 17 Mar 2004 Location: Richmond, VA USA Country:	09-05-2006, 19:52 Any news on T-MO US? As of May 8 there was nothing on HOFO to indicated that T-MO US would follow suit. Even IF they cut rates 50%, one would be better off with a UM or equivalent card with "FREE" inbound and CBW for outbound in most cases. Any news from D1 Germany if they will match these rates? I did not see any of that on telarif or telefon-treff as of May 8. Stan Phones: DASH V3 (3) Service: US T-MO post paid (2) - US T-MO prepaid (2) - UM+ - TravelSIM DE SIMYO - DE SUNSIM T-Mobile DE Calling Cards: Onesuite Enjoyprepaid AT&T MCI Mobivox

	(#10)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	09-05-2006, 20:36 If you get right down to it, as I pointed out, all T Mobile UK is doing is bringing their international roaming rates in line with what T Mobile USA currently charges for roaming in Europe; which means their roaming rates were far higher (at least 40% so) then what T Mobile USA charges.... It is obvious, at least to me, that the days of the international roaming rip off in Europe are fast coming to an end and like it or not, at some point in the near future the eu will issue regulations which will mean that intra European rates will be the same as home town within Europe rates and that fight as they may, the time will soon be here, thank goodness, that you will not pay to receive a call anywhere in Europe with a European sim. I just wonder what that will do to companies such as UM or O9....