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17 Jun 2008
EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding has hinted that European mobile phone users may be charged for incoming calls on their handsets.
Reding made the statement in an interview given to The Financial Times in which she suggested that new phone charges could be on the cards.
When asked whether she supported the US-style charges, Reding said: "Why not? The whole market is developing so we should not stay on the rules that have been in place for 10 years."
While the statement has surprised many industry watchers, the potential move is part of a wide-ranging EU initiative to press mobile phone operators to cut the cost of texting and downloading data abroad.
The EU has already capped roaming charges for mobile phone users across Europe. Moving towards a US-style model could further cut overall charges by reducing the charges for dialling out.
Charges for incoming calls are not just the norm in the US. Mobile phone users in many Asian countries, including China and Singapore, also pay to receive phone calls.
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Do you agree?
Singapore ?
First of all, the mobile providers are either a) primitive or b) colluded into providing charged incoming calls in the United States. There is no reason to copy that. Having been to most of these places mentioned, let me add that in Singapore, only the prepaid customers pay for incoming. Even the lowest post-paid customers paying less than 25-30 euros a month get free incoming. India has had free incoming voice and SMS since years. Most countries are moving towards a progressive low cost mobile system where the quality of service and efficiency and not fleecing customers with horrendous charges is used to generate extra revenue as well as profits. Learn something from the better things in the world!
Posted by: Hanoz Kalwachwala 28 Jun 2008
A charge too much
I don't pay to receive calls on my landline so why should I pay to receive them on my mobile. Just because it happens in other parts of the world doesn't mean its right. I can also see that the system would be yet another way in which criminal elements could abuse a system making people pay for unsolicited phone calls.
Posted by: Paul Vine 19 Jun 2008
Why?
Don't understand why Viviane stated such suggestion? So what's the benefit for customers?
Posted by: Peter 17 Jun 2008
I don't agree
totally crazy. I guess should have to understand better the exact proposal before commenting. but so far it's the stupidest idea I have heard in 2008.
Posted by: Andrea F 17 Jun 2008