Lower roaming tariffs agreed upon in Brussels at the end of May for the European Union start today, July 1 as planned. Per the new law, prices for roaming will be lowered to 29ct/min for calls and 70ct/MB for internet access starting today and will keep going down to 19ct/min for calls and 20ct/MB for internet access by 2014.
Users of Truphone’s Tru SIM-powered international GSM network and other global services will be amongst those benefiting from the new rates, although the rates will only be extended to Tru SIM users residing in the United Kingdom and European Union. As we previously reported, the new rates will not be extended to customers in the United States or Australia at this time.
Tru’s new rates for calling landlines in the region run from £0.25 per min to £0.30 per min; Mobile calls range from £0.25 per min to £0.30 per min, and calls can be received from £0.07 per min to £0.11 per min. Sending a text message will cost anywhere from £ 0.08 to £0.10. Receiving texts is of course free. These rates are about parallel with EU regulation.
Tru has set their new data rates lower than EU regulations require, with rates at a comfortable £ 0.60 per MB. Smartphone and tablet applications such as Onavo can help you keep your data costs even lower.
What do you think of the new rates? Is it a good start? Is it enough? Share your thoughts in the comments!