Back in March we noted how the European Union was imposing new rules aimed at tackling absurd wireless data bills. The new rules, which go into effect this week, not only cap excessive roaming costs -- but also require wireless carriers to let consumers set a maximum limit on how much they want to spend on mobile data each month. That limit is set at 50 Euro by default, users are warned when they get close to that cap, and must explicitly ask for more data. So far, carriers haven't been fighting the measures:
Unlike previous roaming regulations, operators have not put up much resistance to the measures, at least publicly. 'No one in the industry benefits when a customer goes to the press with a 46,000 data bill because they have been downloading TV shows on holidays,' said one telecoms executive, referring to a reported case last year of a German traveler in France.
We've obviously seen an endless stream of these kinds of stories on this side of the pond as well -- created by a one-two punch of users who don't read their contracts or understand usage terminology -- and amoral carriers who don't care (until after the press makes them look bad) that they're engaged in significant overcharging. The FCC has stated they're taking a look at Bill Shock, and carriers have been busy trying to highlight the many tools users have to track usage in the hopes of avoiding EU-style rules."
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