Roaming row intensifies
As summer approaches, the row between the European Commission and Europe’s major mobile operators is heating up nicely. The EC has been infuriated by the level of intra-European roaming charges for mobile users and has threatened to take action, in the form of a new law, unless these charges are reduced to levels near those levied when users roam across networks in their own country.
Europe’s leading cellular operators, led by Telef?ica and Vodafone, have continued to argue that the market is the best mechanism for determining these charges. Yet, while warning against any regulatory interference on the issue, they have also announced plans to reduce rates quite drastically.
Spain’s Telef?ica, which is now also the owner of O2, is offering to abolish roaming charges for high-volume users, primarily business customers, while offering discounts to general users. Vodafone has announced cuts averaging 40% at the wholesale and retail levels, to be phased in between this autumn and April 2007.
All the indications emanating from Brussels are that these gestures do not go far enough or fast enough. One concern is that the new European rates may be close to the “nominal” rates for national roaming, but that few users actually pay these prices at home due to bundled minutes and so on.
If the EC decides to press ahead with legislation, its proposal could be published as early as this month, with a view to the new rules being in place by the middle of 2007. This will prey on the minds of mobile operators even as they prepare to enjoy the most profitable part of the year for roaming revenues as millions head off on their holidays. This time around, however, it won’t only be their customers who are sweating. TE
Source- http://www.telecomseurope.net
Technorati : Cellular, Mobile, Telefonica, Vodafone
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3 and Vodafone launch their official AFL app (Australia)
By Editor on December 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After Telstra which already has an official AFL app, Vodafone and 3 have joined the league by releasing their official cricket app. The application which can be downloaded at $1.19 allows the customers to watch live matches for $2.50 a day on their iPhone’s screen.
Even if the customers are on a different network, they can still buy the app but without added video goodness. The Live Summer App of Vodafone and 3 gives access to cricket TV channel featuring live streaming action including exclusive video highlights from Cricket Australia and Channel Nine.
The customers can also avail the facilities of getting live scores for every match, ball-by-ball text commentary, Face book, twitter & email in-app sharing• Full match schedules and reminders and latest cricket news stories are also available.
Filed under Mobile · Tagged with AFL, ASIA, Australia, channel nine, email, iPhone, Network, Summer App, Telstra, text commentary, twitter, video highlights, Vodafone