- EU - European international roaming +/-
(CommsWatch) On 11 May 2006, the European Regulators Group (ERG) published its second response to the EC's proposals for a Regulation on the price of international roaming services. The ERG reiterated its support for the Commission's objective for a substantial reduction in average retail roaming prices though it has significant reservations, shared by Ofcom, about the regulatory mechanisms proposed by the EC. see also ERG Press Release
- EU - Industry and consumers at odds over EU mobile phone plan +/-
(EUobserver) A Brussels initiative to regulate European roaming prices would be counterproductive, the association representing mobile phone operators has said, arguing that the market is the best way to meet customers' needs. 'This is a nice headline, eye-catching proposal but it doesn't work,' said Tom Phillips, regulatory affairs officer of GSM, a global association representing more than 690 mobile operators around the world, including T-Mobile, Vodafone and Orange.
- EU - Regulators won't act over retail roaming charges +/-
(ZDNet UK) European telecoms regulators are continuing to argue that no intervention is necessary to curb retail mobile roaming prices, a policy that appears to put them at odds with the European Commission.
- UK - O2 undercuts rivals on roaming fees +/-
(ZDNet UK) O2 has taken the lead in the race to make European roaming tariffs more affordable - and avoid sanctions from the EC. Mobile operator O2 has launched two roaming price plans, giving its UK customers cheaper overseas rates than any of its competitors and becoming the first network to allow frequent travellers to receive calls overseas for free.
- AU - ACMA releases safety guide for providers of mobile chat services +/-
(Press Release) The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a guide for mobile chat providers on how to make their services safer for children.The Guide to the Implementation of Safety Measures in Mobile Services recognises the benefits that mobile chat services can bring for communications and social networking, but also provides information on the small but real risk of mobile chat services being used to facilitate illegal contact between children and adults.
- EU - Free information on the safe use of Internet +/-
(Safer Internet) From 2 May 2006, European parents, teachers and children can get free information on the safe use of Internet through EUROPE DIRECT, the European Commission's free information service (toll free telephone number 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by e-mail). EUROPE DIRECT is a free telephone and e-mail service which citizens can use from anywhere in the European Union to find answers to questions they may have about the EU and EU-policies, such as those in the field of Internet safety.
- UK - Teachers lack knowledge on internet safety +/-
(Guardian) Teachers feel uneducated about protecting children from inappropriate websites and do not know who they should to turn to for advice, new research reveals. Research by telecommunications provider, BT, found that 70% of teachers did not know where to get advice if they suspected a child was being exploited on the internet or had accessed inappropriate material, such as pornography. Teachers were so concerned that more than 80% of those surveyed said they wanted internet safety included in the national curriculum.
- US - FTC's social-networking advice +/-
(Net Family News) The US Federal Trade Commission has unveiled its 'Safety Tips for Social Networking Online' for parents and tweens and teens. Increasingly we need to empower our kids to think for themselves online - stay alert in public social sites and situations, think before they post, and protect their privacy and reputations. Here are our own 6 tips for teens at BlogSafety.