Posts Tagged ‘eu’

EU ruling could change iPhone’s battery design

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

The design gurus over at Cupertino might just get a huge task on their heads, if the EU goes ahead with a ruling. The European Union is currently considering a requirement according to which, all cell phones sold should have batteries that can be easily replaced. No points for guessing which phone lacks this ability.

If EU does go ahead with this ruling, it might mean serious trouble for the iPhone 3G. Today, the slim streamlined design of the iPhone is one of its most talked about feature and many a times, acts as its sole USP. Apple will have to make some mighty design changes to the phone, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it might not be as it is today.

According to the policy, (via AppleInsider and New Electronics), the latest set of computer-industry regulations under consideration in Europe may require every phone manufacturer to make sure that replacing batteries inΒ  their phones is as easy as sliding off a cover or removing a couple of screws, none of which is possible with the iPhone 3G.

There might be some good news for Apple though. As per the report, the directive is very vaguely worded at present and the idea behind the directive is to make sure that batteries don’t end up in landfills. If Apple somehow convinces the EU that it’s battery replacement program is far away from that, it could just win itself a sigh of relief.

We’ll keep an eye on anything that comes our way on this.

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Posted in Apple, Mobile, iPhone | Comments

EU may just help in lowering your Call Charges

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Are you among those who think that their operator is overcharging for calls? If you are, EU might just be the angel in disguise you were looking for.

The European Commission, said yesterday, that it may just legislate further to lower the charges levied by most European Mobile service providers. The executive arms of European Union apparently is concerned about the fact that most of the mobile operators charge customers call charges by the minute, which results in higher call charges. Martin Selmayr, the spokesman for the commission, said:

We see that consumers are charged more because in some cases operators are charging a call of one minute two seconds for two minutes,

Are we ready for being charged by the seconds?

Wait, did I just hear someone in the back complain about higher roaming rates? I hear you, and I have some positive news for you too. Come September, you will now pay even less for any calls made or received while abroad on roaming. The commission has also reduced roaming charges by cutting down the price ceiling for making calls while on roaming to €0.46/min, from the previous rate of €0.49/min. The ceiling for receiving calls has been cut down from €0.24/minute to €0.22/minute.

International readers, how much do you currently pay?

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Posted in Mobile | Comments

Europe give go-ahead for mobiles on planes

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

After Ofcom decided to allow mobiles on planes last month, the EC said it’s paving the way for more of the same from other European Union member states.

The era of pan-European in-flight mobility will be ushered in by two measures announced by the EC this week: a “Commission Recommendation for a harmonised approach on licensing which will promote mutual recognition between national authorisations for mobile communications services on aircraft” and “a Commission Decision which sets out harmonised technical parameters of onboard equipment for in-flight mobile phone use throughout the EU that will allow member states to recognise each other’s licences for mobile communications on board aircraft without risk to mobile networks on the ground”. The EC will also make sure safety concerns are dealt with by the appropriate bodies.

Interestingly, after the EC has pushed so hard on cutting roaming charges within Europe, it’s remaining mum on how to regulate the cost of connectivity on planes, saying the market is too young for it to interfere and it will be up to the service provider to set pricing. It sounds like we could be in for some expensive calls and texts up there.

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Posted in Mobile Services | Comments

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