EU to look at SMS roaming charges

Following a plea to mobile service providers that fell on deaf ears, the European Commission is hoping to mandate lower prices for SMS roaming.
The commission said it hopes to end “bill shocks” by proposing legislation to the European Parliament to regulate charges for text-messaging outside home calling areas. Citing a “need for regulation” to deflate prices, one official suggested a “price cap” of between 18 to 24 cents per message.
The commission also cited instances where mobile users could pay as much as $1.27 per message – for Belgian users who dare to text away from home, specifically – and established a Web site to publicize prices European carriers are charging for SMS roaming.
The move follows the commission’s effort in February to pressure operators to lower charges voluntarily.
“EU citizens should be free to text across borders without being ripped off,” said Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding. “Roaming charges have already drained the wallets of mobile customers too much, especially the 77% of young people who send texts while using their mobile abroad.”
U.S. consumers have largely avoided onerous roaming-text charges, but American carriers have experienced their share of text-related financial pain the last year. T-Mobile USA Inc. recently raised its text charges to 20 cents per message, joining previous moves by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp.