19/10/2006

O2 abandon 'roaming' charge

Mobile phone operator O2 is abandoning charges for incoming calls while abroad.

The move will initially only apply in Spain, but will extend across the rest of Europe some time next year.

O2's customers wanting to take advantage of the offer must pay £5 a month.

The cost for 'roaming' or making calls abroad has provided a comfortable revenue stream for mobile phone companies. It is believed to be between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of their profits.

The move comes as the European Union continues to pressurise mobile phone companies to cut 'roaming' costs.

Chairman and Chief Executive of O2 Peter Erskine said: "The high roamer proposition was rated as the most popular concept when tested on customers, with many indicating that they are currently left their phones switched off when travelling in order to avoid the cost of receiving a call.

"By starting to scrap the charge levied by all operators in the past for receiving calls when abroad, we hope to begin removing that barrier."

O2, which was acquired by Telefonica, said it would also cut its charges for outgoing calls to 25 pence a minute.

(CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 April 2009
Ofcom Fines BBC £150k Over Prank Calls
The BBC has been fined £150,000 by Ofcom over prank phone calls made by Russell Brand (pictured) and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs. The sum related to the two episodes of the Russell Brand show broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on the 18 and 25 October 2008. In its report, the media regulator found the broadcasts had breached it's Broadcasting Code.
31 October 2008
Ross Suspended Over Prank Phone Call Furore
Jonathan Ross has been given a three-month ban from all BBC broadcasting for 12 weeks, amid controversy surrounding prank phone calls made to 'Fawlty Towers' actor Andrew Sachs, on Russell Brand's radio show.
14 March 2005
Scarborough drowning tragedy victims named
A mother and her son who drowned in a tragic accident yesterday have been named as Kim Barrett, 33 and Luke Greenwood, 11. Coastguards are continuing to search for Ms Barrett's daughter, 13-year-old Aimee Greenwood.
27 June 2003
Mobile charges to be cut following court ruling
Mobile phone calls under some tariff structures will be reduced by up to half following a High Court ruling against Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile. On Friday, the three UK phone giants finally lost their fight in a long-running court battle with regulators over the practice of levying of “termination charges”.
30 March 2010
Cousins Jailed For Blackmail
Two cousins who terrified a man with threatening phone calls and text messages have been jailed. Daniel Brown, 21, of Barton Road, Stretford and Michael Brown, 22, of Kingsway Park, Davyhulme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail. They were both sentenced to 16 months in jail at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.