For Europe, It'll Cost Less To Use An iPhone Across The EU Starting Monday
by Joe White
June 30, 2013
Mobile phone users living in the European Union have more good news concerning roaming charges. While the European Commission still hopes to end all mobile roaming charges starting July 1, 2014, one small step towards realizing this goal is set to be taken tomorrow, The Guardian explains.
From July 1, 2013 - one year ahead of when roaming charges in Europe are set to be scrapped - the charges for sending a text message, making a voice call, or accessing cellular data within the European Union will fall.
More specifically, the cost of making a call will be 17 percent less, while the cost of receiving an incoming call will drop by 12 percent (per minute). SMS messages will be 11 percent cheaper, and accessing data will cost 36 percent less. Impressively, as of July, 1, 2013, accessing data within the European Union will be 91 percent cheaper compared with 2007.
European Commission vice president Neelie Kroes said: "The latest price cuts put more money in your pocket for summer, and are a critical step towards getting rid of these premiums once and for all. This is good for both consumers and companies, because it takes fear out of the market, and it grows the market."
Now, for the small print - and it's bad news for those living outside the European Union. Namely, this is because the above reductions in mobile roaming charges apply only to residents of the European Union's member countries. As such, iPhone owners living in the United States will still suffer the usual charges when visiting Paris, Rome, or Barcelona.
For those living in the European Union, however, this is of course great news. We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.
In the meantime, see: Record And Share Your Thoughts With DictaNote For iPhone, Could Apple's Low-Cost iPhone Look Like This?, and Today's Apps Gone Free: Balloon Stickies, Paper Camera, Ten Giggly Gorillas And More.
