Europe Implements Limit For Cellular Voice and Data Roaming

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LuckyDucky7

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And as soon as our government institutions (that are actually supposed to do pro-consumer things like this) understand the fact that bandwidth costs PENNIES per GB to provide, maybe we'll see some justice on this side of the world too.
 

outlw6669

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[citation][nom]LuckyDucky7[/nom]And as soon as our government institutions (that are actually supposed to do pro-consumer things like this) understand the fact that bandwidth costs PENNIES per GB to provide, maybe we'll see some justice on this side of the world too.[/citation]
Yeah, that will never happen.
In the states there are these little people called 'Lobbyists' who legally give lots of free money to the people who make your laws in order to keep their parent companies profits high.

Maybe once your government realizes that being bought out by corporations is completely contrary to that whole 'Freedom' and 'Democracy' mantra they have going on you will start to see some justice on your side of the world as well....
 

jankeke

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[citation][nom]outlw6669[/nom]Yeah, that will never happen.In the states there are these little people called 'Lobbyists' who legally give lots of free money to the people who make your laws in order to keep their parent companies profits high.Maybe once your government realizes that being bought out by corporations is completely contrary to that whole 'Freedom' and 'Democracy' mantra they have going on you will start to see some justice on your side of the world as well....[/citation]
You are 100% right. But that system will not change because lobbyists will make sure of that. I'm glad to live here in Europe.
 

kartu

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So government interfering with a "free market" isn't always a bad thing, after all.
Surprised this move wasn't bashed by US users.
 

virtualban

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What I would like to see is dropping of the boom-type of prices once people go beyond their contracted limits. If who uses more should pay more sounds fair, then make it that beyond the contracted limit the price per GB to be 1/10 or less of the price of the contract

It is the same installation costs, the same or probably even less technical support costs (those who use the bandwidth are not computer illiterate that need to be told how to move the mouse), and as said many times before, bandwidth costs pennies.
 

killerclick

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Europe is a socialist tyranny. This will create slippery slope to concentration camps and gulags. Don't thread on me! Tea Party 2012!

And so on...
 

hoof_hearted

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I am from the US and I consider what the EU is doing a good thing. The carriers are practically ass-raping us with jackhammers. Where I think this should fall outside of the whole "free market" thing is in the realm of a monopolistic business that should be classified as a "public utility". Since the infrastructure of cell service is expensive to build and maintain, this type of business should fall under the realm of public utilies. Frankly, I see telecommunications trending more toward the monopolistic abuse side, rather than the free market competitive side in this country.
 

jankeke

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Here in Europe when I talk about this with friends, many think that telecommunications is faster and cheaper in the US. Afterall it's the USA we're taking about. Well, they get very surprised when I tell them the reality. I had trouble beleiving it too when I first heard it.

Hehehe : "ass-raping us with jackhammers" what a colourful but very true way of saying things. :)
I'll keep that one in mind for later, thanks. ^^


 

outlw6669

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[citation][nom]jankeke[/nom]Here in Europe when I talk about this with friends, many think that telecommunications is faster and cheaper in the US. Afterall it's the USA we're taking about. Well, they get very surprised when I tell them the reality. I had trouble beleiving it too when I first heard it.Hehehe : "ass-raping us with jackhammers" what a colourful but very true way of saying things. I'll keep that one in mind for later, thanks. ^^[/citation]
Well, if you are talking voice only, I believe that it is quite a bit cheaper (based on minutes/month) in the states.
Mainly, most U.S. carriers offer inexpensive packages with unlimited (or basically unlimited) calling to all Netze during the evening and on weekends.

The data plans, however, are pure exploitation and their 3G network is pathetically slow.
 

jankeke

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@ outlw6669 :

1 and a 1/2 years ago I got the Samsung Galaxy S I (quite new at the time) for a 2 year plan of 50 Euros/ month. So I get the phone for 0 Euros plus unlimited calls, unlimited download/upload and unlimited text messages. And I can call in the rest of Europe for 150 minutes for free. At any time of day or week. I'm very happy with it.
You can also get a 1 year plan for 75 Euros/month with the same features.

My brother got a similar plan for 45/month but without the 150 minutes for the rest of Europe. And he got the Galaxy S 2 for free too.


 

outlw6669

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Yeah, that is not bad at all.
The best I have been able to find locally 60€ completely unlimited (up to 2GB/month, throttled speeds afterwards) and the option to bump the data plan to 5GB/month unthrottled for an extra 15€.
Just for a basic plan (100 minutes/month) + unlimited net (full speed to 5GB) is only 35€ though, which is not to bad.
 

jankeke

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I don't know if they throttle speeds here but I don't think so because the laws would require that such a thing be clearly stated.

When the Galaxy S3 is out I'll buy the rest of my plan (number of month left X 50) and go for a 1 year plan (75/month) So I can change phone more often without paying for it. ^^
 

JohnnyLucky

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Seems to me it is a EU version of government price controls which isn't anything new. Government price controls have been around for quite some time.
 

outlw6669

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[citation][nom]cronik93[/nom]Now it's time to put a cap on gas prices. USA included.[/citation]
Actually, U.S. gas prices are really cheap compared to the rest of the world.
Currently I am paying 1.72€/l, which converts to $8.697/gal with the current exchange rate.

As unpopular as it sounds, the U.S. really needs to raise taxes on gas by quite a bit.
This would cause two quite good things to happen.

1) People would start driving quite a bit less, ride sharing more and/or stopping driving such inefficient cars (quite good for the environment and infrastructure).

2) You would have a hell of a lot more taxes coming in to fund your horribly underfunded schools or to repair your crumbling infrastructure.
 

freggo

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[citation][nom]LuckyDucky7[/nom]And as soon as our government institutions (that are actually supposed to do pro-consumer things like this) understand the fact that bandwidth costs PENNIES per GB to provide, maybe we'll see some justice on this side of the world too.[/citation]

Not as long as the same government gets money from lobbyists.



 

__-_-_-__

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About prices comparison between USA and Europe yes the voice calls are cheaper in USA then in most European countries. About data plans, USA is ripped off big time.
With 25€ I get 4G 50mbps unlimited data. And coverage is really good.

The limit for roaming calls is not a new thing. It was implemented many many years ago.
The new thing is the limited for data roaming. But anyway no one sane enough would use data roaming. It's just absurdly expensive.
This model works. I known some americans cannot understand it with those narrowminded imperialist and capitalist heads.
Companies complain saying they can't have lower prices because they won't make profits. Well... they make billions in profits. It's not true. With the enforcement of a price more competition appears. If X company lowers the price bellow the limit more will follow and so on. It works. Without price limits there would be no competition. Also companies that lower their prices more then the limit and still make insane profits.
Works great and everyone wins. Actually even companies win because the costumers will use much more knowing that prices are lower.

[citation][nom]cronik93[/nom]Now it's time to put a cap on gas prices. USA included.[/citation]The solution to all the world problems would be to raise gas prices in america. Cars would be much more efficient (my car is very average and common in europe, consumes 61MPG (3.8L/100km) and it's not an hybrid) and there would be a huge market for electric cards. The adoption of a new system would be a lot faster. As for gas prices, 1.8€/L which is 9$ per gallon. About 60% of the gas prices are taxes.
 
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