CHESTER, England, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- 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 holiday 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
http://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 moneysupermarket.com 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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