Link: Rebtel Blog » Blog Archive » Rebtel research: Cheaper to fly than to call
Some interesting research courtesy of Rebtel – in fact UK Sunday tabloid News Of The World found it so interesting they wrote an article all about it.
SKY-HIGH international mobile phone charges can make it cheaper to FLY abroad for a chat with a pal than to call them up.
Industry insiders have told the News of the World that UK customers are charged up to 50 TIMES what the networks actually pay for international mobile-to-mobile call time.
You got to feel a little sorry for the operators of late. If it’s not one thing it’s another.. but on the flipside, if they really are making such a ridiculously high margin, they’ve only got themselves to blame if the Government and EU decide to launch an investigation into it.
It’s all perspective isn’t it?
It’s cheaper to go to almost all Ryan Air’s destinations in Europe than catch the train to Brum from Euston if you book your flight early enough.
The landline ops aren’t much better though. With NTHell/Virgin New Media Luvvies/whatever they call themselves this week I can call my friend down the road at peak time for 3p a minute with a 5p connection charge … but for a peak time call to a friend’s mobile in the USA I’m charged 2p a min with the same connection charge on their international call tariffs.
At least, Orange have got the plot and this month I noticed that calls to a different network mobile op are now included in my minutes.
Finally, a step in the right direction.