We already knew that European Union telecom ministers are meeting Thursday to discuss price caps on cross-border text messaging and mobile web surfing, but now it appears that the ministers will accept the commission’s proposed price caps. According to the International Herald Tribune, which has seen a copy of the…

EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding has backed down on her proposed reforms of the European Union’s telecoms market, including her controversial plans to create a “super” telecoms regulator, and giving the EC power to veto national authorities. According to Reuters who saw the new proposal, Reding has agreed to accept…

Three parent Hutchison Whampoa is calling for roaming data charges to be lowered across Europe. It said it had reached a million mobile broadband subscribers across the continent but is being stifled by high costs. European telecoms director Christian Salbaing: “Consumers are rightly fearful of the excessive charges faced when…

Two new government initiatives to crack down on rogue mobile phone services: Just days after the EU said it would force operators to lower SMS roaming charges, its consumer chief said today that it was clamping down on mobile content scams—particularly involving ringtones and wallpapers. EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva…

Here it is: After months of threats and warnings, the European Commission announced today that it will end “roaming rip-offs” for text messages abroad after calls to the industry to cut rates themselves have “not been answered.” Telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding said she would recommend an October timeline for proposing…

The European Commission is expected to announce tomorrow that it will propose legislation to cut the cost of sending and receiving text messages while roaming, according to the IHT. On average, when sending a text in the EU, users paid €0.28 last month for a message, which represents an “insufficient…

The European Commission today introduced rules to harmonize the technical and licensing requirements for using mobile devices and services on airplanes. Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said that a “regulatory ‘one stop shop,” was needed for in order to spur in-flight mobile telephone services. Now, the licenses that are granted to…

The European Commission just confirmed earlier reports it will begin an in-depth inquiry in to Nokia’s (NYSE: NOK) proposed $8.1 billion acquisition of GPS mapping provider Navteq. It was always likely after the EC began a detailed and ongoing investigation in to TomTom’s similar acquisition of the other map maker,…