I read this thread on the MSE forum.

I actually wonder now if OfCOM are there for our protection, or the companies it regulates?

Tell you what, I won't be accepting any calls if I have to pay for them.

The expensive NGN (Non Geographical Numbers) 084x / 087x was brought about by OfTEL and now OfCOM don't really plan on doing anything much with companies using 0870 despite the fact its so expensive for us to call and they earn a revenue from it.

Not such a bad idea is it? ???

I'm thinking in terms of the competition element where the providers would have to compete for the incoming prices too.

I would point out that this system in the US works extremely well - it has led to most providers now giving free (to the mobile owner) calls to mobiles after 10pm on weekdays and all weekend, so in effect, this could be cheaper for the caller and cheaper/free for the mobile phone owner in this country too ;D

Yes but whats in it for the reciever of the calls? or dont they matter.

wrote on Jun 8^th, 2005 at 4:35pm:

Yes but whats in it for the reciever of the calls? or dont they matter.

Of course they matter - the receiver of the calls gets incoming calls, at no charge (provided it is after 10pm or weekend), and the caller only pays a local rate.  I call my cousin in the US through my TalkTalk offer for free USA calls to landline/mobile.  However, I only call after 10pm local time or during the weekend, so the call is free for both of us ;D

Also if the receiver doesn't want the call, they can cancel it.  If the caller witholds their number, then that's up to the receiver.

On a personal note, I would point out that as mobile phones emit radiation of a sufficient energy to disrupt Hydrogen bonds holding DNA together and lead to disorders such as uncontrolled cell production (cancer), this would serve as a good cancer prevention technique if it means people using their mobile phones less 8)

So if i was in America i would pay for any mobile calls i recieved between 8am and 10pm Mon to Friday then.What sort of payment/tariff do you have make per minute,or is it a one off fee per call.

I just cant see it being accepted here,but nothing that Ofcom comes out with surprises me.

I personally think that some peoples use of mobiles has become excessive. If you go to the link in the OP and follow the link to the  Times Online.Have a read  of the article also in todays edition entitled (CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT OUR MOBILES).

wrote on Jun 8^th, 2005 at 6:16pm:

...If you go to the link in the OP and follow the link to the  Times Online.Have a read  of the article also in todays edition entitled (CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT OUR MOBILES).

The link to the Times Online article about OfCOM thinking of allowing networks to charge us for receiving incoming calls can be read here.  My apologies I should have posted that in my OP link.

In USA with the company (AT&T) and tarriff that my cousin is on, he pays 5 cents per minute for received calls while the caller pays the equivalent of a local call.  In some regions, all local calls are free, so in effect, he is paying 5 cents per minute while the caller isn't paying anything.  

Not sure what to think about it really, because there is no guarantee that any possible system in this country will be similar to that in the US ???

I can't see why mobile networks don't charge line rental in return for cheaper calls, just like landlines. That would be a much fairer way of doing it.

[glb]I can't see why mobile networks don't charge line rental in return for cheaper calls, just like landlines. That would be a much fairer way of doing it[/glb]

Is everyone here on PAYG mobiles!!

Isn't that exactly what contract mobiles with inclusive minutes actually do.  The line rental is varied according to whether you want to call friends on different networks, or friends on the same network/landlines, and whether you want to call daytime, or off peak, and also varies according to the quantity of minutes as well.

As an added plus, you can avoid paying the full price of line rental by opting for a not so up to date mobile (after all, if you only want to make and receive calls, and not bothered about cameras and radios) then the shop rebates nearly 12 months of the line rental.  After the 12 months are up, you have a phone that can fetch a few quid.

Shiggadi, my point is about being charged line rental in the true sense of the words. At present the payments cover cost of the handset and inclusive minutes. For those going over their inclusive minutes, it costs a fortune, with rates similar to that of PAYG, especially to other networks. And for those who don't want a new handset every 12 months, it's a waist.

But the UK user appears to want "free" handsets...
In India the per minute charge is 3c (US cents!)

Come on UK. >:(

I hope we don't go down the USA route.

I used to have a contract mobile since 1996, but within the last 2 years I have dropped the contract and switched to PAYG, don't see the point of wasting money on mobiles anymore.

Many people want the mobile for emergencies, they don't want to have to pay to receive calls.

The reason mobile phones never really took off in the USA is simply due to paying to receive calls.

I am all for choice and if people want to pay for incoming calls then so be it, you will find the vast majority however do not want to go down this route.

wrote on Jul 1^st, 2005 at 11:21pm:

The reason mobile phones never really took off in the USA is simply due to paying to receive calls.

....But if in the UK the goal posts are moved significantly and we have to pay to receive calls, will there still be as many mobiles out there? Is this a ploy just to rip off the consumer more?

It's strange, cause the 0870 rip-off needs sorting by stopping companies profiting in this way. But Ofcom won't implement a simple solution like this because it will cost the poor companies too much!

All the people I personally know and have asked them about the possibility of paying for incoming calls have said they will dump the mobile if they had to pay to receive calls.

wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2005 at 9:16am:

All the people I personally know and have asked them about the possibility of paying for incoming calls have said they will dump the mobile if they had to pay to receive calls.

They would say that wouldn't they but most of them dumbly seem to pay ripoff charges of £1 a minute or more to receive calls when they are roaming.  So in practice all the mobile phone holics would carry on as before if there was an incoming call charge.  Also no doubt it would be hidden in higher monthly line rental and incusive minutes for contract mobile phone users.

The fact that Vodafone has had to come up with their amazing new Passport officer where you can receive an incoming roaming call of up to 60 minutes for just 75p says just how scared they are of the latest EU threats to take action if they don't stop the current roaming ripoff.

[glb]The fact that Vodafone has had to come up with their amazing new Passport officer where you can receive an incoming roaming call of up to 60 minutes for just 75p says just how scared they are of the latest EU threats to take action if they don't stop the current roaming ripoff. [/glb]

And with many phones having 1571 which connects immediately if engaged, and voicemail on mobiles which also connects immediately if engaged, or phone off, 75p just to connect a call is an even bigger rip off than roaming charges.

If however your phone call back to the UK lasts a good hour or so, then 75p plus useage of your inclusive minutes isn't bad.

However when I'm in Spain soaking up the sun, I don't want to keep phoning people back in the UK at 75p a go, or pay expensive roaming charges unless it's a real emergency.  Even then, you might be able to use an internet cafe, or public call box to make cheaper calls back home, available on almost every street.

If calls back home were part of inclusive minutes, with no extras, I might consider bringing my mobile, but otherwise I like to catch up with people on my return.

I was talking about receiving incoming calls at 75p fixed when roaming in Europe for up to 1 hour under the new Vodafone Passport deal.  Of course it should ideally be nothing at all to receive an incoming mobile call when roaming but 75p for up to 1 hour is one hell of a lot better than up to £1 per minute for an incoming call when roaming as it has been.

They might try to scam you for the 75p fixed charge if you have the phone set up to divert to voicemail.  Simple cancel the divert while you are on holiday is my advice.  As I have Pay as You Go with Vodafone and no inclusive minutes I certainly don't want to have to call them back at 30p per minute in response to a voicemail message in the daytime plus 75p connection.  Of course 5p per minute in the evening and at the weekend, plus 75p handling charge is really not such a bad deal at all for the convenience of being able to use a mobile phone (just you try finding a public phone box on the Greek island of Donoussa).

As I said Vodafone must really be running scared of the latest EU threat and feel that now is the time for action.

Of course if you really don't want to pay 75p for each incoming call and can talk your friends through the relative complexities of having to call you on a Liechtenstein mobile number from a landline via http://www.abroadtel.co.uk at only 6p per minute then why not get one of these little babies:-

http://www.freedom-mobiles.co.uk/riiing-international-roaming-sim-card.html