European MPs have finalised a deal that will cut the cost of using your mobile phone abroad for calls, texts and data usage. The new plan is set to take effect in July 2009, providing that it is approved by European Parliament and all prices agreed will be the maximum that a mobile network operator can charge for a specific service.
The new deal will cap the cost of sending a text message at 11 cents (around 10p) and see data usage drop to a maximum of 1 euro (92p) per megabyte in July 2009, falling to 50 cents (46p) by July 2011.
The price of voice calls per minute will be a maximum of 43 cents with further reductions expected in 2010 and 2011. Mobile phone users will also be able to contact their network operators and put a cap on spending so they do not rack up hefty bills on their travels. Users will be notified when they hit 80% of their spending limit.
The new deal will be presented to the European Parliament Industry Committee on the 31st of March and a full vote is expected by the 24th of April.