Vodafone: 'We know our roaming data rates stink'

(I’m paraphrasing the ‘stink’ bit.)

Link: Vodafone rejects EU call for caps on data roaming charges – International Herald Tribune

The Vodafone chief said he was aware of consumer discontent with high wireless data charges, and Vodafone had been responding by lowering charges.

“Just look at our prices,” Sarin said. “Nobody has to tell me what our customers are telling us. We are talking to our customers every day.”

Should that reply from Arun actually be:

“We are talking to our customers every day and telling them to stick it.”

I wonder.

There’s not much use having a ‘dialogue’ when, simply, customers want much, much cheaper data roaming fees. This opinion is based on the 1,200 pounds I inadvertently spent in Cannes last year, thanks to Big Red.

But if I was Vodafone, I’d listen, smile nicely, tell the regulator to stick it, raise the inclusive amount of roaming data a little to placate the heavy users and do my best to avoid lowering the prices until market pressure absolutely positively requires price adjustment. Exactly what Vodafone appears to be doing — and, well, they’re a business. Fair play.

It’s just not fair 😉