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Vodafone mobile calls will be same price abroad as at home
Mark Prigg14.05.09
Vodafone today sparked a high street price war by abandoning mobile phone roaming charges in 35 countries.
The firm, which has about 18 million customers in Britain, will now charge the same price to call from abroad as for calls made in the UK. Countries covered include France, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
The scheme will initially run for three months, but it is expected to be extended if it is a success. “This is a real landmark moment for the UK mobile phone industry,” said James Holland of technology website electricpig.co.uk.
“It is hugely important for consumers, as traditionally roaming charges have been where they have been really ripped off. I think the other operators will now be forced so follow suit, so we are going to see a real shake up in the industry.”
The offer is open to Vodafone UK customers who register for the free Passport service. It includes text and picture messages, but not internet calls. This means Blackberry users, for instance, could still incur high charges for downloading email while abroad.
“People do need to use caution, particularly if they go online on their phone, but for voice calls it's an amazing deal — it could also spell the end for the holiday calling card' market, as its now cheaper to buy a Vodafone SIM card before you go,” said Mr Holland.
A Vodafone spokeswoman said: “We expect this offer will be especially popular with families on holiday.”
A spokesperson for ABTA — The Travel Association said: “The fact that we will not have to pay through the nose for calls... is a great boon for British travellers who took nearly 70 million trips abroad last year.” The move comes as pressure on mobile networks to ditch roaming charges increases with European officials imposing a cap on 1 July.
Last August, UK regulator Ofcom announced its first full-scale inquiry into mobile phone charges.
About 84 per cent of Britons over the age of eight own a mobile phone, and Ofcom predicts that calls from mobiles will overtake those from fixed telephone lines by the end of 2010.
Reader views (10)
This is really, really good news. I have never been able to understand why using a mobile phone abroad is so expensive; at last an operator is providing a fair price.
- George, London
You don't actually need to have a contract, just obtain a Pay As You Go Vodafone S.I.M. card, put it in your (network unlocked or Vodafone) mobile phone, phone the telephone number that comes with S.I.M. cards to register the P.A.Y.G. line and account. And then top up.
P.A.Y.G. home call rate tarrif on Vodafone abroad means that you can get access to this instantly - if you haven't got the card before you leave. Just remember to leave around 30 minutes to make the phone call to register your details and set up.
You can buy the top up vouchers in nearly any shop, supermarket etc. (including any PayPoint outlet) and also from many Bank A.T.M. machines with your account credit. You decided how much credit to put on.
For topping up abroad, you would need to open a Web account for your Vodafone mobile line (and maybe you can do this also through phoning customer services, not sure), and then register a debit / credit / prepaid card with your phone. You can then top up your phone line with credit from a foreign country, by selecting the options on your phone (it's easy), if you have power and coverage anywhere. It takes a couple of minutes at most in my experience.
Oh I forgot - one more thing is you absolutely HAVE to request by telephone to be on Vodafone Passport tarrif to customer services BEFORE YOU LEAVE. I tried doing this from France once to be told that you can't switch tariff by phoning from outside The U.K. (unless this has changed). Or prices much higher.
- G.M.C., U.K.
Vodafone cancelling roaming charges abroad, is this another case of
'Terms and conditions apply'.
- Mr S.Port, London
I had to make four calls to an 0800 (free on landline) number the other evening. For some reason these calls are deemed chargeable and do not fall into my inclusive allowance to any UK landline or mobile. Another rip-off that needs sorting. The cost to ring this FREE number was nearly £5!!!
- Michael Two, London
Micheal two. This problem is easily rectified. All firms have to have an 01/02 number in addition to their 08 numbers. There are quite a few websites which specialise in finding/supplying these alternative numbers for FREE . I am sure that I am not allowed to name a website but you should find one with not too much trouble (Say 10 seconds). Goodluck reay
- Reay, london
THE NET IS CLOSING IN ON ALL THESE RIP OFF PHONE COMPANIES THEY ARE SO STUPID AND THICK IF THEY KEPT CALL COSTS LOW THEY WOULD MAKE MILLIONS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I KNOW ARE SO FRIGHTENED TO USE PHONES WHEN ABROAD IT ONLY STOPS TRADE AND HOLDS INDUSTRY BACK THE 3 NETWORK RIP YOU OFF AT 25P FOR A TEXT TO BE SENT AND 15P TO RECEIVE A CALL AND ANOTHER RIP OFF AT 25P TO MAKE ONE SHOCKING,
- James Fennessey, london
I have seen no comment as to paying for incoming calls-why not?
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK
Will this include Antigua. If so I would like to have a new contract starting staraight away.
- Jenita James, London, UK
...proving once again that competition is the way forward to reduce costs, not government interference with EU or Westminster officials fixing the prices. This is a result of genuine competition emerging, not fear of government stepping in.
- Damian Hockney, london, uk
This is a good first move but in a 3G world, providing local price calls then charging for data is just a way of tricking the consumer to keep their phones on when abroad so that the overpriced data charges can still be made. I spend 2 months a year in France and will still be turning off my Blackberry when I go. This deal needs to apply to data as well.
- Susie Wickham, Cardiff ex Londoner
I had to make four calls to an 0800 (free on landline) number the other evening. For some reason these calls are deemed chargeable and do not fall into my inclusive allowance to any UK landline or mobile. Another rip-off that needs sorting. The cost to ring this FREE number was nearly £5!!!
- Michael Two, London
