COMMUNICATING on the move! That’s the advertisers’ glib message. Feedback’s message is: read the small print on the “roaming” charges that make it possible to use cellphones and e-mail services abroad.
Feedback recently tested one of the new European “triband” cellphones that can be switched to “roam” on the frequencies used in the US. It worked in Las Vegas, Silicon Valley and all down the Pacific coast. But the surcharges for roaming pushed the cost up to about £2 a minute—even for calls received.
Using e-mail abroad can be even more expensive. Every country has its own Internet service…
