Mobile download cost warning for travellers

New European laws governing download capacity when travelling across the continent come into effect this month.

However, this will not apply to those travelling further afield, prompting warnings over potentially exorbitant costs for inter-continental travellers who access the internet via their web-enabled mobile devices. Surfing the web or downloading from emails can reach unexpectedly high charges for unaware customers, in some cases up to £8 per 1 megabyte (mg) of downloads.

As of July 1, new EU laws stipulate that providers must provide their customers with a cap on spending of no more than 50 euros for data roaming or downloading internet data abroad, but this does not apply to travel outside of Europe. In relative terms, one single web page can often contain up to a quarter of 1mg, meaning that some travellers may return home to find themselves facing bills in the hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds.

The issue is made all the more pressing by the continually rising number of travellers who use their iPhones, Blackberry’s or other Smartphone’s while overseas, something which has become almost commonplace, even for backpackers. Many of these devices use apps that also require download space, even after emails or programs have been closed down.

Mike Wilson, from the leading price comparison website specialist, Moneysupermarket.com, says it is essential that travellers do not underestimate just how easy they can rack up huge mobile bills when overseas. Tesco Mobile and Orange both charge up to £8 for every MB used overseas, O2 charging up to £6 and Vodafone £3.